EEUU: How important will education policy be in Florida’s 2018 election cycle?

EEUU/ 27 June, 2017/By Jeffrey Solochek/Source: http://www.tampabay.com

The recent fight over Florida’s education budget and conforming bill (HB 7069) looks likely to carry over into the 2018 election campaign, with some of the state’s most high-profilie politicians already fashioning pointed messages on the issue.

House Speaker Richard Corcoran, the driving force behind HB 7069, suggested on Twitter that the measure will loom large over the elections.

Corcoran, considered a possible candidate for governor, also has launched a social media survey asking: «When it comes to funding schools, should money go to where students are or go to existing facilities regardless of where students are?» The responses have come from all sides, and the rhetoric has gotten pretty accusatory.

The speaker isn’t alone in highlighting the issue as key for Floridians. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, a Democrat facing a likely challenge from term-limted Gov. Rick Scott, recently sent out an email donation request that focused on education.

Nelson pointed to both Scott’s support of HB 7069 and the education budget, as well as controversial U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos (who considers Florida’s choice model to have national promise), to court supporters. From the Nelson for Senate campaign:

«Last month, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced that she wants to cut over $9 billion from the Department of Education, including funding for arts, STEM and language classes.

«And just weeks ago, Gov. Rick Scott made his own devastating cuts to Florida’s public schools – hurting students across the state, from kindergarten through college.

«These disastrous cuts are the exact opposite of what our students need. And I’m going to fight to protect the future of our public schools – both here in Florida and nationwide – but I want to hear from you.»

Usually, education doesn’t rank in the top five of issues affecting voters. How long can this attention last?