Mark this as a milestone. According to the Associated Press, the Florida House of Representatives passed a bill yesterday to abolish tenure for new teachers and introduce merit pay on a "largely party line vote" of 64-55. [quote] But the same House passed a bill to expand a voucher program for low-income children "95-23 with solid Republican support while Democrats were split."
In the neighborhood of 30 Democrats voted for vouchers but against tenure reform and merit pay? Now that's interesting! (And a testament to the work that the parental choice movement in Florida has done to garner support from African-American and Latino Democrats.)
-Mike Petrilli
