An Educational Week in Florida – Top 3 Takeaways – January 27th, 2023
- It's been an educational week in Florida. In my top 3 takeaways on Monday, I said this... Pro-choice. What comes to mind when I say that? And that’s my point for making “pro-choice” my top takeaway today. Somewhere along the way language became so highjacked by the abortion on demand crowd, that the term became synonymous with ending a pregnancy. However, there are many avenues in life in which the term pro-choice applies and isn’t a tortured use of language bastardized for political purposes. And one which applies is school choice. And while abortion is a huge issue, just 9.7% of Americans end up having one. Conversely, 91% of Americans have attended public schools. I’ve always been pro school choice. And this week is National School Choice Week - which is arguably the most important week of the year for future generations of students. That’s especially true in Florida this year. Wow has that proven ever truer than I’d realized when I said it originally. While House Speaker Paul Renner had already proposed Florida’s Universal School Choice legislation prior to Monday, Governor DeSantis had yet to roll out his education agenda. An agenda which as announced is typically ambitious of our governor. $1 billion in additional raises for teachers. A “Teacher’s Bill of Rights” which greatly would reduce the reach and influence of teachers’ unions within the state and would provide recourse for non-union teachers who are bullied and/or retaliated against by unions and union members. Amending Florida’s Constitution to implement partisan school board races. Rejecting The College Board’s woke AP African American Studies Course and having The College Board reversing course agreeing to remove the wokeness from the course. So yeah, what a week it’s already been for education in Florida, and for those paying attention, what an educational week in Florida it's been. As speculation regarding Governor DeSantis’ future ambitions have continued to swirl, there’s something that’s crystal clear regardless of what he does or doesn’t decide to do. He’s fully focused on public policy in Florida and as passionate as ever about reforming Florida’s educational system. And lest one forget – that's always been his top priority as governor. His very first policy announcements were regarding the elimination of the Common Core curriculum in lieu of what became the B.E.S.T. standards. Having achieved those reforms in his first term, he’s clearly focused on finishing the reformation job in his second term – for however long that may prove to be. Which is exciting because of...
- How far Florida’s already come. It’s one thing to seek reforms, it’s another to enact them. But most important of all are the results. When Ron DeSantis became Governor of Florida, our graduation rate was 86% and students ranked 8th on the National Assessment – which represented a huge improvement achieved under Governor Rick Scott’s administration. Now just four years later, Florida’s students are graduating at record rates above 90% and are 4th on the national assessment. More impressive still, Florida’s university system is now the highest ranked in the country. Even a decade ago, as Florida consistently ranked near the bottom half of everything educationally, who would have thought we’d be where we are today. But that’s what happens with great leadership, real reforms and a shift away from the woke agenda of teachers’ unions and one that’s back to solid educational principles. And it’s also why Governor DeSantis deserves the benefit of the doubt on the reforms he’s proposing right now. Notice his critics attack him as opposed to the merits of his proposals. That’s because that’s all they have. How can they attack a four-year record of having presided over the complete overhaul of our educational curriculum which has led to record graduation rates while turning Florida’s students into top 4 performers nationally? This is what winning looks like. Not politically, though these have been political wins too, but where it matters most – outcomes. Just look how far Florida has already come. And it's time to...
- Finish what’s been started. That’s true with DeSantis’ education agenda. That’s true with parental involvement in education at all levels with our children. That’s true in standing up for God in our lives and against political correctness when it pushes us to say and do that of which we don’t believe. It’s all part of the educational process. After all, none of us actually stop learning do we? And surely you wouldn’t be listening to me if you weren’t wired for getting something more out of life than the status quo. I’m dedicated to continuing to improve the research, the facts and the presentation of all that we discuss daily. And when we’re talking about improving education at all levels, doesn’t that include those of us who’re far removed from our time in classrooms as well? In fact, isn’t it true that if we continue to improve education and influence at our level, it’ll no doubt positively impact what happens at the grade school level – starting with the direct impact we have on our kids? It’s been a heck of a week for education in Florida. It’s time to finish what’s been started.