What They Are Saying: It’s Time for the Senate to Stand Up to Richard Corcoran’s “Slap in the Face” to Teachers

Will someone finally stand up to Richard Corcoran?

That’s the big question for the Senate today as it debates HB 7055. Corcoran’s widely condemned bill is “loaded with unacceptable policy changes that further grease the skids for private and charter schools” and “would kneecap state teachers’ unions in collective bargaining.” Even Republican Senators like Tom Lee this morning called the bill a “slap in the face” to teachers and said that HB 7055 demonstrated that the Legislature does “a marvelous job of representing the privileged – we do a lousy job in my personal opinion of representing working class Floridians.”

Senator Lee is not the only one opposed to Richard Corcoran’s nakedly political attack on students, teachers, and public schools:

Daytona News-Journal: Editorial: Keep a lid on shenanigans

A massive education “train” that would authorize private-school vouchers for students who believe they’ve been bullied has actually gotten worse, with the addition of language that would kneecap state teachers’ unions in collective bargaining. A change that big should have been presented as standalone legislation, with ample opportunity for debate and discussion.

Tampa Bay Times: Column: Romano: Does anyone have the guts to say no to the state bully?

For several years, the governor and 159 legislators have listened to Corcoran tell everyone how they should follow his vision to privatize public schools, and they’ve nodded their little bobbleheads. Now, Corcoran is upping the ante with the charade that is HB 7055. And it will be up to the Senate in the coming weeks to tell him no. So what’s it going to be senators? Are you going to be Corcoran’s flunkies, too?Or, rather, again?

Tampa Bay Times: Editorial: No sales tax money for private school tuition vouchers

There is no satisfying Republican legislators who seem determined to gut Florida’s public schools, hand every kid a check and let them choose their public or private school. House Speaker Richard Corcoran already is pushing hard to hand tuition vouchers to kids who claim they have been bullied, but even that isn’t enough

Tampa Bay Times: Editorial: Senate should reject House’s attack on public schools

After pummeling public education so soundly last year, it’s little surprise Republican state legislators are mounting another attack on public schools, teachers and local districts. The mammoth education bill passed by the House last week is loaded with unacceptable policy changes that further grease the skids for private and charter schools, and House Speaker Richard Corcoran gamed the normal process by tying it all to school funding

St. Augustine Record: Credit where credit’s due

The most absurd and poorly crafted bill forwarded by the House this year (and last) is the education omnibus, HB 7055.

Palm Beach Post: Editorial: Senate needs to stand up to House bully on education bill

Corcoran is on a mission to fundamentally remake Florida’s public education system and he is acting every bit the bully to get his way. This time, the Florida Senate shouldn’t let him — especially not this way.