While supporters rallied for vouchers this morning in the Capitol courtyard, the Florida Senate was voting to expand the states corporate-funded voucher program -- a program that funds student enrollment in private schools.
The Senate also voted to institute teacher merit pay in public schools.
In a 28-10 vote close to party lines, the Senate chose to raise caps on the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, funded by corporate contributions, in return for corporate tax credits. The caps will rise from $118 million to $140 million, with increases for the next five years.
The Tax Credit program provides private- and religious-school vouchers to low-income families.
SB 2126 also raises eligibility from 200 percent above the poverty level to 230 percent.
Sen. Joe Negron, R-Palm City, said the bill would give parents a choice in charting the course for their childrens future.
Sen. Frederica Wilson, D-Miami Gardens, on the other hand, said the bill took funding and students away from public schools.
We started brick-by-brick, destroying public education, said Wilson. And now, were taking away whole columns.
Sen. Steve Oelrich said the Tax Credit Scholarship was a better use of tax dollars. The Gainesville Repulibcan noted the program alleviated pressure on over-populated public schools and gave their children individualized, specialized attention.
Some parents need that choice, Oelrich said.
While most Democrats opposed the Republican-sponsored bill, two went against the tide.
Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, said he was a big supporter of public education, but felt that public schools were not the right choice for some students.
For parents who cannot afford an alternative school for those children, vouchers provided an important choice.
I urge you to do the right thing and help folks help themselves," he said.
Senate Minority Leader Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee, said he had long-supported the benefits private schools could offer to children, and the vouchers are needed for families struggling in the recession.
"During these bad economic times, it is real great that our corporate leaders are willing to invest [in education]," he said.
As the Senate debated a plan by Sen. John Thrasher, R-Jacksonville, to tie teacher salaries to student performance, lawmakers grew bombastic.
Under the Republican Party of Florida chairmans bill, teachers whose students score better on end-of-course assessments would see their salaries rise.
SB 6 would also abolish the tenure system at Florida public schools and replace it with a yearly contract system. The bill passed 21-17.
Republicans touted the bill as a way to qualify for $900 million in federal stimulus money offered as part of the Race to The Top education grant competition. It also rewards teachers who do well and penalizes the ones who dont.
There will be national standards eventually, said Sen. Evelyn Lynn, R-Daytona Beach. Were just trying to get our students up to a higher level.
Democrats were clear in their disdain for the bill.
This is one of the worst bills Ive ever seen, said Sen. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach.
He said the bill makes teachers fear for their jobs and could discourage teachers outside the state from applying for Florida jobs.
Negron said the Democrats were using false fear tactics to defeat the bill. He said teachers were being told that the bill would cut their salary in half, and that was a lie. He said the bill was a reward for teachers, who for years have needed to make do with a pat on the back.
You know the way that you tell people theyre doing a good job, he said directly to Democrats. You pay them more.
Democrats werent alone in opposition to the bill. Also voting against it were Republican Sens. Paula Dockery from Lakeland, Charlie Dean from Inverness, Dennis Jones from Seminole and Alex Villalobos from Miami.
Dockery said she opposed the bill because it doesn't consider children's home environments and how they would affect performance in the classroom. She said at least four other Republicans would have voted with her if they hadn't been swayed by politics.
The gubernatorial candidate said she felt the bill "demonizes" teachers. "I'm not sure I bought into the premise that we needed this bill to get that (Race to the Top) money," she said.
