It’s been a year since private school vouchers became available to Florida families regardless of income.

The Senate proposal also would establish the “Gardiner-McKay Scholarship,” by combining two existing voucher programs that serve students with special needs. Diaz’s plan would result in the consolidation of five of the state’s existing major school-voucher programs into two programs. Step Up for Students, a nonprofit organization that helps administer two of the state’s existing voucher programs, also is backing Diaz’s proposal. The Democrats expressed fear that Diaz’s proposal would shift Florida’s public schools toward a universal school-choice system. “We’re going to have to fight like hell on this one.”The Florida Education Association, the state’s largest teachers union, also opposes the measure.