Some educators doubt the claims.
Others are more impressed. A larger issue, however, is the abuse of legislative power to decide not just what should be taught in Florida's schools, but how. Another is to what extent influential lobbying played a part. Van Poole, a former chairman of the Florida Republican Party, lobbied for one of the companies, which is headed by a former Republican national chairman, William E. Brock, also a former senator and Reagan-era Cabinet member. The other company was represented by the fast-rising firm of Paul Bradshaw, whose wife is the governor's chief of staff, and David Rancourt, the governor's former deputy chief of staff.