School Choice and Charter Schools: Are Florida Children Prepared for their Futures?

By: Ethan Forberg Florida parents and students now have more control over where they want to attend school. The March 2023 signing of House Bill 1 (HB-1) means more families have access to school vouchers and fewer families will be constrained to traditional school district boundaries.  Specifically, HB-1 eliminated the income requirements for school vouchers, … Continue reading School Choice and Charter Schools: Are Florida Children Prepared for their Futures?

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Charter Schools Outperform Traditional Public Schools in STEM Subjects

By: Lauren Winslow The availability of school options in a given location significantly influences home purchases. In 2021, approximately 13% of all homebuyers in Florida reported that the quality of the school district was a factor in choosing the location of their future home.  The passing of House Bill 1 (HB-1) expanded school choice to … Continue reading Charter Schools Outperform Traditional Public Schools in STEM Subjects

Does Digital Learning Level the Economic Playing Field for Marginalized Groups?

By Andje Louis The internet and related technologies–smartphones, computers, search engines, social media platforms–have become ingrained tools in everyday life. As more services and resources are made available online, digital inequality has come to mirror income and healthcare gaps among the world’s more marginalized populations, such as low-income and underrepresented groups.  While most people use … Continue reading Does Digital Learning Level the Economic Playing Field for Marginalized Groups?

DeSantis undermining individual freedom, conservative principles | Opinion

By Shawntia Nicholson The COVID-19 pandemic has placed policymakers in a tricky position, Gov. DeSantis included. He and others are forced to find a balance between protecting public health and safeguarding individual freedom.  One of Gov. DeSantis’ signature initiatives is a ban on agencies and businesses that might want to impose a universal mask requirement … Continue reading DeSantis undermining individual freedom, conservative principles | Opinion

Expanded Voucher Programs May Lead to Greater Neighborhood Diversity

By Danielle Waidley Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation (H.B. 7045) greatly expanding Florida’s already pioneering school choice programs at the end of the state legislature’s 2021 session. This expansion will likely be a boon for parents and children looking for alternatives to conventional public schools. But more attention should be given to another unintended … Continue reading Expanded Voucher Programs May Lead to Greater Neighborhood Diversity

Sponsors: Symposium on Filmmaking, Education, and Public Policy (2/9/2021)

On FEBRUARY 9TH, 2021, the DeVoe L. Moore Center at Florida State University will host its annual symposium on Filmmaking and Public Policy with a focus on education reform. The event will begin with a 2:30-3:30 panel on Filmmaking and Storytelling, followed by a screening of Miss Virginia, and concluded with a 6:30-8:00pm panel on Public Policy and School Choice. If you are … Continue reading Sponsors: Symposium on Filmmaking, Education, and Public Policy (2/9/2021)

Panelists: Symposium on Filmmaking, Education, and Public Policy (2/9/2021)

On FEBRUARY 9TH, 2021, the DeVoe L. Moore Center at Florida State University will host its annual symposium on Filmmaking and Public Policy with a focus on education reform. The event will begin with a 2:30-3:30 panel on Filmmaking and Storytelling, followed by a screening of Miss Virginia, and concluded with a 6:30-8:00pm panel on … Continue reading Panelists: Symposium on Filmmaking, Education, and Public Policy (2/9/2021)

Symposium on Filmmaking, Education, and Public Policy : Information Brief

About the Symposium (02/09/2021): ON FEBRUARY 9TH, 2021,The DeVoe L. Moore Center at Florida State University is hosting our annual symposium on Filmmaking and Public Policy in February with a focus on education reform. We will be screening and analyzing the 2019 film Miss Virginia, directed by R.J. Daniel Hanna and executive produced by Nick … Continue reading Symposium on Filmmaking, Education, and Public Policy : Information Brief

Data Science and the Humanities: A Mutually Beneficial Relationship

By: Angel Purganan A popular misconception is that entering a STEM field requires a technical or scientific degree. However, the varying academic backgrounds in today’s tech industry reveal a different reality. LinkedIn data indicates that liberal arts majors entering the technology industry outpaced computer science and engineering majors by 10%. The presence of non-STEM majors … Continue reading Data Science and the Humanities: A Mutually Beneficial Relationship

America’s College Promises

By: Shayna Cohen In 2017, the annual cost of college in the United States, on average, was $22,432. Many students without independent support or in low-wage jobs struggle to afford higher education. Some college financing systems provide loan-free options, such as the Pell Grant offered by the federal government to low-income students, and scholarships offered … Continue reading America’s College Promises

Supporting Low-Income College Students: The Nonprofit Approach

By: Shayna Cohen Students from low-income households often struggle affording college without external assistance. Fortunately, several programs financially assist these students, including Pell Grants, Promise Programs, and private scholarships. Support Our Scholars, a nonprofit organization based in Winter Park, Florida, is an example of a private, nonprofit organization focused on supporting low-income students. The organization’s … Continue reading Supporting Low-Income College Students: The Nonprofit Approach

FSU’s CARE Program Combat First-Generation Student Dropout Rates

By: Shayna Cohen Students in American colleges and universities that identify as first-generation, minority, and/or low-income are at a higher risk to drop-out of college. The consequences of higher drop rates include lost consumer spending and savings, increases in the national debt, and a less-educated workforce. Students who graduate from college tend to earn more … Continue reading FSU’s CARE Program Combat First-Generation Student Dropout Rates

Entrepreneurship programs challenge conventional wisdom on criminal justice

Those who choose the path of an entrepreneur have the opportunity to reclaim their lives on their own terms, saving themselves while bettering their own communities and making a meaningful contribution to the economy.

Kind Snacks Uses Power of Technology to Impact Classrooms

By Gianni Vasquez Not only is making a profit a part of a company’s business model, but creating methods of positive social impact is equally important. This is characteristic of social enterprises such as Kind Snacks LLC, which was founded in 2004 by Daniel Lubetzky, a Mexican-American entrepreneur, author, and renowned activist. The company is … Continue reading Kind Snacks Uses Power of Technology to Impact Classrooms

BetterWorldBooks Promotes Literacy Through Enterprise

By Gianni Vasquez BetterWorldBooks, a self-sustaining, triple-bottom-line company promotes and advocates for literacy around the world. Their online book-selling platform enables consumers to be participants in the company’s Book for Book™ initiative which was launched in 2011. Via this program, purchases made on the company’s site have supported the distribution of 28 million books to … Continue reading BetterWorldBooks Promotes Literacy Through Enterprise

Effects of Increased Competition on School Efficiency

By Andrea Medici In addition to spurring competition between school districts, school choice policies attempt to introduce competition within school districts by changing the competitive landscape of local education markets. The introduction of private and charter schools, as well as virtual learning programs, are all attempts to incentivize public schools to be more efficient and … Continue reading Effects of Increased Competition on School Efficiency

Is Open Enrollment Effective Market-Based Education Reform?

By Andrea Medici Since the 1950s school choice has been implemented in many forms to support the education system in the United States. Open enrollment is one such approach that requires school districts to enroll students who reside in other districts. This is a particularly pertinent subject to Florida as the 2017-18 school year marked … Continue reading Is Open Enrollment Effective Market-Based Education Reform?

Gender Wage Gap in Florida

By Tyler Worthington, Tian Ma, and Igor Lukashevich One of the hottest topics in the 2016 presidential race is income inequality. Income inequality between the genders has been of particular interest. According to the White House, full-time working women are paid 78 cents for every dollar earned by a man. However, the labor market in … Continue reading Gender Wage Gap in Florida

Health Care and Education Departments Spend the Most of Florida’s State Budget

By: Nick Hyder and Tian Ma With 2015 behind us, it’s worthwhile to take stock of last year’s spending by state government. A state’s spending says a lot about its priorities, and accountability to taxpayers is an important component of a democracy. The Agency for Health Care Administration tops the list of spending by state … Continue reading Health Care and Education Departments Spend the Most of Florida’s State Budget

Business Incubator Helps Spur Student Entrepreneurs

By Joanna Douglas Florida State University students with a passion for social change are benefiting from partnerships beyond the campus to inspire their ideas for start-ups that address pressing social issues. The Tallahassee-based business incubator Domi Station continued its support of the university’s Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation Initiative with a special opportunity for students to … Continue reading Business Incubator Helps Spur Student Entrepreneurs

FSU Students Learn about Emerging Sharing Economy

By Katie Dawson Last month, the DeVoe L. Moore Center had the opportunity to  co-sponsor a one-day conference with the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) at Florida State University. FEE is an organization dedicated to educating individuals on free-markets and economics in a way that is both easily digestible and interesting. On February 28, their … Continue reading FSU Students Learn about Emerging Sharing Economy

New Book Documents Tourist’s Adventures in Cuba

By Matt Kelly A new book by Jason R. Old, professor of Spanish and Latin American Culture at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida, sheds light on the people of Cuba, a timely topic given recent decisions to open up trade with this island nation. “I invite you to enjoy my anthrotouristic journey through Cuba, as … Continue reading New Book Documents Tourist’s Adventures in Cuba

Orlando’s Soccer Stadium Not Worth Public Investment

By Logan Shewmaker U.S. Major League Soccer (MLS) is pushing to expand into Florida. Between 2008 and 2013, the average MLS franchise’s market capitaliztion grew 175 percent. The average attendance for MLS games exceeds 18,000, higher than the NBA. “The beautiful game” is growing in the United States, but does MLS growth justify public subsidies? … Continue reading Orlando’s Soccer Stadium Not Worth Public Investment

Government Protects Consumers from Bad Haircuts

Original post date: October 02, 2014 Article by: Dan Davy Florida protects its hairy public from rogue barbers by requiring prospective barbers to pay fees and complete extensive education requirements and exams before granting permission to legally operate.  These requirements are one part of what makes Florida’s licensing the fourth most burdensome in the country … Continue reading Government Protects Consumers from Bad Haircuts

Some Miscellaneous Links to Kick Off the Week

Post date: June 04, 2013 Article by: Anonymous 5/8/2023 Edits: Some links that were no longer working have been fixed. ●     Rick Scott and tuition hikes. ●     Should Florida spend more on education? ●     In case you missed it, Florida TaxWatch released its annual Turkey report. ●     Peace and harmony in the Supreme Court. ●     … Continue reading Some Miscellaneous Links to Kick Off the Week