Kathy Castor: “I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Castor amendment. America's public…”

“I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Castor amendment. America's public schools, colleges, and universities are the engines of economic opportunity, and our funding package provides historic investments in students and schools at a time when they need it, especially in Florida where the Governor and legislature are intentionally undercutting our public school students and local control. Florida, the third largest State in the country, ranks 45th in per pupil funding, and it diverts an enormous amount of public money to for-profit charter schools that are not accountable and often fail to provide the full range of educational services required by law like those for special needs and disabled students. When my local school board in Hillsborough County recently questioned the quality of education provided by certain for-profit charters, the State Commissioner of Education threatened to withhold money from students and schools--the fifth largest district in the entire country. Many for-profit charter corporations need oversight by the U.S. Department of Education especially in Florida where they skirt civil rights laws and they weaken our traditional public schools. So I thank my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee for the oversight measures included in this bill that will help ensure that every child has an opportunity to learn and succeed, especially the students in Florida who deserve better.…”