Step Up for Students' Ron Matus on Florida School Choice

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Ark Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy of the Center for Strong Public Schools speak with Ron Matus, Director of Research and Special Projects at Step Up For Students in Florida and former longtime education reporter for The Tampa Bay Times. Mr. Matus reflects on his career from journalism to helping lead the nation’s largest portfolio of K–12 school choice programs. Drawing on decades of covering Florida education policy, he explains how the state became a national leader in school choice through steady, incremental expansion rather than sudden universal eligibility. Matus discusses how key U.S. Supreme Court rulings and COVID-era school disruptions accelerated parent demand for flexible options, positioning Florida as the state serving the most students through education savings accounts and scholarship tax credits. He outlines the core principles behind that growth: building durable political coalitions, focusing relentlessly on families, safeguarding program integrity, and maintaining public trust. Looking ahead, he examines challenges including scaling ESA implementation, encouraging high-quality private schools, and addressing accountability concerns.

Stories of the Week: Albert shares an article from CBS News on how over 100 Atlanta charter school employees have lost their jobs as KIPP Soul Schools announce a June closure. Alisha discusses an article from Education Next on how many families are choosing public schools other than their assigned ones.

Guest:

Ron Matus is Director of Research and Special Projects at Step Up For Students, the nonprofit that administers Florida’s education choice scholarship programs. He joined the organization after more than 20 years as an award-winning journalist, including eight years as the state education reporter for The Tampa Bay Times. Ron leads collaborative teams on white paper projects that spotlight the historic and nationally pace setting changes reshaping Florida’s education landscape. Recent topics include the migration of Black families to choice options beyond school districts; public school teachers leaving their classrooms to start private schools; the steady but measured expansion of choice in rural Florida; and the rapid rise of “à la carte learning.” He is also the author of a chapter on the progressive roots of education freedom, which appears in a new Cato Institute book on the history of school choice. He lives in Gainesville.