Background
The Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP) has been a part of Florida’s A+ Education Plan since 1999. The program offers parents the option to transfer their children to a higher performing public school if their children attend, or have been assigned to attend, a failing public school.
A “failing” public school is a designated performance grade “D” or “F” school by the Department of Education’s Differentiated Accountability Plan.
Originally, the program allowed students to transfer to a participating private school. But on January 5, 2006, a Florida Supreme Court ruling declared the private school option of the Opportunity Scholarship Program was unconstitutional.
A total of 1,431 students were enrolled OSP for the 2009-2010 school year. Of those students, 94% were in grades 9-12.
African-American students were among the largest population to participate in the OSP, at 73%, followed by Hispanic students at 18%.
Transportation Vouchers
- If a parent chooses a higher-performing public school within the district, the school district is responsible for providing transportation or transportation vouchers to bus students within the district.
- If a parent chooses a higher-performing public school in any other district, the parent or guardian is responsible for providing transportation.
