Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jac VerSteegDecember 15, 2014

If Florida lawmakers are such “school choice” advocates, they should give public schools the same choices enjoyed by the private voucher schools. The voucher schools never were required to give students the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test and won’t be required to administer the tests involved in Florida’s switch to a testing system based on Common […]

Daniel TilsonAugust 18, 2014

The excitement so many Florida families feel at the start of a new school year is increasingly tinged, if not outright singed, by burning controversy and conflict over how best to fund, manage and deliver public school education. Like plenty of parents, I keep concerns about our public schools under my hat, leaving our 8-year-old […]

Julie DelegalJune 22, 2014

Jacksonville is ground zero for the public education budget disaster that is the result of 15 years of misguided “reform” in Florida. Three months ago, Duval Superintendent of Schools Nikolai Vitti introduced an innovative, if short-lived, proposal to allow open enrollment district-wide to keep more students in the public system. His reason? The public school […]

Marc YachtJune 15, 2014

A judge’s ruling that threatens teacher tenure in California further undermines job security for teachers. Public school teachers continue to feel the brunt of political opportunists, unfair evaluations, the conservative push to privatized education, inadequate funding for the classroom, and lack of wage increases. It is ironic that the legislators responsible for undermining public schools […]

Marc YachtMay 25, 2014

In all fairness, my defense of public education must consider the darker side of some public schools. Many parents choose homeschooling and others send their children to charter schools or use vouchers to send them to private schools. Now with the expansion of voucher credits and the push for additional charter schools, one has to […]

Guest AuthorMay 7, 2014

Thanks to Jeb Bush, Florida has turned into the Wild West of education speculation: charter schools, vouchers, virtual schools, you name it — as long as it promises “profit over pupils in the name of reform.” It’s no surprise to noted education reformer Diane Ravitch, who reports “the charter industry has friends at the top […]

Julie DelegalMay 5, 2014

It looks like my columns questioning the efficacy of school privatization in Florida have hit a nerve. Again. Voters might remember that I’ve long opposed voucher schools because, among other reasons, they don’t administer the same high-stakes tests to their students that public schools do. Without equal accountability, parents of mostly low-income children who now […]

Guest AuthorApril 30, 2014

The fact that Context Florida columnist Julie Delegal doesn’t think anyone should take on Florida’s education reforms if they want to win an election is great news for Florida’s children. This means that Floridians are no longer buying the myths Ms. Delegal and her friends of the status quo continue to perpetuate about Florida’s suite […]

Marc YachtApril 8, 2014

The Florida Constitution requires adequate funding for public education. Florida ranks as the nation’s fourth wealthiest state, yet it ranks 43rd of 50 states in public school funding. Despite that grim ranking, charter schools, home schooling and vouchers continue to drain critical resources. Courts have ruled against charter schools and vouchers. Yet charter schools flourish […]

Julie DelegalMarch 3, 2014

Officials at private schools that accept voucher students are now “terrified,” writes Scott Maxwell of the Orlando Sentinel. They’re worried about some legislators’ suggestions that schools that admit students who pay tuition with tax-credit vouchers should be required to administer the same standardized tests that public schools do. But take heart, private school officials! House […]

Tag: Vouchers

Jac VerSteeg: Let public schools choose to give voucher-school tests

Daniel Tilson: Florida’s public schools open under siege

Julie Delegal: Florida’s school-budget chickens come home to roost

Marc Yacht: Florida’s public education system faces grave threats

Marc Yacht: Public schools need to maintain order if they want parents’ support

Stephen Goldstein: “Education Emperor” Jeb Bush is not wearing any clothes

Julie Delegal: Let’s determine if Bush-brand education reforms are working

Kate Wallace: School choice threatens certain adults, not children and their academic achievement

Marc Yacht: The legislative war on Florida public education

Julie Delegal: Voucher students must take the tests public-school pupils do