Page 12 - Florida Sentinel 4-16-21

State
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
MIA
This week’s Spotlight feature is Mia. Mia enjoys posing for the camera, and just generally having a great time. Mia also says she’s looking to connect with great people in the beauty and fashion industry and making great lasting relationships. Mia wants to leave a long-lasting impression on everyone who has been a part of her life and her journey. Congrat- ulations, Mia as this week’s Spotlight feature.
Some Dems Help GOP Push Voucher Funding Drain Of Public Schools
BY JODI YONDER
Tallahassee — Four House Democrats joined the Repub- lican majority in pushing through a voucher expansion bill in the appropriations committee. Representa- tives James Bush (D) Opa Locka, Amika Omphroy, (D) Sunrise, Patricia Williams (D) Ft. Laud- erdale, and Nicholas Duran (D) Miami, approved legisla- tion that not only allowed higher-income families to participate but grows stu- dents carved out of public school funding formulas.
Critics say this rush to fund the "hollowing out" of public schools loads educa- tion funding accounts that parents can spend as they wish without enrolling their children in school.
"This is not to move money from the left pocket to the right pocket. It's putting more money in the beneficiar- ies' pocket," according to bill sponsor Rep. Randy Fine,
REP. JAMES BUSH (D) Opa Locka
REP. PATRICIA WILLIAMS (D) Ft. Lauderdale
(R) Palm Bay. It is a veritable free for all that pays short- lived profit schools with tax
REP. AMIKA OMPHROY (D) Sunrise
REP. NICHOLAS DURAN (D) Miami
dollars.
According to critics, over
$1,500,000.00 is slated for allocation this year alone. They add that the House and Senate bills fuel the cottage industry surrounding the un- regulated vouchers and choice schools where 60% of the students, most African Americans, return to public schools in two years or less.
Step Up for Students is a one-stop-shop for those inter- ested in opening schools for profit or parents looking for vouchers or school supplies like laptops and tablets. They can get it all online at Step Up for Students.
The misinformation and damage are particularly oner- ous for families of color who suffer the brunt of the voucher profiteering.
Florida has the dubious distinction of having the most extensive voucher system in America. And despite the con- sistent barrage of criticism, the intensified push to expand it has become a GOP obses- sion.
So much so the naming of several merged scholarship programs is causing a con- tentious rift among Republi- cans. And public school advocates were disturbed by the Democrats joining the GOP quest that continues to drain public school coffers in the districts where their stu- dents attend.
PAGE 12-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2021