It is undeniable that tax reform is needed in Florida, but recent efforts have not been reform. Amendment 1, approved by voters last year, was more tax relief, with some consequences that may actually exacerbate current tax inequities. Amendment 5 was not tax reform either, but rather a tax swap. But the drumbeat for tax reform has not gone away, nor has the desire for vouchers by some political leaders, religious leaders and private organizations. Efforts towards these ends can be expected at next year's and subsequent legislative sessions. Everyone who cares about stable and adequate funding for public education will have to remain vigilant as Tallahassee legislators gather, debate and craft public school and tax structure legislation.
Florida has traditionally been a low-wage, low-tax and, some would say, low-service state. There is a lot of talk about diversifying and deepening our economy, and there are some bright spots aimed toward that goal. However, to do that, our public education system must be first-rate, and not just in test scores, but in the level of rigor and the level of equitable access to that rigor. It also requires commitment to establish a strong framework for Pre-K-20 education, with the following foundations: equitable access, funding adequacy, legislative support, instructional articulation, institutional cooperation and collaboration, higher education capacity, and overall flexibility for education professionals to utilize well-conceived, well-researched best practices.
It will be necessary to cut through the chatter, often emotional and contradictory, and remember that high-quality public education capable of preparing all students for our global economy requires policies and investments that truly benefit our children, not politicians or special interests that do not have our children's best interests at heart.
