The Florida "exit voucher" program that allows students in failing public schools to transfer to private schools at public expense will expand this year. Last week, 10 Sunshine State schools received their second F rating in four years, which makes their pupils-roughly 8,900 in all-eligible for the voucher program. Before this year's results were announced, students from just two Florida schools were eligible for the program. In those two schools, about 10 percent of students applied for vouchers to private schools (though not all found private schools to take them) and 10 percent transferred to other public schools (which is also allowed under the state's accountability system). The big increase in voucher-eligible schools is expected to fuel debate over the policy as Gov. Jeb Bush, a voucher advocate, campaigns for re-election this year. For details see "More schools earn failing grade," by Stephen Hegarty, St. Petersburg Times, June 13, 2002.
