Florida's voucher boom fuels rapid growth of microschools and sparks policy clash
Microschools like WonderHere and Colossal Academy are expanding in Florida thanks to state vouchers, while teachers unions and lawmakers debate regulation and funding accountability.
In Florida, a wave of microschools such as WonderHere in Lakeland and Colossal Academy in Fort Lauderdale is thriving on state education vouchers that cover most of their tuition costs. Founded by former public-school teachers Jessica Zivkovic and Tiffany Thenor, WonderHere blends Montessori, Reggio Emilia and Finnish curricula on a 10-acre campus with a 12-to-1 student-teacher ratio. Approximately 95% of its students now use the $8,000 Florida Empowerment Voucher, which nearly matches the $9,000 annual fee.
The teachers union, led by Andrew Spar, argues the voucher surge erodes public-school funding, while Senator Don Gaetz has proposed a bill to isolate voucher money after an audit revealed $270 million paid for untraceable students. Critics also call for stricter licensing of private schools, but founders say flexibility and rapid program changes are essential to their model. Despite the controversy, polls show strong statewide support for school choice, and microschool enrollment now reaches an estimated 750,000 U.S. students.
Why it matters
Florida's voucher-driven microschools reshape K-12 options and raise questions about public-school funding and oversight.
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