Florida parents are taking advantage of an expanded school voucher program championed by Governor Ron DeSantis (R), according to messages from private Facebook groups obtained by Popular Information. The private Facebook messages reveal how parents are using the new

Florida parents are taking advantage of an expanded school voucher program championed by Governor Ron DeSantis ®, according to messages from private Facebook groups obtained by Popular Information. The private Facebook messages reveal how parents are using the new

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
    83·
    10 months ago

    This is according to plan.

    As the Tampa Bay Times reported, Step Up for Student’s new guide to approved expenses for recipients of PEP vouchers in the 2023-24 academic year authorizes the purchase of theme park tickets. Theme park tickets were previously a prohibited expense, but Step Up for Students’ “reconsidered after hearing from parents about the potential benefits.”

    …

    Other approved expenses for all homeschooled students this academic year include swing sets, foosball tables, air hockey tables, skateboards, kayaks, standup paddleboards, dolls, and stuffed animals.

    Insanity. And, of course, this is homeschooling parents all doing this.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
        32·
        10 months ago

        Why does the state need to fund dolls and stuffed animals or any of those other things for homeschoolers when teachers have to buy those things out of their own pocket if they even do? And those kids don’t get to play with them after school. It’s a two-tiered system and it is absolutely unfair.

          • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
            7·
            10 months ago

            That doesn’t justify what I was talking about at all. And even in that case, the child gets to play with the swing set after school, unlike kids at public schools.

              • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
                7·
                10 months ago

                Again- kids at public schools can only play on those playgrounds at recess. These homeschoolers can play with their swingsets all the time. That is a two-tiered system.

                  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
                    5·
                    10 months ago

                    Of course it’s a two-tier system. Do you think every parent is rich enough to survive on a single income while the other parent homeschools their children?

                  • stringere@reddthat.com
                    1·
                    10 months ago

                    Yes but for each swingset purchsed using state funds for a homeschool kid provides for 1 student whereas each swingset purchased using state money can provide for multiple classrooms of students.

                    That homeschool swingset is now private property not useable by anyone else that helped pay for it.

                    People choose homeschooling, fine. Homeschool should never be funded by the public, unless public school is not available or the student cannot attend for legitimate reasons.

                    You choose to homeschool? Great, you homefund it, too.

      • Saneless@sh.itjust.works
        101·
        10 months ago

        So you’re for teachers actually getting money to buy things for their classrooms now instead of using their own?