Florida's Struggling Education System

As Bridget and Conor started school this week, I have spent a lot of time thinking about children across Florida who will load their backpacks with books, board bright yellow buses, and make their way back to the classroom. More than 42,000 eager students will return to school, ready to discover a remarkable world filled with knowledge and wisdom. But all is not well with the Florida school system.

Join me on the campaign trail and when we meet a teacher, ask them what they think of the FCAT. The focus on these tests has severely constrained teachers' ability to teach and respond appropriately to student needs. That hurts teachers and it ill-prepares our students to compete in an increasingly competitive world. The state legislature did some work on this in the 2008 session - but much more needs to be done.

We recently heard news about declining ACT scores and once again Florida is ranked near the bottom - just 48th nationally. This is a disgrace. We should take the advice of our Education Commissioner and ensure schools have enough emphasis on tougher coursework. It is time to make it the business of schools to educate our children for a lifetime, not just test for passage to the next grade.

During my time in the state legislature and out on the campaign trail, I have met teachers who have to hold down a second job because being a teacher in Florida simply does not pay enough. A public school teacher in Florida today earns $6,000 less than the national average. This is an insult to the professionals who teach our children. It is also irresponsible policy. We know that the best teachers produce the best students - and all of us should want that for Florida's future.

Floridians have a lot to be proud of, but the state of our educational system is not one of them. I am passionate about this issue - and not just because it affects the quality of education my children will receive. We need to build a world-class education system so that Florida can remain competitive in the 21st century and beyond.