Local Lawmakers, Except Evers, Receive High Marks From Education Group

June 30, 2013

The Foundation for Florida’s Future has  released it’s annual evaluation grading Florida’s lawmakers on their efforts to improve the quality of education in the Sunshine State.

A not-for-profit organization aimed at keeping K-12 education in Florida a model for the nation, the Foundation chaired by former Gov. Jeb Bush works to advance reforms that allow each child to achieve his or her God-given potential and prepare all students to succeed in the 21st century. The Foundation’s 2013 reform agenda focused on empowering parents, preparing students for success, supporting teachers, transforming education with technology, establishing equality and equity in school choice and funding student achievement.

Among local lawmakers, Rep. Clay Ingram, Rep. Doug Broxson and Sen Don Gaetz received A grades of 100. Sen Greg Evers received a C grade with a score of 78.

The Foundation measures reforms based on seven core principles: rigorous academic standards, standardized measurement, data-driven accountability, effective teachers and leaders, outcome-based funding, school choice and digital Learning. Report Card grades were assigned based on scores of 0 – 100, established through each lawmaker’s voting record along with demonstrated leadership.

Pictured: Rep. Clay Ingram.

Comments

10 Responses to “Local Lawmakers, Except Evers, Receive High Marks From Education Group”

  1. Bob on July 2nd, 2013 7:51 am

    These surveys mean nothing to the average taxpayer. I give Gregg Evers 100 for standing up for his constituients. We elected him to do a job and he is doing it very well. One thing for sure he is a man not to be pushed.

  2. 429SCJ on July 1st, 2013 9:31 pm

    There are those who fear Mr Evers for what he represents and the difficulty that might arise from that in the times to come.

    Everybody’s gearing up for the show and Mr Evers is a leader who sure to gather a following and to lead it toward center stage.

  3. Jane on July 1st, 2013 5:53 am

    Maybe they targeted Greg Evers because he is responsive to the people he serves (yes, this is a service to the people and many of our government elected officials seem to forget this once they are in office!). Mr. Evers listens to the people, tries to do the right thing and stands up for what he believes in! He actually reads your letters and emails and responds! He did a lot to repeal the bad septic tank law and he gets out into the community and LISTENS to what you say! He is one of our better government officials!

  4. Dr. Kevin R. Linam on June 30th, 2013 10:43 pm

    The success of students in a classroom, has more to do with parenting than any other factor, when a child is taught at home to behave and listen and follow instructions, do their best, and daily parental support is essential, the child is usually successful, next the students IQ has everything to do with their success in the classroom, that IQ changes very little throughout life, after good parenting and good genes, then, what/how the teacher does/does not do, makes a difference in the classroom. To put the entire responsibility for learning on a teacher is flawed at best!!! Parents are responsible to God for the training of their children, many parents don’t do their jobs, to the ones that do, the resulting success of the child/student is almost always guaranteed!!! Many thousands of students have come through my classroom, their success or failure is in their hands, its all about daily effort and parental support!!!!

  5. Elmo on June 30th, 2013 1:06 pm

    How soon we forget what Greg Evers has done for us! Remember that septic tank law that would make us rule people have to pump, inspect and pay for permits every five years? $500 is the going rate, if I did my math right thats $100 a year for nothing! Not to mention he fights diligently for our 2nd amendment right to bare arms! Let’s not forget what Mr. Evers stands for! Funny they left him out “targeted” him? I dosed off in church before, hope that doesn’t make me look like I don’t care about the fellowship?

  6. Coach on June 30th, 2013 9:58 am

    Robert S is correct. The Bush foundation’s poor mark for Senator Evers was retaliation for his principled NO vote against Parent Trigger.

  7. kathy@frontier.net on June 30th, 2013 9:06 am

    Some are waking up to the Greg Evers follies. Now lets get rid of him, he is not for anything that has any social value.

  8. Robert S. on June 30th, 2013 9:03 am

    @ E. Bell you are right on target with reference to Jeb Bush and his big business pals and his political puppets.

    In my opinion he and his comrades are like a termite colony working largely Out-of-the-Sunshine and quietly eating away at the once solid foundations of PUBLIC Education. Charter schools run by corporations, public funds for private schools, corporate tax reduction for charter schools take millions upon millions of dollars from what should be available to educate the Public school kids. Many of the schools run by Jeb and pals are not assessed the same as Public schools. At one time teacher certification was in certain circumstances waived for charters and private schools. $$$$$ is the goal of Foundation for Florida’s Future and they plug in all the needed conservative talking points and cue words to pull in well-meaning people who if they knew what is really going on would be up in arms.

  9. tj on June 30th, 2013 8:18 am

    HAHA, How awesome is this. Schools get grades, and teachers may get paid depending on their students grades, it’s about time our elected get graded. Once on a trip to the Capitol Building in Tallahassee, during a session, I saw Greg Evers taking a little nap in his huge, comfortable chair. This was over a couple of years ago, didn’t really think he needed to be put back in, but sometimes you have to look at the alternative. Let’s give a grade to ALL elected officials (all the way up to the President) and base their salaries on it……Maybe then they will work harder for the people that put them there.

  10. E Bell on June 30th, 2013 7:40 am

    Be aware of any education foundation headed by Jeb Bush. All the above is a good sound bite but doesn’t tell the entire story. If you think paying Pearson nearly a Billion $$ to write tests and their study guides and pressure states and counties to use them. If you believe testing for nearly 6 weeks out of the school year is using teaching time wisely. If you believe moving millions of tax $$ out of traditional public schools to corporate run charter schools. If you think evaluating teachers by what students do they have never taught then go with this Foundations YUK. Think you Senator Evers for not scoring any higher.