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Scott Signs Landmark Education Bill
April 23, 2013
Gov. Rick Scott signed a sweeping education bill Monday, recasting requirements for high-school diplomas and laying out the standards for state universities to reach “preeminent” status.
The measure (SB 1076), weighing in at 144 pages, makes several major changes to high school and higher education.
It creates two “designations” for high school degrees, each with different requirements, with one aimed at encouraging students to work toward industry certification.
And the bill sets out standards for universities to be recognized as “preeminent universities,” with one of those schools being tapped to operate an online institute in an effort to encourage Internet-based education. It also authorizes universities to do what’s needed to offer the $10,000 degrees that Scott has touted.
The measure has been praised by business groups and educators, in part because it would free students who choose one of the designations from being required to pass some courses — such as Algebra II — that are aimed at college-bound students. Business groups also say the bill will more closely tie the education system to employers’ needs.
“Senate Bill 1076 will make sure our students are prepared for college and careers and have the skills to compete for jobs in an ever-competitive global marketplace,” Scott said during a ceremony marking the signing of the bill.
“The Career and Professional Education Act does far more than reform education, it transforms education in our state. This bill lashes education to the realities and opportunities of the economy, making it far more likely that our graduates will earn diplomas and degrees that qualify them for real jobs,” said Senate President Don Gaetz.
The proposal received overwhelming support in the Legislature, with the Senate approving it 33-7 and the House signing off unanimously.
“What this bill does is it transforms our education system — from our K-12 system and how you get a degree in Florida, and the requirements that are associated with it, to what you do and what type of university you go to and the quality of degree that you’re going to get in our universities,” said House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel. “It is transformational.”
Officials insisted allowing two tracks toward a high school diploma wouldn’t water down Florida’s education. As if to emphasize the point, the Foundation for Florida’s Future, an education group founded by former Gov. Jeb Bush, issued a statement praising the bill.
“Governor Scott’s signature ensures that Florida students will receive more meaningful tracks to a successful future,” said Patricia Levesque, the group’s executive director. “Today, our state showed its continued leadership in student-centered education reforms.”
By The News Service of Florida
Pictured top: Gov. Rick Scott signs SB 1076, a far-reaching education bill, during a ceremony Monday. Photo by Brandon Larrabee for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Comments
3 Responses to “Scott Signs Landmark Education Bill”
As I stated earlier when this was reported, I think it’s great AS LONG AS all students have the education necessary to go to college if they choose to do so, even if they are in the industrial career track. Also, I don’t want to see students who may be less academically talented pushed into the industrial track if they don’t want to go that way. It was called tracking back in the ’70’s and was found to be unconstitutional. Other than that, it sounds great, in theory at least.
My bad— I know it should have been WHO and not was.
Help me understand how lowering the standards will place a student in a better position in the job market. There is an old saying about “don’t raise the bridge- lower the river”, it is very fitting here. There are some young people was will want to go to college later in their life and will not have the educational back ground they will need. I was 35 when I saw a need for a degree and went to college– it was rough playing catch up.