With Floridas legislative session at its midway point, calls for action get a little louder -- including advocates for school choice.
Supporters of school choice in Florida rallied at the state Capitol Wednesday, trying to persuade lawmakers to support several proposed bills.
They are asking for greater access to charter schools and they advocate for some of the construction money set aside for public schools.
They also support the so-called parent-trigger bill, which would open the door for parents to gain more control over their childrens schools.
Gov. Rick Scott told the crowd that more choice for families will improve Floridas education system.
Every one of you has a dream. We all have a dream of where we want to go with our lives. The right to choose the school you want to go to, to learn what you want to learn, the way you want to learn, is your right.
Said Tony Bennett, Florida Education Commissioner, I stand in front of you committed to fight for the right of every parent, regardless of the color of their skin, regardless of how much money their parents have, to have the same benefits that I have for my kids and that is the right to go to a school that meets their need.
School choice supporters, incidentally, are also pushing for expanded access to online classes for students.
Wednesday's rally was sponsored by the Florida Alliance for Choices in Education and the Florida Coalition for Public School Options.
Dave Heller is a Tallahassee freelance reporter/videographer.
