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Education is at a Crossroads: Help Us Illuminate the Path Forward.听

If this year鈥檚 election taught political observers anything, it鈥檚 that you can鈥檛 tell people they鈥檙e getting something good when they believe they鈥檙e not.

You can鈥檛 tell them the economy is great when they鈥檙e paying $4 for a dozen eggs.

You can鈥檛 tell them the job market is strong when they can鈥檛 find work.

And you can鈥檛 tell them their assigned public schools are delivering for their kids when they can plainly see outcomes that don鈥檛 align with those promises.

For years, families have been told that the one-size-fits-all public education system would prepare their children for the future. But more and more parents, particularly in historically underserved communities, are demanding options. They鈥檙e recognizing that choice empowers them to find the right educational fit for their child 鈥� a fit that meets individual needs, talents and goals and that鈥檚 responsive to their cultural values and expectations.

As election results poured in last week, NBC political commentator Chuck Todd specifically for record Republican gains among Latino voters.

These families 鈥� like all families 鈥� want a voice in their children鈥檚 education. They want to feel their tax dollars are funding schools that prioritize quality and accountability. In a diverse state like Florida, and in states across the nation, parents from every background are expressing this desire for choice.

School choice opponents have somehow convinced themselves that its purpose is to undermine the traditional public school system.

Trust me, that was the furthest thing from my mind when I set out to reform Florida鈥檚 education system as a first-term governor 25 years ago.

We wanted to make sure families had options if they needed them. No parent should be forced to keep their child in a school that isn鈥檛 serving them well. School choice is about opening doors, not closing them. It鈥檚 about opportunity, accountability and the recognition that one model doesn鈥檛 work for every student. It鈥檚 about a rising tide of achievement that lifts all boats. 

And we didn鈥檛 just focus on school choice: We implemented a strong school system and early literacy reforms that propelled Florida鈥檚 schools forward. While other states debated reforms, we took action to ensure students would gain essential skills in reading, setting them up for lifelong learning success. Today, these reforms serve as a model for other states.

As school choice has become more accessible, Florida’s public schools also have improved. Greater competition has raised the bar across the board, proving that giving families choices strengthens 鈥� not weakens 鈥� the educational system.

According to a recent by the American Enterprise Institute, Florida is 鈥渢he single best state in which to be a low-income public school student.鈥�

Florida also recently was the third-most diverse state in the nation, with 1 out of 5 residents born in a foreign country and only 36% born in the state. Diversity is our strength, and our education policies reflect our commitment to each child, regardless of their background or zip code.

We鈥檝e built an education landscape for everyone because we believe everyone deserves access to quality schools. School choice doesn鈥檛 divide communities; it strengthens them by respecting families’ unique needs and aspirations for their children. This movement isn鈥檛 about ideology. It鈥檚 about progress and ensuring that all children, in every neighborhood, have access to an education that meets their needs.

Policymakers should take the lessons from this election and recognize that families are sending a clear message: They want the freedom to choose an education that works for their child. 

For those who continue to stand against school choice, it鈥檚 time to listen. Families have rejected one-size-fits-all solutions, and they don鈥檛 want you to tell them what you think is best for them. They want the opportunity to find the right educational path for their kids, and it鈥檚 up to policymakers to continue to break down barriers that stand in their way. 

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