Universal ESAs Drive Majority Opt‑Out

When Education Savings Accounts became universal in Florida, a majority—53 percent—of K–12 students now attend schools chosen by families rather than their assigned public school. The shift is funded (Florida devotes 11.2 percent of its education budget) and largely channels families toward charters, open‑enrollment public schools, specialized 'à la carte' offerings, and religious schools. — If replicated, universal ESAs could transform public‑school enrollment patterns, funding flows, and the political economy of K–12 education across states.