Of course, any law can be amended in any legislative session. Have any of the "strings" been eliminated?
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Council for American Private Education (CAPE) May 1999 Florida Legislative Conference Committee Summary
Requirements for Private Schools Participating in the Florida Opportunity Scholarship Program
(The following is from the Summary of Conference Committee Action prepared by the Florida State Legislature.)
A private school must be a Florida private school, may be sectarian or nonsectarian, and must do the following:
Except for the first year of implementation, notify DOE and the local school district of its intent to participate in the opportunity scholarship program by May 1 of the school year preceding the school year in which it intends to participate. The notice must specify the grade levels and services available for the program.
Demonstrate fiscal soundness by being in operation for one school year or provide the DOE with a statement by a certified public accountant confirming that the private school desiring to participate is insured and the owner or owners have sufficient capital or credit to operate the school for the upcoming year serving the number of students anticipated with expected revenues from tuition and other sources that may be reasonably expected. In lieu thereof, a surety bond or letter of credit for the amount equal to the scholarship funds for any quarter may be filed with the department.
Comply with federal antidiscrimination provisions.
Meet state and local health and safety laws and codes.
Determine, on a random and religious-neutral basis without regard to the student's past academic history which opportunity scholarship students to accept. (Preference may be given to siblings of students already accepted under the program).
Be subject to the instruction, curriculum, and attendance criteria adopted by an appropriate nonpublic school accrediting body and be academically accountable to the parent or guardian as meeting the educational needs of the student. The private school must furnish a school profile which includes student performance.
The status of accreditation, as well as the highest degree attained by each faculty member, must be included in the school's annual report to DOE.
The private school must include in its school profile the percentage of teachers who hold regular Florida teaching certificates.
The private school must employ or contract with teachers who hold a BS or higher degree, or have at least 3 years teaching experience in public or private schools, or have special skills, knowledge, or expertise that qualifies them to provide instruction in subjects taught.
Comply with all state statutes relating to private schools.
Accept the opportunity scholarship amount provided by the state as full tuition and fees for each student.
Agree not to compel any opportunity scholarship student to profess a specific ideological belief, to pray, or to worship. The private school must adhere to the tenets of its published disciplinary procedures prior to the expulsion of an opportunity scholarship student.
Requirements for Students Participating in the Florida Opportunity Scholarship Program:
(The following is from the Summary of Conference Committee Action prepared by the Florida State Legislature.)
In order for a student to remain eligible in the opportunity scholarship program, all of the following provisions must be met:
The student must remain in attendance throughout the school year, unless excused by the school for illness or good cause.
The student must comply fully with the school's code of conduct.
The student's parent or guardian must comply fully with the private school's parental involvement requirements, unless excused by the school for illness or good cause.
The student's parent or guardian must ensure that the student takes all required statewide assessments. The student may take the required tests at a location and time provided by the school district.
A participant who fails to comply with the requirements of program participation forfeits the opportunity scholarship.
Vouchers are not scholarships.
The requirements, though, do not give the students or parents any additional "rights" that the other students have, nor does it give them more room to "complain". Those requirements clearly state the student mus follow all rules of conduct, and parents must be involved if the school requires it. Those two provisions turn off many parents in the first place.
Bottom line is: Only parents who care about their children's education are going to take advantage of this program. You will not have parents with whiney brats trying to sue schools into submission over petty things they could get away with at a publc school. An atheist isn't going to send his/her child to a private school, and demand they change things and accomodate his/her beliefs. Those types of people don't last a week at a private school. Their children are miserable because no one likes them, will talk to them or be their friend. Kids are good at enforcing such "social order" in public schools.