The Recent Exodus of Florida’s Public School System
From facemasks to quarantined holiday mandates, we all have been affected by the orders put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
By Isabelle Clemons
Date: Jan. 14, 2020
2020 has been a challenging year for many people around the world. From facemasks to quarantined holiday mandates, we all have been affected by the orders put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. However, these measures have side-effects. One significant side-effect has been the abrupt decline in students enrolled in Florida public schools. Many parents have turned to alternative modes of education. A new wave of students is now taking part in the homeschooling programs Florida offers. But this exodus is not only happening in Florida, but nationwide. Data is now suggesting that the public school system will likely lose millions of students this school year. Reason Foundation says, “An August nationwide survey from Gallup suggests that the proportion of students enrolled in traditional public schools might drop by seven percentage points, with a random sample of 214 parents telling pollsters what type of education option they will choose for their oldest child this year—whether that be a public, charter, private, parochial, or homeschool option. Because around 50 million children were enrolled in public school’s pre-pandemic, this finding implies that about 3.5 million students may leave the system.” Even skeptic parents on homeschooling in the past have changed their tune on education due to the pandemic. One News Now says, “Many parents who once criticized homeschoolers – even though they score 30–37 percentile points higher than publicly schooled children across all subjects – are now embracing home education, with a recent poll conducted by the American Federation of Children revealing that 40% of those surveyed are more likely to pursue homeschooling due to the coronavirus pandemic.”
In addition to the decreased number of students attending public schools in Florida, students are also failing at a rapid rate. The combination of online school, lack of motivation from an irregular year, and the stress of 2020 have had a mass effect on our students state-wide. Fox News found recent studies showing that “the percentage of students with two or more F marks, for example, increased 83% from 6% to 11% in the first quarter of the 2020-2021 school year compared to the first quarter of the 2019-2020 school year.” The switch to online learning has been found to be very challenging for most students. Distractions in the home or a bad connection can make or break a student’s learning experience. However, with homeschooling, parents and students find a more personalized and motivating route. Homeschooling offers a community of other parents and students fleeing the public-school systems and promotes a personalized approach to education, encouraging students to take responsibility for their own education, and making them more prepared for university-level learning. Since the pandemic, parents are paying more attention to their child’s education, and in turn, finding them alternative options to the public school system in Florida
Homeschooling offers a community of other parents and students fleeing the public-school systems and promotes a personalized approach to education, encouraging students to take responsibility for their own education, and making them more prepared for university-level learning.
We have already witnessed this exodus in Florida with so many families turning to alternative modes of education like homeschooling. However, many parents are new to the homeschooling scene. Many feel homeschooling is the best option but do not know where to start. Liberty Scholar can help parents find quality education at home by recommending Classical Conversations, a superior homeschooling program. Classical Conversations is a program for homeschool families that focuses on educating children in a classical, Christian, and community-based way. This program includes education for all students Pre-K through 12th grade. Classical Conversations empowers parents and allows children to thrive while maintaining a focus on Christ.
Amongst all the chaos of change this year, one can only worry about what is in their control. The education of our children is in the control of the parents and is vital to the future of this country. Parents, educate yourselves on the best mode of learning for your student. It is never too late to give your child the gift of a great education.
