Sweeping education bill increases options for parents TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida chapter of PublicSchoolOptions.org, a coalition of parents fighting for more educational options, is urging Governor Rick Scott to swiftly sign HB 7069 once the bill is delivered to his desk. House Bill 7069 arose from negotiations between Florida House and Senate leaders, who took portions of 55 bills and turned them into one 278-page piece of legislation. The bill is separate from the budget.House Bill 7069 is a sweeping education bill that includes provisions that will allow parents to have more choices for their child’s education. The bill:

• Eliminates an unnecessary “prior public” requirement – which requires all students to attend a traditional brick and mortar public school for one year prior to enrolling in a public virtual school. Now, students will be able to enter the public virtual school they choose without fulfilling this erroneous requirement.
• Allows for the authorization of multiple public charter schools in the same area to better serve the needs of its students and increase options for parents.
• Removes the requirement that student enrollment in a virtual instruction program be limited to the district in which the student resides. Under HB 7069, parents can choose to enroll their child in a public virtual school outside of their district.

PublicSchoolOptions.org believes that every child, regardless of their zip code or how much money their parents make, deserves the best start in life. We firmly believe that begins with a parent’s ability to choose the school where their child will thrive — whether that’s in a traditional brick and mortar school, public virtual school, public charter school, home school, or private school. Every child learns differently, even within the same family. Giving parents options so their child can succeed is critical.STATEMENT FROM CARMEN POTTER, PUBLICSCHOOLOPTIONS.ORG FLORIDA PARENT LEADER AND SCHOOL CHOICE ADVOCATE:“HB 7069 is a win for parents because it gives us more options for our children’s education and it entrusts us, not bureaucrats, to make these decisions for our children. After all, we know them best. The provisions in this bill move Florida in the right direction and should serve as an example for other states that want to trust parents with their children’s education decisions. We urge Governor Scott to sign this bill and send a message to all Floridians that trusting parents is the right decision.”###PublicSchoolOptions.org is a national alliance of parents that supports and defends parents’ rights to access the best public school options for their children. The Coalition supports the creation of public school options, including charter schools, online schools, magnet schools, open enrollment policies and other innovative education programs. Additionally, we advocate for equal access without restrictions to these public schools for all children.