WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Rick Scott announced he sent a letter to the governors of all 50 states urging them to put students and families first by opting in to President Donald Trump’s School Choice Tax Credit Program, created through the One Big Beautiful Bill, to expand school choice opportunities and ensure every student has the opportunity to receive a high-quality education that allows them to succeed and live the American dream.

Read more in the Daily Signal HERE or below:

Dear Governors: 

It is unacceptable that today, in the United States of America, millions of kids who grew up just like I did still lack access to quality education simply because of their zip code. School choice isn't just about education—it's about freedom, opportunity, and allowing parents to choose what's best for their kids, regardless of their financial situation. It’s about protecting the American Dream for future generations. 

I know firsthand that a great education is a strong foundation for living the American dream. I was born to a single mom with an 11th-grade education, and I never met my birth father. My adopted dad never had more than a 6th-grade education. We lived in public housing, and my mom often struggled to put food on the table, but she wanted a better life for her kids. She pushed me to work hard in school and get a good education. And because of that and God’s grace, I was able to live the American dream. My story is just one of many, but it is why we must do everything we can to partner with parents and ensure every child has access to a quality education that best fits them. 

Thankfully, President Trump is working hard to expand school choice programs for children and families. I was proud to work with him to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill and create a federal tax credit that allows individuals to donate to an educational scholarship program at no cost to them or their state. 

This life-changing program is a win-win for governors, state budgets, and – most importantly – families. Not only does this program take nothing from state coffers, but states that opt in to the program can set their own requirements for scholarship-granting organizations, meaning programs can target funding scholarships for poor, working-class, and underserved communities. 

Opting in to allow your state and its citizens access to this tax credit is a straightforward, low-risk, high-reward opportunity to empower, aid, and support families and kids in your state, especially poor families like mine growing up. The evidence is overwhelming: school choice programs consistently improve outcomes for students, particularly low-income and minority children. This tax credit creates accountability, fosters innovation, and puts parents – not bureaucrats – in charge of their children's future.

During my tenure as governor, I was proud to make Florida a leader in school choice. We drastically increased academic outcomes for Florida students by empowering parents to actively participate in where and how their child was educated. School choice wasn’t just for the elites – it was for everyone, because every family deserves the chance to send their child to the school that best meets their needs. 

Choice and competition among schools benefit everyone, whether you’re in a public, private, charter, or religious school. When we expanded school choice options in Florida, suspensions and absences in neighborhood schools went down, and test scores went up. When parents can select schools that match their values and their children's needs, no child’s potential or opportunity to achieve the American Dream is squandered by being forced to remain in a failing school simply because of their zip code or family income. Based on these results and countless others, I am writing to ensure you know about this program and urge you to take steps to opt in so that families around the country can access these benefits. 

I look forward to seeing which governors have the courage to stand up to teachers’ unions and bureaucrats and fight for families like mine by taking advantage of this program. Families in your state are watching your decision, and I encourage you to opt in to help put them and their children first.

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