Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill McCollum has come out in support of FLDOE Commissioner Eric Smith's Race To The Top grant proposal and slammed the Florida Education Association.

Read the blog, link to McCollum's statement of support, and post a comment on orlandosentinel.com.
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_educ...lic-policy.html

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McCollum supports DOE's Race to Top plans, criticizes union's "obstruction" of "good public policy"

Attorney General Bill McCollum has sent a letter to Education Commissioner Eric Smith, offering support for the state's Race to the Top grant proposal.

McCollum said he liked the state's plans to try to secure as much as $700 million in federal grant money. He called the grant an "exciting opportunity" and said the money could improve public schools across Florida and lead to better prepared graduates heading to college and the workforce.

McCollum, who is running for governor, also sharply criticized the Florida Education Association (the state's largest teachers union) for " obstruction of good public policy." He called the union's opposition to the state's planned application "unconscionable" because it could jeopardize Flroida's chances of winning the money.

Why does an Attorney General have a stake in this education grant?

Well, his letter notes, his office must certify to federal authorities that nothing in Florida law precludes tying "evaluations of teacher performance to student achievement and growth." It sounds like such a "certification" will be coming shortly.