Two Sides of the Same Coin

By: Angel Pittman

CBF Florida partners with some of the most talented and passionate advocates for the world’s vulnerable people. One such partner is Angel Pittman, who works to make sure that all of Florida’s children have access to a quality public education. In her most recent blog, she tells the story of a family that fell pray to the allure of education vouchers.

For me merging individual support of students and their families with legislative work is just two sides to the same advocacy coin—the following captures a view of my educational advocacy work and why legislative engagement right now is essential.

I recently received a call from a community partner in the south end of Miami-Dade County about a Mom in need of support. Believing that "private school" was better than public schools, she had enrolled her two children in a small private school using one of Florida's many “scholarships." These vouchers were specifically for low-income parents to send their children to private schools, and it seems like a perfect fit. Like all the available schools, this voucher program didn't pay for the full cost of schooling. Mom earns her living by the hour picking vegetables in the fields and Dad works construction and for years they made it work, thinking this was the best choice for her children.

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