And the higher-ed plan, under which the 11 university boards of trustees report to a new state Board of Education, hasn t been around long enough to be judged. If the universities fight with each other over resources in Tallahassee next spring, then the Democrats may have a point. But the Democrats education themes also have the potential to backfire. The Bush education initiatives stem from a determination to impose greater accountability on school districts and universities for the huge pots of tax money they spend each year. Floridians should take the Democrats education themes seriously.
Education is always an appropriate campaign issue.
And Bush s education record is far from perfect. But Floridians also should insist that Democrats show they ve moved beyond their traditional inclination to throw increasingly huge sums at public education while asking little in return. How Democrats develop this issue in the months ahead will say as much about them as it says about Bush. Please read them.