Rick Scott Continues Gutting Public Schools For The Sake Of His Self-Serving Politics

Last year Scott signed HB 7069, a “disaster” for public education. 

Now he’s draining even more money from public schools.

In response to Rick Scott signing HB 7055 – the latest effort in his 8-year long assault on Florida’s public school system – Florida Democratic Party Spokeswoman Caroline Rowland released the following statement.

“Just like he’s done for years, Rick Scott is draining funding from our public schools in order to give his political donors and cronies another taxpayer funded handout – it’s just the latest demonstration that Scott puts his own self-serving politics over Florida’s schools, teachers and students. He’s driven Florida to the bottom of the nation in per-pupil spending, slashed millions from K-12 education, and used every opportunity he could to divert resources away from our schools and towards his political allies. Once again Scott showed he’s only ever looking out for himself – while Floridians pay the price.”

SCOTT’S SELF-SERVING RECORD ON EDUCATION: UNDER SCOTT, PER-PUPIL EDUCATION FUNDING REMAINS BELOW NATIONAL AVERAGE, SCOTT “DID ASTOUNDING DAMAGE TO THE STATE’S K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOLS,” “SET BACK PROGRESS FOR FLORIDA’S PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES.” 

• Palm Beach Post Editorial: Scott “did astounding damage to the state’s K-12 public schools;”Sun-Sentinel: Editorial: Florida’s broken state Legislature; Miami Herald Editorial: “State funding for public schools still lags the national average of $10,600, at just over $7,000. That’s a disgrace;” Sun Sentinel: Editorial: Florida’s secret budget deal undermines education, public trust; Miami Herald: Editorial: Veto the Florida Legislature’s harmful education budget, Gov. Scott; Tampa Bay Times: Editorial: Florida budget deal trades cash for bad policy; Ocala Star Banner: Editorial: Don’t cut aid to state colleges; Daytona Beach News Journal: Volusia school officials: Rick Scott’s budget increase not enough to meet needs; Sun Sentinel: Opinion: Gov. Rick Scott puts personal agenda ahead of Florida families; Ocala Star Banner: Editorial: Quite the secrecy in Tallahassee; Palm Beach Post: Editorial: Too many decisions made in private, by just three people; Gainesville Sun: Editorial Jeer: “Rick Scott, for signing House Bill 7069 into law.”

• Florida’s Per-Pupil Education Funding Below National Average.“Florida’s per-pupil education funding remains below the national average, which was roughly $12,500 in 2013-14, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.” [Politico, 12/13/17]

• Folio Weekly: Florida Was Falling Short Of 2007 Education Spending Levels By $1,082. “It’s bad enough that we’ve failed to maintain spending levels, in real dollars, over the course of one year. But the news gets much worse when we consider the entire past decade of per-pupil education spending. In 2007, former governor Charlie Crist’s education budget allotted $7,126 per pupil. According to the CPI calculator, it would cost $8,377.89 today to buy the same value that $7,126 bought in 2007. In real dollars, we’re falling short of 2007 levels by $1,082. In real dollars, Florida is going backwards in terms of education funding-and it’s hurting our students.” [Folio Weekly, 11/27/17]

• Florida Education Association: Scott failed to “Move Florida (schools) out from the bottom when compared to other states.” [Reuters, 11/21/17]

• Scott Cut $1.3 Billion From K-12 Education In 2011.“In this fact-check we will explain if Scott cut education by $1.3 billion in his first year in office in 2011 and then in the second year cut $300 million from state universities…. As Scott approached his first legislative session in 2011, he unveiled a budget proposal at a tea party rally that included steep spending cuts, including to education. Ultimately, the Republican-led Legislature backed some of those cuts. Multiple news articles described the cuts to K-12 education at more than $1 billion — and many articles used that $1.3 billion figure …The state also cut $300 million from universities during Scott’s second legislative session.” [PolitiFact, 11/11/13]