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Flypaper

Teacher reforms: More radioactive than vouchers

Michael J. Petrilli
4.9.2010

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.

30 Democrats voted for vouchers but against tenure reform and merit pay.

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

Tags: Republican Party

President, Thomas B. Fordham Institute

Michael J. PetrilliĀ is president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, executive editor of Education Next, editor in chief of the Education Gadfly Weekly, host of the…

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