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Education

Jeb Bush Defends Education Record At Tallahassee Summit

Miami Herald

Former Gov. Jeb Bush defended his record on education at a Tallahassee education summit Tuesday, taking on testing, unions and school choice.

But Bush didn't mention Common Core -- the politically caustic multi-state math and language arts standards for which he has been a chief cheerleader. Bush is a possible 2016 Republican presidential candidate, and many conservatives worry the standards will mean a loss of local control over what's taught in schools.

Bush popularized using test results to grade public school and teacher performance when he was governor of Florida. Opposition to the exams has increased since Bush left office in 2007.

Florida lawmakers plan to cut back required testing this year. During a question and answer session, Bush says he supports testing and passed the blame.

“I think, you know, some school district just go nuts about this stuff and the legislature should be reviewing these things," Bush says, " so...that there are fewer of them -- but they really need to continue to be part of a robust accountability system for sure.”

Bush also repeated complaints against Florida’s teachers unions. A union lawsuit seeks to end a state private school scholarship program.

"They're there to protect the economic interests of adults," Bush says. "A monopoly that doesn't have choice is an easier path for them to achieve their objectives...it is wrong."

Critics of Bush's policies protested outside the event. School choice supporters also gathered.

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