Robust school choice programs help rural families and leave district schools unharmed, report shows 

A new report debunks the myth that school choice “devastates” rural school districts.

In their report “Rerouting the Myths of Rural School Choice,” analysts from the nonprofit organization Step Up for Students focused on educational freedom programs in Florida, a state that has expanded school choice significantly over the last 10 years.

Florida offers income-based school choice programs, along with state-funded Educational Savings Accounts (ESAs) for parents who want to send their children to private or charter schools.

Yet, the expansion of these programs over the last 10 years has been accompanied by private school growth without any detrimental impact on district schools, even in rural areas. 

“So, on the one hand, education choice is helping thousands of rural families access life-changing options for their kids,” the report’s authors noted. “On the other, the overwhelming majority of rural families continue to choose district schools.”

Last year 16.7 percent of students in Florida’s 30 rural counties attended private school, charter school, or chose homeschooling – an increase of 10.6% over 10 years ago. And this year, nearly 2,000 students in rural counties accessed state-funded ESAs – a 97% increase from 2014, when the program began.

But the share of students attending private schools versus district schools has increased more modestly – rising 2.4%, undermining the argument that choice programs hurt rural district schools. 

“School choice doesn’t make the sky fall on rural district schools,” say the report’s authors. “But it does help part the clouds for rural families who need options for their children.”