House and Senate Committees Advance Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Expansion Bills

On Monday, James Herzog, associate director for education, testified in support of SB 1314 (Grimsley) as the proposal passed its first committee of reference. The bill increases the per-student scholarship amount for high school students from low-income families served under the Florida Tax Credit (FTC) Scholarship Program.

"It offers more options for low-income families," Herzog said.  "It gives them hope and opportunity when a high quality nonpublic school education might be just beyond their grasp otherwise." Herzog also spoke in favor of a provision in the bill which allows the Scholarship Funding Organizations (SFOs) approved by the State to administer the program to expand offerings for free professional development and other support services to provider schools.
 
On Thursday, Herzog indicated the FCCB's support of the similar HB 15 (Sullivan) as the bill passed the House Education Committee, its final committee of reference.