Top Senate Republicans unveiled details of a package that would bring significant changes to the education system, most notably through an expansion of school choice and by expanding a program to arm teachers.
The package would expand private school options for students, bolster security measures in schools, overhaul a program for teacher bonuses and expand community schools. Next week, the package — a priority of Senate leaders — will be filed for consideration during this year’s legislative session, which starts March 5.
Another part of the package deals with changes to a school-security law passed last year after the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. Changes to that law would follow recommendations made by a commission that analyzed the mass shooting and suggested ways to prevent gun violence in schools. Among those recommendations is expanding a controversial program to allow trained teachers to be armed.
