Florida Governor Ron DeSantis likes to brag about his state's education system. And for good reason.
Florida's sprawling higher education system, which enrolls about 1 million students in 12 public universities or colleges and community colleges in 28 states, keeps state tuition and fees low -- which -less than $5,000 on average for a four-year company, according to recent data. But at a time when schools are struggling to retain students, nearly three-quarters of those enrolled in four-year degree programs graduate on time, according to more than half of those enrolled in the two-year program. When it comes to tuition fees, Florida has one of the lowest borrower burdens in the country. Sunshine's public K-12 system doesn't carry the same accolades as its higher education offerings, but it's nothing to scoff at. While the state's math and reading numbers aren't glaringly significant — students scored in the middle of the pack on the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress — it points to high school graduation rates. in the range of 90% and almost half of all. students are ready for college, they have passed the score on the SAT or ACT. It's a strong combination that has placed Florida on top of the best US states for education levels according to US News & World Report.
But DeSantis, the likely GOP nominee in the 2024 presidential election — and the only Republican challenger currently polling within striking distance of former President Donald Trump — has touted his academic record. again recently, including some experts who fear that it will harm the quality of education. in the state.
While making strategic visits to Iowa - the nation's largest caucus state for Republicans - and other key states such as Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina, DeSantis is fueling a series of long-running disputes. . War attempts to restrict educational opportunities on race and inequality, LGBTQ issues and gender identity, and to enforce the control of higher education. Now, some worry that its high-cost curriculum could undermine confidence in the state's public education system.
"The major divide between states like Florida and states and counties that have been doing well in recent years may be the subject of an essay," DeSantis writes in his new memoir, "The Courage to Be Free." , which ranked Florida No. 1 for higher education in the US News Best States ranking. (The state has ranked #1 in this category every year since the rankings began in 2017.) "What capacity will the dominant leftist ideology define as success?" he asks. "From Los Angeles and San Francisco to New York and Chicago, almost every jurisdiction that has adopted a left-leaning government philosophy has had serious problems including rising crime, the death of people living in it, the deterioration of the quality of education and reducing the quality of life. What these powers are aware of, their leaders lack basic intelligence. Compared to these hard-left places, Florida is complete insensitivity — a place where awakened ideas go to die."
That message — which could appeal to conservative voters in a core that by all accounts will go to the candidate who can claim the best position — has emboldened Republicans and led other GOP governors to push copycat platforms. and similar, if not exactly the same, bills in their state legislatures. But critics in Florida and across the country say the message is dangerous and that, along with major changes to the law in K-12 and higher education services, DeSantis could cause serious disruption to the system. isolate Florida.
"One of the things we see across the system, from preschool to higher education, is this fight against stereotypes, diversity, equality and inclusion and this idea of trusting professionals, " said Andrew Spar, President. of the Florida Education Association, the state's largest teachers association. "We should be talking about how we approach reading instruction in elementary schools, but there's no discussion about reading in the state of Florida right now. Instead, it's about whether or not we're going to have transgender restrooms." it is about whether we teach revival in our schools and if revival is bad.
"We're going to see a significant negative impact on our students' learning going forward."
Last year, DeSantis unveiled a new plan for state colleges and universities — one that would advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion, give boards the power to review tenure at all times and to establish mandatory courses and Western civilization. He feared that Florida might stop offering
On the K-12 side, DeSantis banned teaching about gender identity and sexuality in first grade; signed a bill banning transgender athletes from competing on women's sports teams; threw out nearly half of the mathematics papers submitted for review because of what he called their "sleepy" concepts; wants to prevent teachers from teaching racism or any subject in a way that could lead people to believe they should feel "guilt, distress, or other forms of psychological distress" because of past actions of who their race, gender, or country are from; and establish a requirement that a district employee with special certification check out books in the school library and assign them to the classroom.
“This will directly affect all students in this state to the extent that there will be an educational gap, as students in these states that do not have the state ban will have a better educational experience than students. located in states where these restrictions apply. Laws have been made," says Taifha Natalee Alexander, director of CRT Forward, a database maintained by the Critical Race Studies program at the UCLA School of Law. . "It's a really scary thing to think about," he says. "This will affect students' ability to address some of the most pressing racial and justice issues of our time."
One of the most recent legislative victories for DeSantis — and one that will have the biggest impact on the K-12 system — is a major expansion of Florida's school voucher program. By eliminating eligibility and enrollment caps, the program could send up to $4 billion in tax dollars to cover private school tuition — money that critics say could be used to strengthen the public school system.
"It's defunding K-12 public education and it's getting more public money that should be going to the public and private education systems through vouchers," said Jessica Levin, director of advocacy at Education Law Center says. Organization policy focused on equity in school funding - and campaign director of Public Funds Public Schools. "It's scary."
"The anti-CRT, anti-LGBTQ law — commonly known as the 'Don't Talk About Gay' law — is part of a plan to undermine and sow distrust in the public education system and starve the system to produce results," Levin said. , said, "We're talking about a strong, well-supported army at play here."
In fact, America's Children's Fund, a school-choice group founded by former US Secretary of State Betsy DeVos, has poured $9 million into state races over the past year, supporting candidates in support of expanding school choice and trying. expel or ban those who do not. For supporters of DeSantis and other GOP governors in states such as Arkansas, Iowa, Utah, Tennessee and Texas, increasing legislative efforts to provide public funding and programs that cover private school tuition is long overdue. is coming. From deep pockets, they managed to meet the challenges of the pandemic that public schools have struggled to overcome even now more than three years later. And it's the plan they hope to bring to the White House.
"Academic freedom is on the march," AFC President Tommy Schultz said after DeSantis signed the bill expanding Florida's charter. He later said: “Giving families the freedom to choose the best education for their children is important. "We won. And they know it.
In Florida, however, the firestorm of legislation has had a major impact on teachers across the state.
Florida is experiencing a teacher hemorrhage and is among the worst teacher and staff shortages in its history, Spar says. The K-12 system had about 2,200 vacancies five years ago when DeSantis took office. As of January, it had nearly 5,300 teacher vacancies and more than 4,600 support staff vacancies. Spar says: "We see this departure in this work. "And that is at the feet of the governor, who criticized the teachers and staff who work in our schools, who tried to create an environment where it pits teachers against teachers and staff against teachers and parents against teachers."
Although DeSantis' education program is working well for his conservative base in Florida and perhaps even Republican voters across the country who recognize the governor as he passes through key states during the voting period vote, it remains to be seen whether it is. Republicans and independents are embracing the important record — the key election the GOP must follow to win in 2024.
"I'm not going to look down on Ron DeSantis, but I think he's going to be overexposed, and I think he's going to lose," Spar said. "But he's a man with a lot of money now, and he plans to use that money and use Florida as a show."
"His behavior is deeply troubling and concerning, anyone watching what is happening in Florida right now should be directed."
