Florida Taking The Lead In Educational Choice

While not a total voucher system where the money normally spent on public education per pupil by the state would be given to a student to attend a private school, committees in both the Florida House and Senate this week approved similar measures that would give choice to students to attend schools outside their normal attendance district if the school they were assigned to was considered a failing school.

Under new criteria that is set to be adopted as part of this legislation, some 200 schools would fall below the line compared to just 24 now. That means that 110,000 students - some 6 times the 17,000 currently eligible - could switch schools and stay in their new attendance district for the balance of their educational career.

There are still some details to work out such as finding money to fund the program and transporting the students to their new schools, but the legislature is taking a hard look at improving performance.

Improving education has been the catch phrase around the country the past couple of years. but here is a State preparing to do something about it. Don't fix the problem schools. Move on. If no one wants to attend them, eliminate them. They have been given plenty of opportunities to get better.

 

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com, or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. Listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings.

Steve Hoffacker - Consultant, Coach, Author, Blogger, Photographer, Motivator, Teacher, & Strategist - for Realtors, Real Estate Sales Professionals, Home Builders, New Home Salespeople, Entrepreneurs, Small Business Owners, and Independent Sales Representatives.

© Steve Hoffacker, 2011. All Rights Reserved.

Wow, More Spending Is Not The Answer

Can you believe this? President Obama actually said that more spending was not the answer. Of course, he wasn't talking about the economy, he was speaking about education - but it's a start. However, it appears he didn't really mean it.

He still believes that the federal government is responsible for public education. It never has been, and the Department of Education should be disbanded - but that's another post.

He is advocating a longer school year and higher standards for teachers - neither of which can be effected by the feds. He thinks kids forget too much over the summer so he wants a longer school year at a higher price - he claims the additional money here would be well spent. I wonder how much they forget after graduation.

He wants to pay the good teachers more and give underperforming teachers a chance to measure up before allowing them to find employment elsewhere - no details on how this supposedly would happen.

So one the one hand he maintains that "we can't spend our way out of it," but he is more than willing to keep trying.

 

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com, or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. Listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings.

Steve Hoffacker - Consultant, Coach, Author, Blogger, Photographer, Motivator, Teacher, & Strategist - for Realtors, Real Estate Sales Professionals, Home Builders, New Home Salespeople, Entrepreneurs, Small Business Owners, and Independent Sales Representatives.

© Steve Hoffacker, 2010. All Rights Reserved.