Education

June 27, 2007
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Providing World-Class Educational Opportunities to All Florida Students

  • Republicans believe that parents should be highly-involved in their child’s education. Allowing choices empowers parents by involving them in choosing what educational setting best meets the needs of their child.
  • Republicans have worked to hold schools accountable for providing a first-class education for all Florida children, and our schools have stepped up to the challenge.
  • Accountability, choice, and focusing on each child’s individual needs—we think this is the best way to achieve academic excellence.
  • The Crist/Kottkamp 2007-2008 budget funds education at record levels, providing $24.4 billion to help us create world-class schools in Florida so that our graduates are qualified to serve in the high-tech, high-wage jobs of the future.
    • Public Schools – The budget provides $19.3 billion – an increase of $1.2 billion, or 6.84 percent – for the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP), which funds public schools. This allocation increases funding by $455 per student, or 6.65 percent, for a total of $7,306 per student. Funding within the FEFP also includes:
      • $116.9 million – an increase of $5.1 million, or 4.57 percent – for reading instruction, including 80 additional reading coaches. Reading coaches help teachers more effectively improve the reading skills of struggling students.
      • $147.5 million for teacher bonuses that will give five-percent to 10-percent performance bonuses to the state’s educators.
      • $3.3 billion to continue reducing class size. Funding includes $2.7 billion for operations – an increase of $600 million, or 28.45 percent – and $650 million to build additional classrooms.
    • Community Colleges – Community colleges will receive a total of $1.3 billion, an increase of $70.4 million. Funds will provide associate degrees as well as increase the number of partnerships with four-year institutions and baccalaureate programs in critical job areas.
    • Universities – The state university system is provided a total of $3.8 billion, an increase of $199 million. Funds will provide postsecondary education opportunities, increase the number of grants to promote research and commercial development and expand programs in the fields of medicine.
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