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teachers union

Joe Henderson: Richard Corcoran did more than change Florida education, whipped teachers union too

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Alex Sink made a point to Mitch Perry on FloridaPolitics.com that Democrats may finally have a cause to rally around in this state. She referred to HB 7069 (or, as I like to call it, “The Let’s Bust The Teachers’ Union Act”) pushed through by House Speaker Richard Corcoran and signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott. It is the biggest push yet by the Legislature to expand private charter schools with money from the public education budget. “Do we…

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Bill Clinton says Hillary Clinton will be teachers’ partner in the White House

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After laying out his wife’s education plans from universal prekindergarten through college student loan refinancing, former President Bill Clinton told Florida’s teachers’ union Friday in Orlando that “if she becomes president, you will have a partner in the White House.” Clinton’s 35-minute speech to the Florida Education Association delegate conference at the Rosen Centre lightly portrayed Donald Trump‘s vision as that of pessimism, craziness, and longings for the past, while Hillary Clinton‘s vision forward-thinking, aimed at making public education integral…

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Tom Jackson: Appeal puts poor students under FEA’s boot

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Now that the Florida Education Association has chosen to appeal its legal double-drubbing over the state’s scholarship program for students from low-income families, the question that leaps immediately to mind is this: Why does the teachers’ union hate poor kids? Seriously. About 92,000 students from modest circumstances are attending private schools through the 15-year-old Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program, but the FEA wants to cut them off and haul them back into a system that, for far too many, is…

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School choice advocate makes compelling case for Tax Credit Scholarships in Tallahassee speech

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In an impressive display of how to dismantle an opponent’s arguments point by point, school choice advocate John Kirtley this week made a compelling case for Florida’s Tax Credit Scholarship program. His argument: The program fits squarely within the state’s overall approach to education, despite critics’ claims that it violates the Florida Constitution. It is a part of, not a distraction from, public education. In addition to being legal, Kirtley noted, the program is smart for all Floridians, by keeping school districts around the state from having to find enough classrooms overnight to…

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Will teachers’ union abandon Kendrick Meek for Charlie Crist?

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Mike Thomas wonders if the teachers’ union will abandon Kendrick Meek for Charlie Crist? The Florida Education Association – the state teachers’ union – is running an ad for Charlie Crist. It doesn’t mention the Senate race, but it’s obvious this is political payback for Charlie vetoing a merit pay bill. Many teachers have pledged support for Charlie in his campaign. The union better think long and hard about this. Charlie vetoed that bill, which he previously supported, purely for political…

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Teachers union urges members to thank Charlie Crist

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Saying it’s only polite — but not political — state and local teachers unions are urging members to send their thanks to Gov. Charlie Crist for vetoing the controversial teacher pay and tenure bill. “Join the tens of thousands of Floridians who are sending a Thank You to Governor Crist for the SB6 Veto,” says a message on the Florida Education Association website. “Pledge Your Support.” Unions have stopped short of endorsing Crist in his bid for the U.S. Senate.…

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Pinellas School Board member warns of pay cuts if SB 6 passes

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Pinellas School Board member Carol Cook tells The Gradebook that pay cuts may be back on the table if SB 6 becomes law: With the financial mandate imposed by SB 6 on top of other budget pressures, Pinellas board member Carol Cook said she can’t rule out that the district might go back on its contract with the teachers union and revisit the small “step” raises it agreed to give teachers in 2010-11. “Am I willing to say now we would…

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