Issue Position: Education

Issue Position

Funding

While elected officials in Tallahassee celebrate passing a budget for the 2016-2017 fiscal year, educators again bear the brunt of a failure to fund education properly in Florida.

DON'T BE FOOLED!!! Is the state of Florida spending the most money ever on education? Yes. Is it more money per student than ever? YES. In fact this year's per student spending is $71 higher than last year, but there's a little term which many forget to include: INFLATION

In what many consider the high budget year of 2007-2008, when Florida spent more per student than only a handful of states, the per pupil spending was $7,126. Thank goodness we have now increased that spending 9 years later to $7,178!!!

However, if we adjust for inflation we should actually be spending $8,124. Florida's education spending is going backward. Not forward!!!

As your representative in Tallahassee, I will be fighting to be the best in the nation, but when it comes to education funding, first we need to just break even.

Standardized Testing

Like so many of our students, I too am frustrated at the excessive testing still required by the state. As your representative, I will fight to reduce the madness. Let's teach students to think and learn, not teach to a test.

Teacher Retention

Florida is on the verge of a teacher and administrator shortage caused by retirements and new teachers entering the profession quickly learning that Tallahassee does not have their back. I will fight to start the change and make teaching a profession that people are proud to do.

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