Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who helped launch the state’s school choice revolution 25 years ago, said government needs to do more to increase the supply of private school seats.
Speaking to Michael Horn on The Future of Education podcast, Bush, who was joined by Primer school network founder Ryan Delk, said the state has a responsibility to ensure there are options for students who want them – and that includes increasing the supply side.
Private schools rely on private capital, but “this should be a state responsibility as well,” Bush said. “This is where we’re moving and there’s still – it’s work in progress.”
He compared school choice to Medicaid, where the government provides insurance but most of the care is provided by private providers, saying “the same mindset” should be applied to education.
“My hope and dream is that there’ll be a superintendent in Miami-Dade County or some other place that says every child that goes to school in my county is my responsibility, and I’m going to create a menu of options for parents, and I’m going to try to do everything I can to make sure that every child succeeds,” he said.
