Florida governor is signing K-12 public education bill that critics call a ‘scam’ — at a Catholic school
President Trump listens to Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) during a meeting with mayors and governors for an infrastructure summit. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/Associated Press)
Florida’s Republican governor, Rick Scott, on Thursday plans to sign a $419 million K-12 public education bill that has been labeled by critics as “scam” legislation — and he is holding the event at a private Catholic school.
The measure, popular among many but not all Republicans and pro-school choice forces, sparked a tsunami of opposition from parents, school boards, district superintendents and unions. They have argued that it will harm traditional public school districts, threaten services for students who live in poverty and curb local control of education while promoting charter schools and a state-funded voucher program.
When the legislation becomes law, more than 100 traditional public schools given low grades by the state will be converted into charters — even though the charter sector in Florida is deeply troubled; more than 300 have closed as a result of poor performance. Charter-friendly provisions are scattered throughout the bill, such as one that requires traditional public elementary schools to provide recess to students (without resources to expand the school day) but exempts charters from the same mandate.
Scott’s move is in line with the pro-school choice agenda of President Trump and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who has frequently cited Florida as a model choice state. DeVos, who has a home in Florida and is a longtime ally of former governor Jeb Bush, has visited a number of schools in the state since becoming education secretary. Trump made his first trip as president, with DeVos accompanying him, to a Catholic school in Orlando, St. Andrew.
Scott, who joined Trump and DeVos on that school visit, had endorsed Trump in March 2016 Florida governor is signing K-12 public education bill that critics call a ‘scam’ — at a Catholic school - The Washington Post:
