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Education policy review office loses funding, dies

The 25-year-old agency, often critical of state policy, was left out of the budget by lawmakers.

TALLAHASSEE - Lawmakers quietly eliminated a state office that was meant to review Florida education programs because the office was too often critical of state policy, critics of the move say.

Gov. Jeb Bush pushed for the elimination of the Council for Education Policy, Research and Improvement, and governor's office officials and House Republicans said it was because other officials could do the council's job.

Asked about the office's elimination, Bush said this week, "I think they should be given a proper burial."

The council was set up in 1980 by Gov. Bob Graham to evaluate college and university programs. Its duties were expanded in 2001.

The council recently pushed for a more costly prekindergarten program than state leaders approved and recommended spending more money on other programs to create new doctors instead of allowing universities to open new medical schools.

Bush recommended eliminating the office at the outset of this year's legislative session. While a bill to formally abolish the office died, House and Senate budget writers agreed to leave its 14 employees and $1.4-million budget out of the state budget.

Rep. Loranne Ausley, D-Tallahassee, criticized the move.

"This is a very dangerous path when you start eliminating the only objective, independent research arm that is there to give you objective analysis," Ausley said.

[Last modified May 20, 2005, 01:05:11]