Statement from The James Madison Institute
Florida Governor Rick Scott’s signing of the omnibus education bill is a win for Florida students, parents, and teachers. Florida continues to lead the nation in school choice efforts and to serve as a model for other states that strive to give parents and students the choice of different educational styles and curricula that meet each child’s unique needs.
“For 30 years, The James Madison Institute has been on the front lines of the battle of ideas and principles in Florida. We thank Governor Rick Scott, Senate President Joe Negron, and House Speaker Richard Corcoran for their support of this legislation. They have been steadfast in their efforts to match students with educational opportunities that provide the greatest chance for success in life, and this commitment is reflected in legislation that expands school choice for economically-disadvantaged students and those with unique abilities, while providing more digital education access and allowing successful charter schools to open new schools in areas with chronically failing public schools.”
– Dr. J. Robert McClure, President and CEO, The James Madison Institute
“Education choice is an idea that ought to unite liberals and conservatives because it acknowledges that students are diverse and that they are often ill-served by one-size-fits-all schooling policies that fail to account for each child’s unique learning needs. We commend the legislators in both parties who voted to expand student options in 2017, and we hope legislators will work together in 2018 to move us even closer to the goal of universal education choice for all Florida students.”
– William Mattox, Director of JMI’s Marshall Center for Educational Options
