Is Florida’s legislative support of private schools hurting public school funding?
Yes.
Florida passed a law two years ago to promote and grow charter schools, which, in turn, has led to a drop in public school funding.
The Florida Policy Institute estimated the state spent $3.9 billion on vouchers for private education in 2024-25, up from the $3.2 billion during the prior school year.
More students attending private or charter schools means less money for public schools. That’s because state funding is tied to each individual student, so a drop in public school enrollment means less funding for the public schools they left. That comes to roughly $9,000 per student every year.
FPI found seven in 10 new scholarships are awarded to students already enrolled in private schools. This is a result of a 2023 state law that removed income as a qualification for the voucher programs.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
— Clinton Engelberger
Is it against Florida law to drive a car with a license plate frame that covers part of the plate?
Yes.
It is a civil offense in Florida to have a license plate frame that covers any part of a vehicle’s license plate — not just the identification or decal numbers.
Any license plate frame that alters the legibility, angular visibility, or detectability of any feature or detail on the license plate violates Florida Statute section 320.061.
An obscured license plate equates to a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable by fines and other penalties.
There is a chance the citation or fine may be dismissed in court. In 2024, 91,117 citations were handed out for this violation in Florida, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Of those, 69% were dismissed.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
— Aaron Mammah
