It's hard to overstate how much critics hate Florida's education bill. Will the governor veto it?

| 6/1/2017

It’s hard to overstate how much critics hate Florida’s education bill. Will the governor veto it?

It’s being called legislation by “scam” — and that’s not the worst critique of the new education bill that the Republican-dominated Florida legislature has now approved. Will Republican Gov. Rick Scott veto it, as school superintendents, school boards, public school advocates and even some Republicans are advocating? [Source: Washington Post]

Florida Trend Exclusive
Strength in numbers: Profile of UCF President John Hitt

University of Central Florida President John Hitt makes no apologies for growing the Orlando university into a 64,000-student behemoth, arguing that quantity and quality aren’t mutually exclusive. Access full story.

Related:
» Comings and Goings: Leadership changes.

» Nationally Recognized: The Aspen Institute consistently praises Florida’s community colleges.

» Gain from No Pain: A small, for-profit school in Naples is one of only two independent, single-purpose nurse anesthetist schools in the U.S.

Florida's Bright Futures Program could aid scholars even more if Gov. Scott signs additional funding

This year, as the Bright Futures program turns 20, lawmakers want to sweeten the deal. If Gov. Rick Scott signs the legislation, top scholars would receive 100 percent of tuition at a Florida university, plus most fees. And for the first time, the scholarship would pay for their summer classes. [Source: NBC Miami ]

Few students enroll in Florida's $10,000 college degree programs

It sounded like a great deal: Get a four-year college degree for the low price of $10,000. But nearly five years after the state’s community colleges agreed to offer these discounted degrees at the request of Gov. Rick Scott, few students in South Florida have benefited. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel ]

Taxwatch targets higher ed ‘turkeys’

Florida TaxWatch, a business-backed governmental research group, recommended that Gov. Rick Scott veto six state university and college building projects in the new $82.4 billion state budget. [Source: Daily Commercial]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› USF looks to add faculty, boost standing [Daily Commercial]
With the goal of becoming one of the top public-research institutions in the country, the University of South Florida is being guided by a plan to hire 300 new faculty members over the next five years.

› UCF seeks consulting firm for college research consortium [Orlando Business Journal]
The University of Central Florida is seeking consulting services for the Florida Consortium of Metropolitan Research Universities.

› St. Petersburg College selects its first black and first female president in school history [Tampa Bay Times]
A 30-year employee of St. Petersburg College rode an overwhelming tide of public support to be named the college's first female and first black president.

› FSU named an age-friendly university for its outreach to Florida’s older adults [FSU News]
Florida State University has been named a member of the Age-Friendly University Initiative, an international effort to highlight the role higher education plays in meeting the challenges and opportunities of an aging population.

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