Some of the top names in Florida politics gathered in Tallahassee on a cool, brisk Tuesday afternoon to discuss the hottest issues facing statewide education reform, but all eyes were on former Florida governor and possible 2016 presidential candidate Jeb Bush as he talked about standardized testing, school vouchers and statewide education standards.
The Bush-backed Foundation for Floridas Future hosted a summit at Florida State Universitys Alumni Center bringing together some of Floridas most prominent politicians and education officials to talk about accountability and education reform in Florida.
During a question-and-answer panel with the foundations executive director Patricia Levesque, Bush, who is credited for much of reforming the states education system while governor, honed in on several of the hottest and most controversial topics facing the states public schools.
Bush pushed his support of the states tax credit scholarship program, which allows 70,000 students (most of whom are low-income minorities) to leave low-performing schools and instead attend schools of their choice.
The program has pitted state officials and teachers' unions against each other, with both sides disagreeing on whether the program is harmful to Floridas public schools.
"A monopoly that doesn't have choice is an easier path for [students] to achieve their objectives it's wrong, he said. This should not be a political issue. This should be a calling for this country."
The former Florida governor also took a shot at opponents of the voucher program, saying they werent putting children first.
They're trying to protect economic interests and we have been on the side of children learning, he explained.
Bush also came out in favor of standardized testing, saying he believed in it but did concede that testing should be thoroughly reviewed. But while he tried to remain generally positive, Bush did have some criticisms to make on the current state of affairs in Floridas education system.
He criticized the states class size amendment, saying it had nothing to do with student learning and advocated changing the amendment to reward teachers based on a job well done.
Bush shied away, however, from Common Core, an issue which could possibly be his Achilles heel in 2016. It wasnt until a media gaggle with reporters after his question-and-answer panel when he said he was against federal intrusion on academic standards.
"I am for creating real restrictions on the federal government's role in this so you can alleviate people's fears, he told reporters.
Gov. Rick Scott also attended Tuesdays event. He was joined by Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart, who asked the governor several questions about his future plans for the states education system.
The two also discussed their plans to review the states assessment test and make sure Florida was moving in the right direction to ensure students academic success.
"If you want to grow in jobs you have to have a good education system, said Scott. I think its very important to, every day, think about Are we creating an environment [where] all kids can get a good education?'
Stewart said the department had been reviewing information to make sure Florida had the right assessment in place.
We've got to have the right testing, explained Scott. My goal this year is to work with the Legislature on how do we reduce testing and keep the accountability we have.
Reach Tampa-based reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen
