Fla. Republican on charlie crist's ed reform record: 'the biggest 180'

Education is a big topic in the Florida governor’s race between Republican incumbent Rick Scott and former Republican governor now Democratic nominee Charlie Crist. According to a recent

poll, education is the second-most important policy topic among Florida residents. My colleague Andrew Ujifusa is in the Sunshine state this week, and he caught up over the weekend with

state Rep. Erik Fresen, a Miami Republican and chairman of the House K-12 appropriations subcommittee. They talked about education spending and Fresen’s vision for overhauling how those

dollars get to students. But of interest to _Charters & Choice_ readers, here’s what Andrew wrote about Fresen’s take on Crist’s education reform record: > As for Crist? Fresen scorns

 him as beholden to the Florida Education > Association's mission to reverse recent changes such as how teacher > contracts work. He noted that during his first term, Crist signed

> legislation expanding the state's tax-credit scholarship program, > but is now refusing to criticize the FEA's suit against a new law > that broadens the income-based 

eligibility for the program—the FEA > has endorsed Crist for governor. Fresen called Crist's new political > position 'pathetic.' 'He has done the biggest 180 you 

could ever > do,' Fresen told me." Late last week Andrew stopped by a campaign field office in Kissimmee to speak with Crist supporters who had plenty to say about education

reform initiatives under Scott. To stay up-to-date on the Florida governor’s race, check out Andrew’s State EdWatch blog. RELATED: Challenge to Florida School Choice Law Hits Setback