Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jac VerSteegJanuary 4, 2015

Candidates mouthed the words “education” a lot in 2014, but it was not a decisive election issue. Still, against the odds, 2015 might be the year the Florida Department of Education makes a sincere effort to make its testing policies reasonable. There has been legitimate concern that Rick Scott, safe in his second term and […]

Peter SchorschDecember 29, 2014

If only the Rick Scott we got to know during this past election year had been the one who first entered the Governor’s Mansion in 2011. Remember that guy? The former health-care exec with a chip on his shoulder who bragged he was a Tea Partier before the Tea Party was cool. He was the novice politician […]

Guest AuthorDecember 22, 2014

Clinton and a Bush are gearing up for a run at the White House. Is it 1990 or 2014? Congress is under Republican control with a Democrat in the White House. Is it 1946, 1994 or 2014? A Republican is heading to Florida’s Governor’s Mansion after just half of registered voters turned out to vote. […]

Guest AuthorDecember 11, 2014

Across the country, policymakers are grappling with the phenomenon of “disruption.” Disruption refers generally to the process whereby some new technology or innovation “disrupts” a long-standing industry and its attendant regulatory environment, threatening market incumbents. Today, we see disruption most overtly in two areas: education and transportation. In education, new organizational structures, new teaching methods, […]

Marc YachtJune 11, 2014

The nation’s ongoing disputes make us great. Whether driven by Glenn Beck, Rachel Maddow, Fox News, or CNN, everybody forms an opinion. Some actually study the problem, but that takes work. When it comes to physical effort, Americans excel. But when it comes to mental exertion, most folks would just as soon listen to someone […]

Marc YachtMay 13, 2014

An old adage states, “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.” It seems the louder the outcry, the more the attention. Whether the issue is health care, education, taxes, abortion, the media focus on noise. That’s unfortunate because a lot of wise, unassuming folks get lost in the shuffle. They may have good ideas. They just […]

Guest AuthorNovember 10, 2013

It seems like every year a new debate arises on the latest way to “fix” Florida’s education system. The latest example is the debate over Common Core. Unfortunately, we will never truly develop a world-class school system until we discard the current piecemeal approach. True and lasting reform requires coordinated reforms that affect every aspect […]

Julie DelegalOctober 2, 2013

Did the Team Bush response to Gov. Rick Scott’s order on education seem a little too restrained last week? Former Gov. Jeb Bush and his Foundation for Florida’s Future, after all, have been at this education-reform biz for years. Until recently, the foundation’s work appeared destined to culminate in the implementation of the national Common […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 10, 2013

Ask just about any Floridian who the “education governor” was, and it’s a good bet many of them would offer the same name: Jeb Bush. Whether you think for better or for worse, it is difficult to argue that as governor, Bush tied his legacy in large part to education reforms in Florida. Democrats, Republicans, […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 2, 2013

Growing up, I often heard a story of 11 children who grew up in an extremely poor, but loving family. Food was scarce. Shelter was inadequate. Clothing was handmade. Shoes were a luxury. Their father worked the land hard and their mother took care of the children and made clothes to keep or sell whenever […]

Tag: education
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Jac Wilder VerSteeg: 2015 might bring high-stakes testing reform to Florida

Peter Schorsch: Refurbished Rick Scott is Florida’s politician of the year

Mark Pafford: Florida Democrats will stay focused on our key issues

Gregory Newburn: Like transportation and education, the criminal justice system is ripe for ‘disruption’

Marc Yacht: Politicians’ refusal to compromise creating dangerous gridlock

Marc Yacht: Let’s ignore the loudmouths and listen to sensible citizens

Jeff Kottkamp: Six steps to a quality education system

Julie Delegal: Scott and Bush: Educational division or collaboration?

Ben Kirby: To boost its economy, Florida needs another ‘education governor’

Khori Whittaker: Poverty doesn’t determine destiny