PRESS RELEASE: Heartland Institute Experts React to Florida Passing Hope Scholarship Expansion for Victims of Bullying and Violence

Published March 13, 2018

On Sunday, Gov. Rick Scott signed HB 7055, which increases scholarship opportunities and school choice options for Florida’s K-12 students. The legislation expands Florida’s Gardiner Scholarship Program for students with unique abilities, and creates the Hope Scholarship Program for students who are victims of bullying, harassment, and violence.

The following statements from education policy experts at The Heartland Institute – a free-market think tank – may be used for attribution. For more comments, refer to the contact information below. To book a Heartland guest on your program, please contact Director of Communications Jim Lakely at [email protected] and 312/377-4000 or (cell) 312/731-9364.

NOTE: The Heartland Institute has a TV studio in its office available for
a remote connection to any news station in Florida on short notice.


“Government policies that force children to go to schools where bullies lie in wait or other unsafe conditions are tolerated does great emotional and academic harm to the most vulnerable children. No child should be required to attend a school where he or she feels unsafe. Every state should have a program like Florida’s, and in fact every state should make such relief universal for all children who suffer from feeling unsafe at school. For every student to have a chance to succeed, every student should be given a chance to feel safe.”

S.T. Karnick
Policy Analyst
The Heartland Institute
[email protected]
312/377-4000


“The signing of this bill is a great step to protect students. All students should feel safe at school. Empowering parents with options to move their children out of an unsafe school environment should be a fundamental right.”

Lennie Jarratt
Project Manager, Education
The Heartland Institute
[email protected]
847/302-3985


“This life-changing bill will help ensure children who feel unsafe in their public schools will have a place they can learn in safety and with peace of mind. With over 150,000 children enrolled in private school choice programs, Florida has become the nation’s school choice leader. The Hope Scholarships will continue the proud tradition the Sunshine State has established over the past 20 years and will help ensure more children will be able to attend the school that best suits their unique needs. “

Tim Benson
Policy Analyst
The Heartland Institute
[email protected]
312/377-4000