Florida doesn't regulate private schools though they get 2 kinds of vouchers.

[madfloridian]

There are attendance requirements and rules for the length of the school year. But Florida asserts very little control over private schools. There are two major vouchers types in Florida now which give public money to these schools....The McKay Scholarship Program for students with disabilities, and the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program for children of families with limited financial resources.

So I think it is important to look at how this money will be spent as it lowers the taxes received by public schools by hundreds of millions of dollars.

From 2010. I don't have later figures.

The Florida Senate passed a voucher bill Wednesday expanding a corporate tax credit program that lets parents place their children in private schools – the first on a roster of controversial education bills that would have broad import for public schools.

The program allows corporations that make contributions deduct those gifts from their corporate income and insurance premium taxes. Economists expect the expansion would cost the state $31 million in lost taxes next year and as much as $228 million in future years – although those losses would be offset somewhat because taxpayers would pay less for students in the program than if they were attending public schools.

Here are the regulations or lack thereof that Florida puts on private schools.

Florida School Choice, Private Schools

This is a list from the public website of the Florida Dept of Education, so I assume posting a list is not breaking copyright rules.

Does the Florida Department of Education license private schools?

No. The Department of Education does not have jurisdiction over private schools. Legislative intent not to regulate, control, approve, or accredit private educational institutions, churches, their ministries, religious instruction, freedoms, or rites, is explicit. The owners of private elementary and secondary schools in Florida are solely responsible for all aspects of their educational programs.

Do private schools have to be accredited?

No. In Florida, private schools are not accredited by the state. Additionally, the Florida Department of Education does not officially recognize any of the various agencies that accredit private schools. Contact the private schools and accrediting agencies to determine the accreditation status.

Do private schools have to hire certified teachers?

No. The owners of private elementary and secondary schools in Florida are solely responsible for establishing duties, qualifications, and salaries of faculty and staff.

How do I know if a private school is legitimate?

Since private schools in Florida are not regulated or accredited by the state, the Department of Education is unable to determine the legitimacy of a school. You have the right and the responsibility to select the appropriate school to meet your child's learning needs. The Choosing a Private School in Florida Web page can help you to evaluate your private school choices to see if the needs of your child will be met.

Accountability and student records:

Do private school students have to take the FCAT or other standardized tests?

Student assessment, including the administration of standardized tests, is based on the decision of the owners and individual policies of private elementary and secondary schools. There are no state requirements for regularly enrolled students of private schools to take the FCAT or other standardized tests. McKay Scholarship and Florida Tax Credit Scholarshipstudents have the option to request to take the FCAT or other state wide assessments. Florida Tax Credit Scholarship students in grades 3 through 10 are required to take the approved norm-referenced assessment offered by their private school

Are private school transcripts or diplomas approved by the Florida Department of Education?

No. The owners of private elementary and secondary schools in Florida are solely responsible for establishing academic, graduation or promotion requirements. It is wise to check with the prospective college, university, or employer to determine whether or not diplomas and transcripts from a specific private school will be accepted.

Do private schools have to follow a certain curriculum?

No. Content and comprehensiveness of the curriculum are solely the responsibility of the owners of private elementary and secondary schools in Florida.

Many charter schools can not be regulated by local districts, instead they answer to their management company's board. That leaves only public schools that are regulated and held accountable at all times.

In fact there is a law that just passed the Florida House that would limit school districts' control over privately managed charter schools.

[Jamaal510]

1. K&R

[HooptieWagon]

2. Yes, the OP is entirely correct.

Public schools in Florida have oversight by elected local school boards and the State. There is all kinds of oversight and accountability, including mandatory tests and the threat of the State reducing funding to "underperforming" schools (regardless of extenuating circumstances those schools may be operating under). There is no such oversight to private schools, despite receiving tax dollars. Further, the private schools may or may not even be governed by a local Board of Directors.

[madfloridian]

3. Also owners can fail, then start another with no accountability. No background checks needed.

I wrote about a lot of these almost criminal undertakings where students were subjected to abuse. FL had some real scandals several years ago, and it just keeps on.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024485261

A shocking report from Miami New Times examines a number of private schools that are living off taxpayer funds thanks to the John M. McKay Scholarships for Students With Disabilities Program. What the newspaper found isn’t pretty.

The program doles out lots of taxpayer money to religious and other private schools, but it doesn’t provide any significant oversight. As New Times put it, “There is no accreditation requirement for McKay schools. And without curriculum regulations, the DOE can’t yank back its money if students are discovered to be spending their days filling out workbooks, watching B-movies, or frolicking in the park. In one ‘business management’ class, students shook cans for coins on street corners.”

Other abuses the paper uncovered include:

* South Florida Preparatory Christian Academy in Oakland Park: The school’s 200 students moved from one dingy location to another before a fire marshal declared one building “unfit” for use. Some classes were held in public parks. Textbooks were scarce, and the music teacher noted that there were no instruments in the school.

* Hope Academy in Homestead: Three staff members were found to have criminal records, two for drug offenses. A woman is suing the school, saying officials did nothing after her disabled daughter was molested by a classmate.

[HooptieWagon]

5. Oh, it gets much worse.

A for-profit business bought up closed schools and distressed properties. Then they created a non-profit subsidary to run private schools, and rented the properties they owned to the non-profit schools at greatly inflated prices. All funded by tax dollars taken from public schools.

[ancianita]

4. Yep. The clubby culture that dominates them preserves the 'affluent mystique.'

http://www.privateschoolreview.com/state_private_schools/stateid/FL

[Starry Messenger]

6. k&r