Florida Lottery education spending investigated

Comment #31

rdgrnr — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 05:00:32 GMT

Comment #30

fastball 9 — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 03:35:32 GMT

I think this is a problem with the whole issue of funding via the lottery. Instead of being a straightforward issue about the funding itself, it becomes a victim of the education issue. That, of course, allows state's time and space to continue their practices of robbing lottery accounts earmarked for schools and using it payoff general revenues.

Schools don't fail, students do. More and more fail due to lack of supplies, etc. Someone mentioned teaching trades, well, schools used to do that.... [ More ]

Comment #29

kapla — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:56:36 GMT

I agree 100%. We need to take the FOCUS off of college and ON TO 'what the student is best at' By focusing on the STUDENT rather than the IDEA of everyone goes to college we will reap the most benefit. Many students will still go to college, but MANY more will enter the work force being happy and productive with NO STUDENT LOANS to repay.

Use the money on K-12, get the failing schools back to at least passing - THEN re-look at using the money for other things.

Comment #28

Coin Toss — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 06:40:00 GMT

Doing an internet search for Does lottery money really go into education? produces a lot of interesting hits.

Virginia is one example:

According to educators who have watched the lottery for years, much of the public believes the lottery money is extra funding, on top of what the state is required to give. They remember the lottery being pitched that way, as bonus funding, when Virginians voted on it 24 years ago.

Instead, educators say, the state is now using all of the lottery money

Comment #27

earthdragon72 — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 05:17:57 GMT

I agree the money that goes to Fin Aid really does not go to the students, but to the colleges. Trust me I never received any of that aid. I feel that the money should always go through K-12 since they need it the most. I also think that Florida should put back the Florida state lotto back to 3 million since we had the powerball it doesn't get high any more. 2 million yeah its nice, but bring back the good old days when the jackpots use to be big.

Comment #26

Cletu$2 — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:53:51 GMT

I am an Iowa resident and I personally know several dozen educated people.Their degrees are only good to have as something to talk about while standing in the unemployment line.The only people that benefit from everyone going to college are the professers and other people who work for the Universitys.They get to keep their government paid jobs.Most high school students are NOT college material.What this country needs is more jobs in the manufacturing segment of society and less college educated

Comment #25

justxploring — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:59:40 GMT

I am a Florida resident and I personally know a Bright Futures scholarship recipient. I disagree with anyone who believes that investing in the education of our children is wasteful. I can't think of a better place to spend money than a child's future.

Comment #24

fastball 9 — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:35:52 GMT

The sad part of all this is that lottery money has been used, especially the past 10-15 years, as 'in lieu of' funding for schools. That means taxes are cut, or funding to schools decreased, in the amount (sometimes less as here in Virginia) transfered from lottery 'aid'. One big reason nearly every state does this is to get out of a having to pay for schools with increased tax rates as are really needed to fund them. A recent study showed that every state that funds schools with lottery proceed... [ More ]

Comment #23

pick4master — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:02:42 GMT

I take it you don't work. Guess what? Teachers are people in case you did not know. You telling me if you worked and your company did not give you a raise, that would be okay with you? That what's happening in nc with the teachers. No raises, but more work is pile on from people who have never been in the classroom. They sit on their ass in Raleigh and dream up stupid stuff for teachers to do.

The cost of living goes up every year and teachers in nc have not had a raise in 4 years. Even a ki... [ More ]

Comment #22

Littleoldlady — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:55:19 GMT

The money originally was supposed to go into k-12 education so it is not an exception.

Comment #21

time*treat — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:55:15 GMT

The for the chil-ren angle gets the saps every time.

It's not like the pols are going to see a pile of money sitting there and go Now, now, we must leave that for its exact purported purposes, and not steer it to a pet project.

The whole money-grab and indoctrination scam known as public schooling should be shut down.

Comment #20

Dizz — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:51:48 GMT

They should leave it alone and keep it the same. As soon as they make an exception for this, they will make an exception for that.... next thing you know, no one can keep track of where the funds are going and the fed will step in and close down the lottery. Well, maybe not that bad lol but if they want to utilize funds, perhaps they should create new games for that ?!?!?!?!?!? Know what Im saying

Comment #19

TheRightPrice — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:41:02 GMT

I approve any measure that will investigate Florida Lottery and make sure that they are doing what they are supposed to legally

Comment #18

jeffrey — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:35:56 GMT

schools are a failure. home schooling is the answer. let k-12 continue to be the day care centers. invest the money in vouchers for private schools for the poor. i used to teach at a university and the kids were ignorant. teach them hoe to clean and mow grass. the results will be the same.

Comment #17

savagegoose — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:31:25 GMT

what about those that chose home schooling? they shouldnt be left out either. a grant system for home schooling should ber set up.

on a tangental note, lucky they didnt get my old math teacher to run the lottery, he rekoned only idiots play lottery.

Comment #16

pick4master — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:01:43 GMT

In the state of sc, 6.9% of a teacher's check is taken out and put into the retirement system. That teacher can retire after 28 years and draw a check. Guess what? There is an alarming amount of teachers in sc that are retiring and the state can't pay them. So they are thinking about taking 7.9% now and making the teachers do 30 years instead of 28 like they do in nc. Btw, teachers in nc have not had a raise in 4 years.

My question..WHERE IS THE SO CALLED EDUCATION LOTTERY MONEY GOING?? My gu... [ More ]

Comment #15

mjwinsmith — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:22:59 GMT

I think we should start at the begining, the bulk should go to K-12, we should start them up there on the path that they should go and hopefully they will not depart from it. If we fail at that level they will never make it to college level or any other level. Just my two cents.

-Michael J. Smith

Comment #14

PERDUE — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:52:55 GMT

I could not have said it better myself.

Bring the technology into the classrooms and teach the children the skills needed to enter into the workforce.

Help lower the unemployment rate by teaching the kids marketable skills while in school. Start job training in the 7th and 8th grade so when graduation roll around these kids will have some experience under their belts.

Comment #13

Littleoldlady — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:12:11 GMT

I think the money should go to K-12 and some of it to the first two years of college. The only problem I have is that I feel that NONE of the money should go to teacher salaries or bonuses. It all should go to getting updated technology for the students, newer learning tools, laptops, new science equipment, scientific calculators, etc. The schools could be updated maybe 10 at a time. and when all are finished, then the improvements should be maintained on a regular basis. I have never understood... [ More ]

Comment #12

CDanaT — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:31:58 GMT

Being a Florida resident and having offspring in school, I have come to a few different conclusions about this more diverse way of spending theory... I have seen the bonuses teachers get from their grades doing well on the FCAT, but I have also seen the schools that continue to get rated with an F when it comes to FCAT as well. They took the principal from the elementary school where my monsters went and put that person into a failing school several years ago....That Principal was able to only b... [ More ]

Comment #11

New York — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:33:20 GMT

Honestly, keep the money 100% for grades K-12. Spending it in a more diverse way (scholarships, community colleges, etc) divides the money more, in my opinion. I really am undecided but thankfully there's an investigation going on.. how the education money is being spent. Besides some of the public schools really need that money.

Community colleges and scholarships already get paid for by government and other sources.

Comment #10

Cletu$2 — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:27:07 GMT

Wish in one hand, s%#t in the other hand...see which hand fills up first

Comment #9

Todd — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:21:37 GMT

Wow, lots of really great points made here. I wish politicians would make substantive points like these, rather than throwing out one-liners and talking points.

Comment #8

Cletu$2 — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:15:18 GMT

Put the money into K-12 schools.If a person wants more education,let them pay for it themselves.They'll appreciate that education more if they have to foot the entire bill for it.

Comment #7

mcginnin56 — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:18:02 GMT

Good point Lottery Playa.

Just Throwing gob's of money at problems doesn't alway's guarantee a solution.

Comment #6

Lottery Playa — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:13:49 GMT

Education spending could be 100% of the budget of the entire state government and the kids will NOT come out any better! There's never enough according to the authorities ! And accountability is next to none. The more money you give government for Education, the less intelligent most kids will be when they graduate, if they do graduate.

Comment #5

mcginnin56 — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:36:07 GMT

First off, no matter what decision is made someone will not be happy. Having said that I believe there should be the option for flexibility in the discretionary spending of Florida's lotto funds. Political and educational climates are always changing, and there should be powers in place which allow changes in the direction of funds as deemed appropriate for a particular contingent.

If everything is in concrete, these changing situations cannot be addressed. Try common sense as well.... [ More ]

Comment #4

PERDUE — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:28:43 GMT

Poured into K-12 education and scholarships for college bound highschool graduates.

Comment #3

Technics — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:25:42 GMT

I think lots of that money goes to the states pet projects instead of education....its clear in many states that this is common practice. there is no agency to police the lottery so they are almost free to allocate funds to whatever cause they like.

Comment #2

OldSchoolPa — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:21:06 GMT

I agree with the current allocation. Sure K-12 is important, but I would say funding for scholarships, rewards, and community colleges is just as important. I am also suspect about the utilization of discretionary funds in any government setting as there are plentiful stories of discretionary funds not being spent in appropriate ways, or just outright fraudulent ways. And this targeted budgeting is unlike earmarks in that those education entities are enduring whereas many earmark projects are te... [ More ]

Comment #1

Todd — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:05:12 GMT

What do you think? Should lottery money be 100% poured into K-12 education, or should it be spent in a more diverse way, like various scholarships, rewards, and community colleges, in addition to K-12

Florida Lottery education spending investigated

Lottery Post — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:04:51 GMT

Lottery money still invested in education, but targeted differently than it used to be

Florida Lottery education dollars that used to go mainly to K-12 education are now being spread into several different educational initiatives, raising the ire of local Superintendents, but pleasing those who feel that education spending should be more diverse.

Nearby 4 billion dollars was spent on the Florida Lottery last year. It's money lawmakers promised would go to education. But according to infor... [ More ]