When Gov. DeSantis brags about Florida, other states should see it as a challenge to up their game.
There has never been a better time to live in Florida.
Gov. Ron DeSantis frequently touts this fact, and under his leadership, the Sunshine State has become brighter still. As someone who moved my own family to Florida 12 years ago, I’ve witnessed this rise first-hand, and I wish every state would learn from it. If others states did half of what Florida is doing, they would no doubt experience some measure of Florida’s seemingly nonstop rise.
So, what makes Florida so family-friendly and so attractive a place to live? Here are the top 10 reasons, from my family’s perspective and our own experience. Crucially, virtually all of these reasons can be replicated in other states.
First and foremost: Parents have extraordinary choices on where to send their kids to school—and as a father of four, that matters. Florida is filled with good public schools, good private schools, and good charter schools as well. The state has some of the first school choice laws in the nation, giving families greater ability to pick the school that is right for their children. And with a universal «education savings accounts» bill under consideration in the state legislature, Florida’s leadership could soon further extend educational freedom. True, universal school choice is something every state needs for the sake of every family and child.
Second: Florida’s higher education system is affordable and accessible, from career training through graduate studies. Public college tuition is capped and the lowest in the country. Bright Futures Scholarships make college nearly free for many, while the Free Seat Program gives veterans free online education for their first class and a permanent discount.
