Tampabay.com
JANUARY 17, 2008

Crist rolls out education budget

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Gov. Charlie Crist rolled out a proposed education budget this morning that includes a 5.46 percent increase in per-pupil spending - up $394 from last year's funding, to a total of $7,606 per student.

The $33.5 billion package ($23 billion for preK-12) includes $138 million to fully fund any hits that K-12 would take if voters approve the property-tax amendment on Jan. 29. It also includes $847 million for class-size reduction, $467 million for teacher bonuses and $202 million for reading programs and virtual tutors.

Universities and community colleges are bracing for a grim budget this session, but if lawmakers follow the governor's lead, things won't be so bad. Though tuition will continue to be a tussle.

Crist, FSU grad, proposes $5.42 billion for state universities and community colleges - but  no tuition increase.

He recommends a $52-million increase for new student enrollment at Florida's 11 state universities and a $23-million increase for medical schools at Florida State University , Florida International University and University of Central Florida . He also proposes a $56-million increase to community colleges' annual budgets to help meet enrollment growth.

To help establish additional Centers of Excellence at the research universities like USF, Crist proposes $60 million that can be used toward biotech and clean technology research.

To see more budget details, click here.

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Gradebook features education articles and insights on schools in Florida, focusing on Tampa Bay area schools. What's the latest from the Florida Department of Education? How is the FCAT being used to compare Florida schools? What's going in on in Tampa Bay schools? Get an insider's view from the Times education reporting team.

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Rebecca Catalanello covers Pinellas County schools. E-mail her: rcatalanello@tampabay.com.

Tony Marrero covers Hernando County schools. E-mail him: tmarrero@tampabay.com.

Marlene Sokol covers Hillsborough County schools. E-mail her: sokol@tampabay.com.

Ron Matus covers Pinellas County schools. E-mail him: matus@tampabay.com.

Jeffrey S. Solochek covers Pasco County schools. E-mail him: solochek@tampabay.com.

Kim Wilmath covers the University of South Florida. E-mail her: kwilmath@tampabay.com.

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