James Madison Institute: More Money Doesn't Necessarily Net Better Schools

Though Gov. Rick Scott was widely applauded for his State-of-the-State pledge to increase public-school funding by $1 billion, one free-market think tank sounded a cautionary note.

While greater education spending may or may not be warranted, it is a mistake for Floridians to perceive that our states commitment to education can be measured primarily by the size of the education budget," said Robert McClure, president of the Tallahassee-based James Madison Institute.

"Many states have spent prolifically on education in recent years -- and have failed to see improvements in student outcomes. So, our true commitment to education isnt measured in dollars so much as in our willingness to make educational excellence our top priority -- even if that means doing innovative things like providing more choice, requiring accountability, and paying good teachers more than mediocre ones," McClure said.