Schools and Education Florida "Parent Trigger" Bill Dies in 20-20 Senate Draw

BRADENTON – A proposed bill that would have allowed parents to seek broad changes at under-performing schools, including seeking to covert a traditional district school into a charter school, died in the final hours of the 2012 legislative session. The bill is similar to legislation moving through other state legislatures, and had gained the support of many prominent pro-charter school conservatives from former Gov. Jeb Bush to prominent education reform advocate Michelle Rhee.

SB 1718 had 21-19 support on Thursday and was pushed to a Friday vote to allow more time for debate. Eight Republicans joined the Senate's 12 Democrats to force a 20-20 stalemate. Many of the same Senators who voted against their party on the prison privatization bill like Mike Fassano, Paula Dockery and Charlie Justice were among those voting against the bill. Local Senator Nancy Detert (R-Englewood) also voted against the bill, while Senator Mike Bennett (R-Bradenton) voted for it.