Two key Florida education groups are considering filing suit against the state Legislature in the wake of education budget cuts.

"We have been looking at it for a while," Florida Education Association spokesman Mark Pudlow told the Gradebook this morning, adding that a decision will be made in the next few weeks. "But certainly what happened this year and what we anticipate will happen next year fans the flames."

What happened this year was $332-million in cuts statewide. What'll happen next year doesn't look good, either. And why all that might point to a lawsuit is language in the Florida Constitution that says, among other things, that the state must make "adequate provision" for a "high quality system of free public schools."

The FEA isn't alone. The Florida School Boards Association is talking about a lawsuit, too.

"We're going to do something," FSBA executive director Wayne Blanton told the Gradebook, explaining that he has a committee exploring options. "My Board of Directors meets June 11. I'm sure it will be on the agenda."

The response from a key lawmaker: The constitutional language regarding education is "serious words, but there's not a number attached," said Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville and chair of the senate education committee. "The 1.8 cut (in education) is a real cut," he continued, but "I don't think it's as bad or as deep as some had feared."

- Ron Matus, state education reporter, and Jeff Solochek