© 2025 WGCU News
PBS and NPR for Southwest Florida
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
A classroom sits empty at Littlewood Elementary School on NW 34 St on Monday, November 11, 2025.
Kade Sowers/WUFT News
Florida’s expansion of vouchers for families who want to enroll their children in private schools is leading to tighter budgets at public schools across the state. In 2023, the Republican-led Legislature passed a bill that eliminated the income requirement for families to receive the vouchers, called family empowerment scholarships and Florida tax credit scholarships. These vouchers, intended to help families who could not afford private education, allow for public state aid to be redirected to families to cover the costs of the private school.

On Air Now

TV Schedules
Trusted by over 30,000 local subscribers

Local News, Right Sized for Your Morning

Quick briefs when you are busy, deeper explainers when it matters, delivered early morning and curated by WGCU editors.

  • Environment
  • Local politics
  • Health
  • And more

Free and local. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

WGCU Local Productions
PBS TV Shows
Questions emerge about National Guard shooter's motives
Questions emerge about National Guard shooter's motives and the impact on immigrants
Top Zelenskyy aide resigns in midst of corruption scandal
Top Zelenskyy aide resigns in midst of Ukraine corruption scandal
The long road from a Christmas tree farm to your home
The long road from a Christmas tree farm to your home
PBS News launches 'Settle In' podcast
PBS News launches 'Settle In' podcast with lessons from the 1929 stock market crash
Marvel of ancient Indigenous engineering gets validation
Long-overlooked marvel of ancient Indigenous engineering gets validation in Ohio
Capehart and Wehner on the National Guard shooting
Capehart and Wehner on Trump's reaction to the National Guard shooting
Tips for holiday shopping in a year when prices are rising
Tips for holiday shopping in a year when prices are rising
News Wrap: Trump plans to cancel Biden's executive actions
News Wrap: Trump says he will cancel Biden's executive actions signed with autopen
Trump vows to stop immigration from poorer countries
Trump vows to stop immigration from poorer countries after fatal National Guard shooting
Why RFK Jr. turned away from Democrats and backed Trump
Why RFK Jr. turned away from Democrats and backed Trump

Environment

Cameratta Companies, developer of the large Kingston residential and commercial development in eastern Lee County shown in blue, held a groundbreaking this week despite facing legal challenges
Cameratta Companies
/
WGCU
Cameratta Companies held the official ceremony on Thursday for Kingston, which years from now will have roughly 10,000 residences and 700,0000 square feet of commercial space. Kingston is currently facing legal challenge
Latest from NPR