State Board of Education Members Co-Host Fundraiser for Jeb Bush’s Pro-Voucher Foundation at Voucher Advocates Home | Scathing Purple Musings

State Board of Education Members Co-Host Fundraiser for Jeb Bush’s Pro-Voucher Foundation at Voucher Advocates Home | Scathing Purple Musings:

State Board of Education Members Co-Host Fundraiser for Jeb Bush’s Pro-Voucher Foundation at Voucher Advocates Home

by Bob Sikes

Florida Board of Education Chair Kathleen Shanahan and member Akshay M. Desai are listed as hosts of a fundraiser to benefit Jeb Bush’s Foundation for Florida’s Future. Not to be confused with Bush’s other foundation, Foundation for Excellence in Education, this one focuses on choice legislation and digital learning. The event is being held at the Tampa home of John and Kim Kirtley. John Kirtley is the head of two pro-voucher groups (hereand here, and is the founder of Florida’s Tax Credit Scholarship Program. The event will be held during the Republican National Convention. From The Buzz:

Is is proper for state board members to be hosting a fundraiser which benefits lobbying groups who

What is Gerard Robinson Really Saying Today About Testing?

by Bob Sikes

The Tampa Bay Times Jeff Solochek bagged the first interview with  outgoing Florida education commissioner Gerard Robinson. Does it appear that Robinson is revealing something he couldn’t as commissioner? Consider this:

Miami Democrat Rep. Dwight Bullard said Wednesday in a news release that Robinson “has clearly lost confidence in the direction of Gov. Scott.”
Robinson laughed and said, “I disagree with that conclusion. This is politics.”
Still, he acknowledged his tenure included major controversial changes and heated “adult conversations about children.” But the end result, he believes, is that more Floridians are focused on the FCAT, writing standards, testing and aspects of student preparation than before.
“It’s a movement,” Robinson said. “I think that’s healthy. There will continue to be momentum 

Gerard Robinson Departure Pro-FCAT Talking Points: “Move On”

from Scathing Purple Musings by Bob Sikes

My impression of Altamonte Springs GOP Senator David Simmons is that he will talk a good game, but in the end will never go against what leadership wants. Maybe he’s moved up in the world and  become a pro-testing mouthpiece. Consider this from a James Call article in the Florida Current:

“They have had some, what I would call problems with the implementation of higher test scores relating to the FCAT. I see this as an opportunity to get past those problems and move on and rededicate ourselves to the proper implementation of the FCAT and the Common Core standards,” said Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs. Simmons chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee on Education.
“I wish Commissioner Robinson the best. We should take the things that he did for us here in