Education bills boost Bright Futures, hit teachers' union
TALLAHASSEE — Florida lawmakers passed two sweeping education bills Monday in a tradeoff between House and Senate leaders that boosts funding for Bright Futures college scholarships, creates two new de facto school vouchers and makes it harder for teachers to maintain unions.
Senate President Joe Negron has been pushing a higher education bill centered around increasing the Bright Futures scholarships that help Florida students pay for tuition to state universities. House Speaker Richard Corcoran wanted a K-12 bill that pays for children who are bullied to attend private schools and requires teachers’ unions to petition the state for recertification if their membership falls below 50 percent of eligible employees.
The Senate advanced Corcoran’s K-12 bill by a vote of 20-17, while the House advanced the higher education bill by a vote of 84-28. Both bills now head to Gov. Rick Scott’s desk for approval.
The provision in the K-12 bill decertifying teachers’ unions was particularly controversial. Critics said it could force unions to hold frequent, time-consuming elections to stay active.
Read more: http://www.gainesville.com/news/20180305/education-bills-boost-bright-futures-hit-teachers-union