NSBA Applauds Florida Supreme Court For Its Support of Public Education

Alexandria, Va. – September 4, 2008 – The National School Boards Association expressed its approval for the decision of the Florida Supreme Court in striking down three ballot amendments that could have altered the face of the public education system in that state. NSBA had voiced its support for the Florida School Boards Association when the case, Ford v. Browning, was appealed last month.

The ballot initiatives proposed removing language from Florida’s Constitution prohibiting state aid to sectarian institutions and requiring that 65 percent of school funding be spent on classroom instruction (the “65 percent solution”). The Florida State Supreme Court struck down the initiatives, pointing out that the wording was unclear.

“The Florida Supreme Court got it right,” said NSBA Executive Director Anne L. Bryant. “If adopted, these amendments would have crippled Florida’s public schools and provided support to opponents of public education all across the country.”

NSBA General Counsel Francisco M. Negrón, Jr. agreed, “The impact that these initiatives could have had on public education is startling. NSBA is glad to see that the court recognizes the value of public education and the responsibility of school boards to oversee our schools.”

Founded in 1940, the National School Boards Association is a not-for profit federation of state associations of school boards representing 95,000 local school board members throughout the United States. Its mission is to foster excellence and equity in public elementary and secondary education through local school board leadership. NSBA represents the school board perspective in working with federal government agencies and national organizations that impact education, and provides vital information and services to state associations of school boards throughout the nation.

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