Guest Author
Picture a high school student in Orlando who attends Honors Biology at a public magnet school in the morning, then logs into an online math course after lunch, and later heads to a local sports center for volleyball practice.
This kind of customized schedule isn’t just an educational experiment – it’s becoming a reality for many Florida families through an emerging concept known as “à la carte education.”
In traditional K-12 schooling, students are bound to a single institution that handles every course and extracurricular. À la carte education dismantles that structure. Instead of purchasing the entire “bundle,” families can now handpick the best options for each subject or activity from different providers, whether public, private, or online.
These days, we customize everything from the playlists we stream to the meal kits we order. Education is now following the same trajectory.
Although Arizona led the way over a decade ago by introducing Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), which allow families to use public education dollars for a mix of educational services, Florida has quickly become a national leader in offering parents these choices.
In 2023, Florida expanded ESA-style programs to nearly all students, enabling them to customize their learning like never before. Thanks to these initiatives, many Florida families can now blend resources. By leveraging ESAs, the funding follows the student rather than being tied to a single campus.
Consider Marisol, a fictional ninth-grader in Miami, who dreams of becoming a nurse. Her local high school has a strong biology department, so she attends in-person science classes there. Meanwhile, she struggles with math, so she uses ESA funds to hire a private tutor who offers one-on-one sessions twice a week. Marisol also takes an online elective in American Sign Language through a virtual learning platform to meet her foreign language requirement and explore a valuable skill in health care settings. This dynamic schedule aligns with her specific strengths and needs, paving the way for her future career goals.
One size rarely fits all when it comes to learning. Parents across Florida say the ability to tailor course selection for each child, whether that child excels in STEM, needs help with reading, or has an artistic streak, has transformed their educational experience.
In some regions of Florida, certain specialized courses or extracurricular activities are not available in local schools. ESAs and online platforms help fill that gap, offering advanced classes, foreign languages, or unique electives that might otherwise be out of reach.
Families with demanding schedules, such as those with student-athletes, performers, or those managing health issues, can rearrange learning around their needs rather than the other way around.
Some of Florida’s public school districts and charter schools are adapting by allowing non-enrolled students to enroll in individual classes. This innovative approach not only helps boost enrollment but also ensures schools remain relevant in an evolving landscape.
Despite its potential, the à la carte model isn’t without complications. Families who choose this path often have to play the role of coordinator, sifting through online programs, local tutors, and course offerings to find the best fit. Some parents may lack the time or resources to orchestrate multiple learning providers or provide transportation when needed for their child to learn across multiple settings.
Schools may also feel pressure when students, and the funding attached to them, aren’t locked into a full-time schedule. Yet in many areas, this pressure can be a catalyst for continuous improvement, compelling schools to refine their offerings to attract both full-time and part-time enrollees.
Nearly 100,000 Florida families are already doing this, embracing their expanded decision-making power over their children’s learning. Florida’s evolving system offers a glimpse into a possible future for K-12 education.
Rather than forcing every student into a pre-set model, à la carte education draws inspiration from how we already customize other aspects of our lives. This could lead to schools that are more agile and responsive, and students who receive services that more closely match their needs.
Many, if not most, families in the near term will still seek the standard, bundled model of education where a single school provides the full suite of services. But for children who aren’t served well by a one-size-fits-all approach, à la carte learning may be the solution.
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David T. Marshall is an associate professor of educational research at Auburn University and the former Chair of the Alabama Public Charter School Commission.
