Florida Governor Charlie Crist recently vetoed a bill that the Florida legislature had passed that would have made large scale changes to the way teachers are paid. The bill would have eliminated tenure for Florida teachers and linked their pay and job security to student achievement. The Florida Department of Education and statewide business groups had supported the legislation, believing that teachers should be held more accountable.

In vetoing the bill, Governor Crist insisted that his decision was not political, but was based on “the incredible outpouring of opposition by teachers, parents, students, superintendents, school boards and legislators.” The governor observed that the changes would have put “teachers in jeopardy of losing their jobs and teaching certificates, without a clear understanding of how gains will be measured.” To read more about this issue please click here.