Negron, R-Stuart, wants to substantially boost university funding while also holding schools to higher performance standards, including having more undergraduates finish in four years.
He also wants to offer more financial support and incentives to students, including expanding the Bright Futures merit scholarship program and providing more aid to low-income students.
Key elements of Negron’s plan are in line with Gov. Rick Scott, who also supports expanding Bright Futures, using measurement standards and making higher education more affordable.
House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, said he is open to ideas like expanding Bright Futures and other higher-education initiatives “that transform and make Floridians’ lives better.”
The biggest unknown is the state budget, with the expectation that lawmakers will have to balance their legislative priorities against an austere spending plan.
But Negron, a veteran lawmaker who has chaired budget committees in the House and Senate, said over time the higher-education initiative “and targeted financial investments in faculty and infrastructure will enhance the national reputation of Florida’s state university system.”
