This just came in from the Florida Education Association. Ten percent of Florida’s 3 million students attend charter schools. Three percent attend voucher schools, most of which are religious. Another eight percent attendprivate schools without vouchers. Seventy-nine percent attend public schools. Governor DeSantis and the Legislature should not ignore the seventy-nine percent while catering to the wants, needs, and desires of the twenty-one percent.
FEA statement on Gov. DeSantis and education
TALLAHASSEE — Florida Education Association (FEA) President Fedrick Ingram released this statement today following the inauguration of Gov. Ron DeSantis.
“Gov. DeSantis has said he is focused on giving every child the opportunity for a world-class education. So are the members of the Florida Education Association, and we hope to work with him toward that goal. We want a great education available to every child, and we want every student to be successful.
“Our state can do the most good for the greatest number of students by investing in the neighborhood public schools that educate the large majority of Florida’s kids. ‘Choice,’ on the other hand, is a code word for draining tax dollars from our neighborhood public schools to fund charter and voucher programs that serve only a small percentage of children.
“Florida’s neighborhood public schools need this administration’s support. Our state ranks 44th nationally in education spending. We are 45th in the nation in teacher pay and 47th in pay for our education staff professionals, and we are facing an unprecedented and growing teacher shortage. An investment in our neighborhood public schools and our educators is an investment in Florida’s future.”
PS: I updated the statistics to include those students enrolled in private schools that do not accept vouchers.
Thanks to Sue Legg of the League of Women Voters.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Since Florida is the Jeb Bush land of fraud and greed, it should not come as a surprise that the state ranks 44th nationally in education spending and is 45th in the nation in teacher pay and 47th in pay for our education staff professionals, and is facing an unprecedented and growing teacher shortage.
Stop and take a moment to compare G. W. Bush to Jeb Bush. Then maybe we might be thankful that G. W. was president instead of his brother Jeb. Imagine what would have happened to the US with Jeb in the White House.
No, not thankful!
At all!
While I appreciate the FEA’s attempt to reach out to the incoming governor, I doubt their concerns will be heard. I am afraid DeSantis is a chip off the old conservative block.
DeSantis will likely repeat the same blunders as other like minded predecessors. I am expecting that Florida will plod the same old privatization path despite mounting evidence of its failure. I have low expectations for DeSantis, and I am doubt I will be surprised.