In 2023, the Florida Legislature passed a bill that expanded the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program (FTC) and Florida Empowerment Scholarship Program (FES) voucher programs. That means all student households are eligible to receive scholarships for private and charter schools, averaging nearly $8,000 per student; and that there are no financial requirements that must be met to apply. These state-funded scholarships have cut enrollment in public schools, which decreases state funding for each district, affecting teachers, administrators and students. The Sarasota County school district is feeling the crunch this academic year. 

7,186

Number of students in Sarasota County who are receiving FTC or FES vouchers.

39

Number of Sarasota County private schools that accept FES and FTC vouchers.

40 percent

Rise in the number of students using an FES voucher for the 2024-2025 school year (4,585 students) compared to the 2023-2024 school year (3,266 students).

1.3 percent

Overall increase in state funding to public schools in the 2025-2026 budget, most of which is earmarked for increasing teacher salaries.

5 percent

Decrease in funding for Sarasota’s Florida Education Finance Fund, the primary funding source for public schools.

$45 million

Sarasota County taxpayer dollars going to private school vouchers in the 2025-2026 school year.

$2.5 million

Funding shortfall for the district attributed to Florida’s vouchers.

300

Approximate decline in the number of students attending public district schools in Sarasota County in the 2025 school year.

222

Gain in charter school enrollment since 2024-2025.

14

Number of charter schools in Sarasota County.

82 percent

Florida students receiving vouchers who are attending religious schools.

Source: sarasotacountyschools.net, floridaschoolchoice.org