Support for Florida Public Schools
Thad Altman understands that a strong education system that provides better learning opportunities for our children must always be our state’s top priority. Thad fought for providing the necessary funding to improve Florida schools and transform our education system to adapt to a changing state and a rapidly evolving workforce. Additionally, Thad supported increasing standards for standards and enhanced accountability measures for schools, measures championed by Governor Jeb Bush.
In the past four years, Florida’s students have made real gains in national achievement, and are proof that these reforms have yielded great results for our kids. Florida is one of only four states with significant increases in both 4th and 8th grade reading since 2005. Our 4th graders improved from 28th to 14th in the nation in reading, and from 24th to 19th in mathematics. Florida students now rank among the top ten states in the nation in writing proficiency. These results prove that more accountability from schools and teachers and higher expectations for students are policies that work.
But Thad Altman knows that it is not only how much money is allocated to our schools, but how this money is spent that truly matters. That is why Thad has voted for increased standards and accountability measures for Florida Schools. He voted to de-emphasize FCAT scores in the calculation of school grades. In order to measure real achievement, high school grades will now be calculated based on factors such as graduation rates, progress made by at-risk students, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate participation and test scores, vocational certification programs, college entrance exam scores and final exam scores.
School Choice
In 2006, Thad supported creating the Florida Schools of Excellence Commission to sponsor Charter Schools. Thad also voted to enhance Charter School accountability requirements. Charter Schools provide parents with another option for their child’s education. He also voted to enhance accountability requirements for McKay Scholarships. McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program provide Florida students with special needs the opportunity to attend a participating private school. Through this program, a parent may also elect to transfer their child to another public school. McKay Scholarships and Charter Schools give parents additional resources for children.
Community Colleges
Florida’s State Community Colleges are precious resources, awarding over 65,000 degrees and certificates annually statewide. Brevard, Seminole and Valencia Community Colleges provide wonderful opportunities for the people of East Central Florida to improve their skills and training or to prepare for a four-year academic institution. Thad supported a bill to encourage enrollment at community colleges. This bill provided qualified Florida Bright Futures Scholarship recipients eligible for a 75% tuition scholarship to receive 100% tuition scholarship for attending a community college in a 2 + 2 program. In the 2 + 2 program, Florida students attend a community college for two years and complete their undergraduate studies with two years at a state university. This is an affordable option for many families, and provides quality education to Florida’s kids at a fraction of the cost of a traditional four-year university.
Universities
Thad supported funding for the University of Central Florida College of Medicine in 2006. Thanks to Thad’s efforts, UCF College of Medicine enrolled its first class of graduate students in 2009. Attracting a new medical community to East Central Florida will provide research opportunities in our community.
