Two weeks ago a bill expanding Florida’s private school tax credit scholarship program nearly died.
House and Senate lawmakers couldn’t agree whether those students should have to take the statewide exam required at public school. So the Senate sponsor withdrew his bill.The move left House Speaker Will Weatherford – who doesn’t support the testing – currently the FCAT - seeking a little peace of mind.
“When I was younger I memorized the Serenity Prayer", Weatherford said. "And it said ‘God grant me the serenity to know the things I cannot change. The courage to change the things that I can. And the wisdom to know the difference. I can’t control what happens in the Senate, but I can control what I do in the House. Like I said before, nothing’s dead in week three. But I would say it’s certainly created significant challenges for the bill.”
Senate President Don Gaetz wanted to require the testing in 2008. But House lawmakers outmaneuvered Gaetz and removed it. A House lawmaker has added the voucher expansion to another bill. But the testing disagreement means it’s no sure thing. Advocates on both sides have made it their top priority.
The voucher expansion is the most controversial education bill in a session where legislative leaders and Gov. Rick Scott have mostly agreed. There’s been more agreement on college tuition in Tallahassee.
Lawmakers passed legislation that will let military veterans pay in-state tuition. The Florida GI Bill was actually the first bill Gov. Scott signed this session.
So if you’ve been serving abroad or on a base in another state, you don’t have to pay out of state tuition at Florida schools. There’s also a bill in the works that would grant In-state tuition for undocumented students.
These are kids whose parents brought them here when they were younger, but they’ve been in Florida schools for at least three years.
Now, Florida Universities already have the authority to do this. Florida International here in Miami gives in-state tuition to undocumented students. But this bill would make it a statewide policy.
It’s already passed the house, and it passed a Senate committee—though it’s probably headed for a bigger fight in the senate.
Our Tallahassee reporter Rick Stone spoke with an opponent of the bill, senate Judiciary Chairman Tom Lee of Hillsborough.
"They have the discretion to approve in-state tuition for these folks already. For whatever reason, they're not doing it", said Lee. "If they think that's the appropriate public policy, they should come up here and tell us so. And they should use the resources we give them to implement that policy. There’s also a push to cut year-to-year tuition increases from 15% to 6%. Slowing tuition increases is a popular mission."
But that bill has gotten complicated because of an amendment that would also limit community colleges’ ability to offer bachelor’s degrees.
And education is a big part of the one bill lawmakers must pass each year – the budget. The House and Senate mostly agree with Gov. Rick Scott on education spending. Both bodies have proposed budgets that would add more money for K-12.
The House is proposing the largest increase – adding about $200 more per student next year.
Schools are also likely to receive more money for maintenance after several years with almost nothing in the state budget to fix roofs, replace equipment and take care of other long-term repairs.
The House and Senate each passed their version of the budget last week. Now they’ll have to work out a compromise.