Over the past fifteen years, education in Florida and across the nation has undergone rapid and transformative change. For some, these shifts have been disorienting or even disruptive; for others, they represent a long-awaited era of innovation and parental empowerment. For much of this period, however, many school districts and boards treated these developments as temporary trends—something to be endured until the system returned to “normal.”
The data now tell a different story. Participation in U.S. educational choice has reached unprecedented levels more than doubling since 2020 reflecting a lasting cultural and policy shift. In the 2001–2002 school year, 86% of Florida students attended a traditional public school. By 2024, that share had fallen dramatically to just 51%. For Florida, the evidence points to a clear reality—school choice has become a defining feature of the educational landscape. Stakeholders at every level—teachers, administrators, district leaders, and policymakers—must now decide whether to treat this shift as a challenge to resist or as an opportunity to collaborate. While methods may differ, the shared objective remains constant: ensuring that all children have access to high-quality education in environments best suited to their needs.
Moreover, public schools continue to serve the majority of Florida students. They also retain the most significant budgets, staff capacity, and state support. As such, they have the greatest potential to shape the future of Florida’s education system. To thrive in this new environment, public schools can embrace Florida’s new normal through three key strategies: people, places, and partnerships.
People: Professional Education
Continuing education keeps teachers current with best practices and fulfills recertification requirements. Yet in most districts, these trainings are restricted to district employees. This exclusivity not only wastes taxpayer-funded training seats but also shuts out teachers in microschools, tutoring centers, and other innovative settings who could benefit (and contribute) from the same learning.
Opening these trainings has multiple benefits:
- Teachers from nontraditional environments gain valuable professional development.
- Public school teachers are enriched by collaboration with peers from diverse contexts.
- Districts could recover some training costs by charging a modest fee for outside participants.
Cross-sector collaboration fosters innovation, stretches public dollars further, and ultimately enhances learning outcomes for more students. Districts could also partner with universities, professional associations, or nonprofit organizations to offer credentialing programs that are accessible to educators in all learning environments. This type of collaboration reflects a growing recognition that teacher quality and innovation are shared responsibilities across the broader education ecosystem—not confined to any single sector.
Places: Facilities and Space
Declining enrollment has left many districts with half-empty buildings and expensive real estate portfolios to maintain. Rather than closing schools outright, districts could lease unused space to educational entrepreneurs. This isn’t a radical idea. Public/private partnerships are already common in infrastructure, transportation, and even defense. Education has already seen this succeed through charter schools.
By leasing underused classrooms or facilities, districts can generate income to sustain operations, innovators gain access to student-ready spaces, and families benefit from expanded educational options in their own neighborhoods.
Partnerships: Shared Leadership and Ideas
Finally, perhaps the lowest-cost and highest-impact step is simply building a culture of dialogue. Roundtable workshops that bring together leaders from district schools, charters, microschools, private schools, and homeschool centers could go a long way toward breaking down silos. These conversations would allow leaders to share what’s working, troubleshoot challenges, and set higher standards across the board. Joint discussions could also inform state and local policymakers by identifying innovative models worth replicating.
Florida is building a true model of school choice, where the public neighborhood school is one strong option among many. This moment offers a tremendous opportunity for districts to embrace innovation and collaboration, creating a system that benefits public schools, private schools, and the growing number of new educational options.
Shared leadership encourages accountability, transparency, and a more unified vision for education in Florida—one grounded in collaboration rather than competition.
Sidebar Story:
Behind the data are real families whose lives are transformed when they find the right educational fit. One family from Tampa, FL, had a child so anxious about school that he was terrified to even walk through the doors each morning. The traditional setting left him overwhelmed and withdrawn, to the point of being diagnosed with Selective Mutism. When his parents were able to use scholarship funds to enroll him in a smaller, more nurturing environment, everything began to change. Supported by teachers who met him where he was, he slowly gained confidence—first walking in on his own, then engaging with friends and lessons that once felt out of reach.
Within months, the child who once communicated only in whispers began speaking in full sentences. Over time, his newfound confidence allowed him to transition successfully to a full-time school that fit his family’s evolving needs. His story is just one example of how educational choice is not an abstract policy debate—it is about children and families finding places where they can truly thrive.
Marissa Hess is the founder of The Urban Cottage Educational Collaborative.
2025 EdChoice Share: Exploring Where America’s Students Are Educated
