Education is one of the most important decisions a parent makes. Where your child goes to school shapes their future — their opportunities, their values, and their potential. For too long, that decision was made by ZIP code, not by parents. School choice changes that. And in Florida’s 16th District — home to families in Bradenton, Riverview, Lakewood Ranch, Brandon, and Parrish — protecting and expanding school choice is one of the most important things Congress can do for the next generation.
What Is School Choice?
School choice is a policy framework that empowers parents to direct education funding toward the school that best fits their child’s needs — whether that’s a traditional public school, a charter school, a private school, a faith-based school, or a homeschool program. Rather than automatically assigning every child to a government school based on their address, school choice lets families choose.
School choice programs generally fall into four categories:
- Vouchers — state funding given directly to families to pay private school tuition. The original and most straightforward form of school choice.
- Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) — government-funded accounts that parents can use for a wide range of education expenses: private school tuition, tutoring, curriculum, therapy for students with special needs, and more. ESAs offer the most flexibility of any school choice model.
- Tax credit scholarships — businesses or individuals receive tax credits for donating to nonprofit scholarship organizations, which then award scholarships to students for private school. Florida’s Step Up For Students program is the largest example in the nation.
- Charter schools — publicly funded schools that operate independently of traditional district bureaucracy under a performance charter. Charter schools are part of the public school system but have more freedom to innovate in curriculum, schedule, and teaching methods.
School choice is a core conservative principle: the belief that competition improves quality, that parents know their children better than government bureaucrats, and that a child’s educational opportunity should not be determined by the accident of their address. Florida has been a national leader in implementing these principles — and Congress can extend them nationwide.
Florida’s School Choice Programs: What’s Available Right Now
Florida is one of the most school-choice-friendly states in the nation. Families in Manatee and Hillsborough counties have more educational options than most Americans. Here is what is currently available:
Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (Step Up For Students). Funded by corporate tax credits, this program provides scholarships to low- and middle-income students to attend private schools of their choice. It is one of the largest private school choice programs in the country — see the dedicated section below for full details.
Family Empowerment Scholarship (FES). Florida’s Education Savings Account program, available in two versions: FES-EO for students from lower-income families or students in low-performing public schools, and FES-UA for students with unique abilities (disabilities and special needs). FES accounts can be used for private school tuition, tutoring, therapy, curriculum, and other approved educational expenses.
Charter Schools. Florida has one of the strongest charter school sectors in the nation, with hundreds of publicly funded charter schools operating across Manatee and Hillsborough counties. Charter schools offer specialized programs — STEM focus, classical education, arts integration, language immersion — within the public school system, at no additional cost to families. Learn more about schools in District 16 →
Hope Scholarship. For students who have been bullied or subjected to violence in public school, Florida’s Hope Scholarship allows them to transfer to a different public school or attend a private school with state scholarship support. No student should be forced to remain in an environment where they are unsafe.
Public school open enrollment and magnet programs. Florida also permits intradistrict and interdistrict public school choice, allowing families to apply to schools outside their assigned attendance zone, including magnet and specialty programs in Manatee and Hillsborough County school districts.
Step Up For Students: Florida’s Largest School Choice Program
Step Up For Students is the largest private school choice program in the United States, and it is based right here in Florida. Through the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, Step Up For Students provides scholarship funding to low- and middle-income families to attend the private school of their choice — including religious and faith-based schools.
Key facts about the Step Up For Students program:
- Who qualifies: Florida students in grades K–12 whose household income does not exceed 375% of the federal poverty level (approximately $111,000 for a family of four). Priority is given to lower-income families.
- Scholarship amount: Varies based on family income and grade level; can cover a significant portion of private school tuition costs.
- How to apply: Through the Step Up For Students organization (stepupforstudents.org). Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until funding is exhausted each year.
- Scale: Over 400,000 Florida students currently participate — making it by far the largest program of its kind anywhere in the country.
- Participating schools: Thousands of private schools across Florida accept Step Up scholarships, including many schools in Manatee and Hillsborough counties serving FL-16 families.
The program is funded through corporate tax credits — businesses that donate to scholarship-funding organizations like Step Up receive a dollar-for-dollar state tax credit. This means the program does not draw from the state’s education budget; it is financed by redirecting corporate tax liability into scholarships for children.
John Peters strongly supports Step Up For Students and will oppose any federal policy that threatens Florida’s ability to operate this program.
Homeschooling in Florida: Rights, Resources, and Federal Threats
Florida has one of the most homeschool-friendly legal environments in the nation. Florida law gives parents a clear right to homeschool their children, with straightforward notification requirements and minimal government oversight. Homeschool families in Florida are not required to use state-approved curriculum, hire certified teachers, or submit to regular government inspections of their home.
Florida homeschool requirements include:
- Filing a notice of intent with your county school district within 30 days of beginning homeschooling
- Maintaining a portfolio of educational materials (samples of work, reading lists, etc.)
- Having the portfolio evaluated annually by a certified teacher, licensed psychologist, or other approved evaluator — or having the student take a standardized test
There is no state mandate on curriculum, instruction hours, or specific subjects beyond this basic framework. Florida homeschool families have significant freedom — and a thriving community of co-ops, learning pods, and support networks across Manatee and Hillsborough counties.
The threat to this freedom comes from Washington. Federal education funding has historically come with federal strings — requirements that can creep into homeschool regulation when Congress is not vigilant. Proposals to require federal registration of homeschool students, impose federal curriculum standards on private and home-based education, or condition federal funding on compliance with ideological mandates would directly threaten the freedom Florida homeschool families currently enjoy.
John Peters will be a firm voice against any federal overreach into homeschooling. Parents who have chosen to educate their children at home have made that choice for serious reasons — religious conviction, educational philosophy, safety, or a child’s unique learning needs — and Congress should respect it, not undermine it.
Why Does Congress Matter for School Choice?
Education is primarily a state issue, but federal policy plays a significant role in shaping what is possible at the state level:
Federal Funding Flexibility. The federal government channels billions of dollars to K–12 education through programs like Title I (for low-income students) and IDEA (for students with disabilities). How those dollars can be used — and whether states can direct them toward school choice programs — depends heavily on federal policy. Congress can either expand flexibility for states to use these funds for choice programs, or restrict it.
Education Savings Accounts at the Federal Level. Federal ESA legislation would allow families to use a portion of federal education funding for the educational option that works best for their child — private school tuition, tutoring, curriculum, and more. This would extend school choice to families in states that have not yet enacted their own programs, and expand resources for Florida families already using state programs.
Protecting Homeschooling. Federal regulations can threaten homeschooling families, as noted above. A strong congressional voice is needed to ensure that Washington bureaucrats do not impose new requirements on homeschool parents in Florida.
Resisting Federal Overreach in Curriculum. Congress controls federal funding, and federal funding comes with federal strings. Attempts to condition education funding on adoption of specific curriculum — whether on gender ideology, historical interpretation, or other contested subjects — must be resisted. Florida communities should set their own educational standards, not Washington.
John Peters’ Commitment to School Choice in District 16
I believe parents — not government bureaucrats — know what is best for their children. Every family in Bradenton, Riverview, Lakewood Ranch, Brandon, and Parrish deserves access to the educational environment that helps their child thrive. As your Congressman, I will:
- Support federal Education Savings Account legislation to expand school choice nationwide
- Oppose any federal policy that undermines Florida’s existing school choice programs, including Step Up For Students
- Protect homeschooling families from new federal mandates or reporting requirements
- Fight against ideological curriculum mandates from Washington in public, private, and home-based education
- Advocate for flexible use of Title I and other federal education funding to support choice
The teachers in our public schools work incredibly hard, and I support them. But the best way to improve education across the board — public and private — is through competition, parental empowerment, and accountability. Not more government control.
See John Peters’ full platform for District 16 →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is school choice?
School choice is a policy framework that allows parents to direct education funding — whether from state, federal, or tax credit sources — toward the school that best fits their child’s needs, rather than being assigned to a school based on their home address. School choice programs include vouchers, Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), tax credit scholarships, and charter schools.
How does school choice work in Florida?
Florida offers several school choice programs: the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (Step Up For Students) for low- and middle-income families, the Family Empowerment Scholarship ESA program, a robust charter school sector, the Hope Scholarship for students who have experienced bullying, and public school open enrollment. Florida is consistently ranked as one of the top school choice states in the nation.
What is Step Up For Students and how do I apply?
Step Up For Students is Florida’s tax credit scholarship program — the largest private school choice program in the United States, serving over 400,000 Florida students. It provides scholarship funding for low- and middle-income families (up to approximately $111,000 household income for a family of four) to attend private schools. Apply at stepupforstudents.org on a rolling basis.
What states have school choice?
As of 2026, more than 30 states have some form of school choice program, ranging from tax credit scholarships to full Education Savings Account programs. Arizona, Florida, Indiana, and Ohio have the largest and most comprehensive programs. Several states have recently enacted universal ESA programs making all students eligible regardless of income.
Why do some people oppose school choice?
Opponents argue that school choice diverts funding from public schools, that private schools lack accountability, and that it can increase segregation. Supporters counter that competition improves all schools, that accountability follows the student through program requirements, and that parents — not ZIP codes — should determine where children learn. The empirical research on school choice outcomes is broadly positive, with most studies finding neutral to modestly positive effects on both participating students and nearby public schools.
Every child in District 16 deserves an education that fits their needs — not just the one assigned by their ZIP code. Join John Peters’ campaign and fight for school choice in Florida and across the nation.