Log in Subscribe

Florida Education Commissioner Resigns

Posted
clientuploads/Government Head Shots/TonyBennett.jpg

BRADENTON – Florida Education Commissioner Tony Bennett resigned Thursday, three days after a scandal broke surrounding emails that showed he and staff reworked Indiana's school grading system to improve the grade of a charter school run by a powerful political donor, while Bennett was serving as Indiana's education chief.

 

"It's not fair to the children of Florida that I continue as commissioner and deal with the distraction," Bennett said during a press conference announcing his resignation. "I end my tenure with my head held high."

 

According to e-mails sent last year, Bennett pushed top staff members to raise the grade of Christel House to an "A." The charter school had earned only a "C" by the standards that Bennett had brought to the state, where he had been a strong supporter of charter school expansion.

related:  

Commissioner's Scandal Could be Leverage in Florida Education Battle

Published Thursday, August 1, 2013 12:10 am

Comments

No comments on this item

Only paid subscribers can comment
Please log in to comment by clicking here.