Irene’s six-year-old daughter hummed to herself as she delighted in setting up a tea party on the carpeted living room floor, complete with a plastic raspberry tart. The sunlight of the bright summer afternoon filtered through the window, illuminating the Broward County townhome.

Last school year, Irene switched her daughter, who has autism, from a public charter school to a private school. Irene planned on paying for the school with the state voucher meant for students with disabilities.

“She thrives the best in the setting where it's maximum 10 children,” Irene said. “Her speech has improved so much. Her math, they're saying that she's close to third grade level in math.” The difference in her daughter since she started at the new school has been “night and day.”

The enthusiasm was sh

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