• Florida
• Gov. Jeb Bush
In his eighth and final State of the State Address, Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida pressed legislators who opened their regular session last week to improve high schools, prepare better for hurricanes, and give a boost to economic development.
“Our state faces the challenges of this new year armed with record employment, record financial reserves, and record revenue. We have the resources to meet the needs of our state and invest in our future,” the Republican, who cannot seek a third term, said in his March 7 speech in Tallahassee.
Read a complete transcript of Gov. Jeb Bush’s 2006 State of the State Address. A Webcast of the address is also available, posted by Florida’s Office of the Governor. (Real Player required.)
MORE CREDITS REQUIRED: The governor urged the Republican-controlled legislature to approve high school changes that include establishing career-oriented majors and minors, requiring four years of mathematics, and putting in place new 5 percent salary bonuses for teachers whose students show the largest gains on state tests.
Gov. Bush also asked lawmakers to reconsider his proposals for middle school reform that did not pass last year. Those ideas include having literacy coaches work with teachers in all middle schools and having students meet higher math, science, social studies, and language arts requirements.
