News Alert

FLORIDA BRINGS ACCOUNTABILITY HOME

Statement by Jeanne Allen,
President of the Center for Education Reform
On passage of Florida's A+ Education Package

(April 29, 1999)  Thanks to the efforts of Florida lawmakers and thousands of ordinary citizens, children in the Sunshine State will be waking up to the promise of better schools.  Enactment of Florida's A+ Education Package has made education reform history.  It is the first statewide choice program and one that stresses public school improvement and accountability.

        The program's emphasis is on making public schools succeed.  Those who do well will receive additional state money.  Those that consistently fail will risk losing students.    Children in those schools will have the opportunity to choose another school ­ be it public or private ­ where they can succeed.

        Parents will now have a fail-safe guarantee to a quality education.  If their school fails, they'll be afforded an alternative.  That's a powerful message; it is a message that is likely to yield significant gains in all Florida schools.

        Rather than seeking ways to block implementation of this important program, opponents should embrace this change in the status quo and put their efforts into ensuring that no school fails its children.

        Some have called the plan radical and say it will hurt public schools.  There is nothing radical about guaranteeing that children get the best education available and that parents be permitted a choice in the matter.  Florida's new choice and accountability plan will help turn around failing schools and give much-needed assistance to many disadvantaged children.

Link to:

• Summary of Florida A+ Plan.
• CER Press Release: School Choice -- Florida Public Schools Strive to Stay off Failing Schools List; First State-Wide Voucher Program Explodes Myths
• News Article: EDUCATORS BET SALARY AGAINST GRADES, By Linda Chion-Kenney, St. Petersburg Times, reprinted in the Detroit News, August 12, 1999.
• Op-ed by Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Lt. Gov. Frank Brogan: POOR SCHOOL CHILDREN AREN'T DESTINED TO FAIL.

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The Center for Education Reform is a national, independent, non-profit advocacy organization providing support and guidance to individuals, community and civic groups, policymakers and others who are working to bring fundamental reforms to their schools. For additional information on school choice, contact CER at (202) 822-9000 or (800) 521-2118, visit our School Choice Library, or send e-mail to cer@edreform.com.

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