ORLANDO, Fla. – A state audit found serious problems in Florida’s school voucher system, uncovering tracking failures that cost public school districts millions of dollars and could have affected families across the state.
In response, the Florida Senate this week unanimously advanced SB 318, a proposal aimed at fixing the way Florida’s $4.3 billion voucher program is funded and monitored.
The audit found the state paid millions in voucher funding without always confirming where students were actually being educated — whether in private schools, through homeschooling programs, or still in public classrooms. Auditors said that the breakdown meant education dollars did not consistently follow students as intended.
What does this mean for Orange County families?
Orange County Public Schools has been especially impacted, in part because vouchers are the fastest-growing option in Florida’s education system.
When voucher money leaves the public-school funding pool, districts lose state funding tied to enrollment. OCPS officials say that can happen even when students may not have fully left public classrooms.
District staff estimate nearly 40% of students who did not return to OCPS chose options outside traditional public schools, including voucher programs. The audit, however, found that some funding losses were caused not by parent choice but by the state’s failure to properly track students before releasing money.
Why do vouchers matter to parents?
Supporters of vouchers say they give parents more flexibility and control over their child’s education. Critics argue the rapid growth of the program pulls funding away from public schools, impacting classroom resources, staffing and services.
The audit raised concerns that as vouchers expanded, oversight did not keep pace — creating confusion over where students were enrolled and where tax dollars were going.
What do lawmakers want to change?
SB 318 would make several changes parents could notice:
- Voucher funding would be separated from public school funding, reducing the risk of public schools losing money due to tracking errors.
- Every student would be assigned a state identification number.
- Families would be required to regularly confirm where their child is being educated before education funding is released.
Lawmakers say the goal is to protect both parents using vouchers and families who rely on public schools.
Orange County Public Schools has publicly supported the proposal.
The bill now moves to the Florida House. If approved, the changes could take effect as early as next school year.