Following up on a campaign promise, Gov. Rick Scott on Monday released a plan to increase education spending in Florida to a record high.
Scott wants the state to spend $7,176 on each public-school student — a $261 bump over this year’s figure and $50 more than the record set in 2007-08. His proposal would boost the education budget from $18.9 billion to $19.75 billion.
“Our historic funding proposal of $7,176 per student will provide our schools the resources for our students to have the very best opportunity to succeed because we know the workers and leaders of tomorrow are in our classrooms today,” Scott said in a statement.
Few other details were released Monday. The rest of the details will be released over the coming weeks.
Scott’s recommendation is only a starting point. State lawmakers will spend the next four months crafting a spending plan for Florida that includes a projected $1 billion surplus. After years of deep cuts, many groups will be looking to share in the good fortune.
