Education
Because education is crucial to building a brighter future for Florida, CIVIC has always maintained a strong focus on education policy issues. Every Florida child deserves a world-class education, and creating a vibrant economy in a our state requires an education workforce prepared to face the challenges of the 21st century.
Here, you can find information about critical education issues and CIVIC's policy proposals. You'll also find specific actions you can take to make your voice heard and make a difference.
Sign up in the box to the right to receive updates and to be notified of actions you can take when they'll matter most. Check back often for more ways to get involved.
2011 Education Legislation
Feb 22, 2011
This year, we'll again be closely watching education legislation, including SB 736 -- the 2011 version of SB 6 and the legislature's latest attempt at accountability reform. Education funding is under attack again, and we'll keep you posted about that too. Stay tuned here for real-time updates about how and when to take effective action.
Commentary:
Florida's False Choice for Students
Feb 7, 2011
Blaming public schools and encouraging families to leave them is not public school reform. Promoting the proliferation of start-up schools with no track record or accountability to the taxpayer is a “choice” to continue to leave children behind. It is a “choice” to remain a low-expectation, low-wage state -- a Magic Kingdom that works for the wealthy and tourists, not for the families of Florida.
Excellence in Education Now
Aug 2, 2010
More than a decade after voters approved a constitutional amendment imposing a "paramount duty" on the state to provide a high-quality education to all Florida students, Florida's schools are still failing our children. A parent coalition has filed a lawsuit to force state leaders to meet their constitutional duty.
2010 Education Legislation:
The Bad, the Ugly and Not Much Good
Mar 24, 2010
Legislative leadership is rushing a series of bills through the process that would dramatically change Florida's public schools. Many of the measures are being harshly criticized as dangerous, overbroad, and detrimental. Learn more, and find out how to take action.
2008 Education Reforms:
A Bold Step Forward, But Much Work Remains
Jun 30, 2008
While the 2008 Legislature will mostly be remembered for massive budget cuts to public education and other high-priority programs, lawmakers did take a bold first step to begin undoing the narrow focus of the flawed A-Plus public school accountability system in place since 1999. Learn about the changes, and about how you can participate in improving Florida's public schools.
Dr. Sherman Dorn on Education Accountabliity
Mar 30, 2007
Dr. Sherman Dorn, and USF professor and expert on school acountability, conducted a comprehensive assessment of Florida's A-Plus Plan. The conclusion? A-Plus doesn't make the grade.
Building World-Class Schools:
Read CIVIC's Expert Reports
Mar 6, 2007
While our state leaders have been trumpeting dramatic education reforms for the last eight years, Florida's schools continue to rank near the bottom in many important measures. Learn about the problems our education system faces and some real solutions we can implement to begin building world-class schools.