--- title: The Florida Story description: Delve into the world of private schools and their role in providing unique educational opportunities. Discover how they fit into the broader educational ecosystem. --- [![SUFS-LOGO\_circle-1](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/hs-fs/hubfs/SUFS-LOGO_circle-1.png?width=150&height=150&name=SUFS-LOGO_circle-1.png "SUFS-LOGO_circle-1")](https://www.stepupforstudents.org/) English × # The Florida Story Browse By: Everything [![](https://nextstepsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Heritage-map-cropped.png)](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/national-report-florida-a-five-time-winner-in-education-freedom) ## [National report: Florida a five-time winner in education freedom](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/national-report-florida-a-five-time-winner-in-education-freedom) For the fifth consecutive year, a national group ranked Florida as the top state in education... [![](https://nextstepsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Cropped-FTC-JMI-25-.png)](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/former-gov-jeb-bush-joins-ed-choice-champions-marking-the-25th-anniversary-of-the-florida-tax-credit-scholarship) ## [Former Gov. Jeb Bush joins ed choice champions marking the 25th anniversary of the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/former-gov-jeb-bush-joins-ed-choice-champions-marking-the-25th-anniversary-of-the-florida-tax-credit-scholarship) Join The James Madison Institute, Step Up For Students, and Foundation for Florida's Future for a... [![](https://nextstepsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Rhode-Malivert-headshot.jpg)](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/florida-ed-choice-scholarships-allow-a-chemical-engineer-to-give-up-a-corporate-career-and-fulfill-her-true-purpose) ## [Florida ed choice scholarships allow a chemical engineer to give up a corporate career and fulfill her ‘true purpose’](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/florida-ed-choice-scholarships-allow-a-chemical-engineer-to-give-up-a-corporate-career-and-fulfill-her-true-purpose) You may not know the name Rhode Malivert. But you’re familiar with her work if you ever tasted the... [![](https://nextstepsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/IMG_2241.jpeg)](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/moving-to-florida-to-start-a-school-thanks-to-school-choice) ## [Moving to Florida to start a school, thanks to school choice](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/moving-to-florida-to-start-a-school-thanks-to-school-choice) FREEPORT, Fla. – When Lindy Wood first heard about school choice in Florida, she was living in her... [![](https://nextstepsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Bee-hive-Florida-Wild-School-no-faces.jpg)](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/school-choice-helps-a-wild-school-put-down-new-roots-in-florida) ## [School choice helps a wild school put down new roots in Florida](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/school-choice-helps-a-wild-school-put-down-new-roots-in-florida) BROOKSVILLE, Fla. – Once they decided to sell their teaching farm in Indiana, Amanda Jo and John... [![](https://nextstepsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Sensei-Leanna.jpg)](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/fifty-years-of-kicks-and-katas-prepare-tampa-bay-karate-family-to-open-dojo-based-co-op) ## [Fifty years of kicks and katas prepare Tampa Bay karate family to open dojo-based co-op](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/fifty-years-of-kicks-and-katas-prepare-tampa-bay-karate-family-to-open-dojo-based-co-op) TAMPA, Fla. — A half-century ago, John and Cindy Ingram built a strong reputation emphasizing... [![](https://nextstepsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/john_kirtley_684.jpg)](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/step-up-for-students-founder-shares-floridas-ed-choice-journey-at-harvard-university-conference) ## [Step Up For Students founder shares Florida’s ed choice journey at Harvard University conference](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/step-up-for-students-founder-shares-floridas-ed-choice-journey-at-harvard-university-conference) John F. Kirtley, Step Up For Students founder and chairman [![](https://nextstepsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Wagyumama-Ranch-Schoolhouse-1.jpg)](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/at-the-ranch-school-core-academics-come-with-cows-and-confidence) ## [At the ranch school, core academics come with cows and confidence](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/at-the-ranch-school-core-academics-come-with-cows-and-confidence) LAUREL HILL, Fla. – Bryan and Laine Baker didn’t set out to start a school. They were focused on... [![](https://nextstepsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/JFK-onstage-1-.jpg)](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/step-up-for-students-conference-supports-innovation-as-more-families-seek-varied-options) ## [Step Up For Students conference supports innovation as more families seek varied options](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/step-up-for-students-conference-supports-innovation-as-more-families-seek-varied-options) ORLANDO, Fla. — As public education has evolved from a one-size-fits-all system to one where... [![](https://nextstepsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Sloyd-School-1.jpg)](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/cultivating-skilled-hands-and-wise-hearts) ## [Cultivating ‘skilled hands and wise hearts’](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/cultivating-skilled-hands-and-wise-hearts) *This à la carte learning provider uses woodwork to instill deeper lessons*  First Prev [1](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story) [2](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/page/2) [3](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/page/3) [4](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/page/4) [Next](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/page/2) [Last](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/page/4) [facebook-f icon](https://www.facebook.com/stepup4students/) [linkedin-in icon](https://www.linkedin.com/company/stepupforstudents/) [twitter icon](https://twitter.com/StepUp4Students) [instagram icon](https://www.instagram.com/stepup4students/) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.youtube.com/StepUp4Students) © 2026 All rights reserved.