Tallahassee Democrat: Lawsuit: Fla. failing kids
Iricka Berlinger
Tallahassee Democrat
Nov 19, 2009
The Florida Constitution clearly states the importance of education in this state. But superintendents, children advocates and parents are up in arms because they are angry that the state is not upholding its part of deal.
Around the state, taxpayers are demanding that Florida finally stand up for public education.
A lawsuit was filed Wednesday at the Leon County Circuit Court by several parents, students and organizations, mainly from the Jacksonville area. Their lawyers include former Democratic House Speaker Jon Mills, moderate Republican E. Thom Rumberger and members of the Southern Legal Counsel, a Gainesville public-interest law firm.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a similar suit Nov. 5 in West Palm Beach. The suit maintains that Florida is not doing its job to provide quality education to students in public schools.
The Constitution says, "it is a paramount duty of the state to make adequate provision for the education of all children residing within its borders" and that the state shall provide "a uniform, efficient, safe, secure, and high-quality system of free public schools that allows students to obtain a high-quality education."
Both suits claim low graduation rates are evidence the state is not living up to that mandate. Wednesday's suit also cites Florida's low ranking in education spending and teacher pay and its high rate of school violence.
Defendants want the court to order legislative leaders and education officials to come up with a plan to address the issues.
Education Commissioner Eric J. Smith, who is named as a defendant in Wednesday's suit, said the critics are missing the point. He said the lawsuit diminishes the progress that has been made by the children over the last decade and simply ignores the performance of a state that is clearly outpacing the nation.
"Obviously those people are well intended and I would encourage them to help us do better for Florida's kids," said Gov. Charlie Crist, but he said he wasn't sure that he agreed with their argument.