For years, Tampa venture capitalist John Kirtley has been a largely behind-the-scenes figure in Florida’s de facto school voucher program.

The website of Step Up for Students, Kirtley’s scholarship-funding organization, discusses his role in helping set up Florida’s system, which allows companies to offset the taxes they pay to the state by contributing to groups such as Step Up for Students. That money is then used to help low-income students go to private schools.