Rick Scott wants to make the public school system in Florida work more like private schools. And he also wants to get rid of restrictive boundaries that determine where kids can go to school.
"Parents ought to have the right to choose which school they want to send their kids to," Scott told the media at a Broward County charter school Tuesday morning.
"With more competition they can choose the school they want their kids to go to, whether it's a public school or a private school." he said. "It will make all of our schools better. You know, competition always improves the things that we care about."
Currently, a corporate tax-credit scholarship program allows some low-income students to go to the school of their choice. Last year nearly 29,000 students took advantage of that program. And while Scott has proposed phasing out the corporate tax that funds the scholarships, he has pledged to protect the program through some other means of funding.
"That program's a great program. What we're going to do is expand that so every child has that same opportunity," he said.
In addition to giving parents a choice on where to send their children, Scott says he also wants to change the public schools system to operate more efficiently like the charter schools. He used North Broward Academy of Excellence as an example.
The academy is a top-rated school that's seeing success even though it has less money than the surrounding public schools.
Principal David McKnight says it's important that state leaders see that it can be done.
"I think technology is a great way we do more with less," said McKnight, "I think that putting money into the classrooms instead of the administrative levels certainly does more with less."
Scott and his running mate, Jennifer Carroll, stepped into a couple of the classes to observe learning in action.
At the front of the room, teachers used an interactive, touch-screen-like board to teach students about everything from math, to shapes and colors.
Even with a gaggle of reporters, TV cameras, and gubernatorial candidates and staff crowding into a room, the first grade and eighth grade classes were well-behaved and focused.
"It's so exciting to come to a school like this and see all these kids with so much interest," Scott said. "We've got to not fail them. That's our job."
To accomplish his goals, Scott and Carroll say they'll bring more technology into classrooms, spend dollars wisely and develop ways of testing student and teacher performance.
"Another thing that we're going to do is make sure parents have a seat at the table," said Carroll. "That they'll be able to give input as we make the changes to our statewide system. Because that's who it's going to be directly impacting."
Sunshine State News attempted to contact the Florida Education Association, but its spokesperson did not return phone messages by publishing time.
Lane Wright can be reached at lane@sunshinestatenews.com or at 561-247-1063.
