TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Senate is slated Wednesday to take up a wide-ranging education bill that includes creating a new voucher program and revamping the controversial Best and Brightest teacher-bonus program.
Expanding school choice is a priority of Gov. Ron DeSantis, and the Senate bill (SB 7070) includes creating a voucher program that would be known as the Family Empowerment Scholarship program.
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The changes to the Best and Brightest program would include revamping bonus amounts and how money is distributed. That includes eliminating a requirement that teachers’ scores on SAT or ACT college-entrance exams be considered in deciding who receives bonuses.
The education bill is one of numerous measures scheduled to come up during a floor session Wednesday.
Others include a bill (SB 1020), sponsored by Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, that would set up a regulatory framework for an industrial-hemp industry in Florida. A program would be created in the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as the state looks at the potential of hemp as a new industry for farmers and other businesspeople.