Budget conference: Chambers differ on funding public-to-classical school conversion in Miami

State lawmakers haven’t yet agreed on whether to fund a Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) project that would transform a traditional public school into one offering classical education programming.

The House is insisting on apportioning $500,000 in non-recurring general revenue funds to the project, the full sum Doral Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez and Miami Rep. Mike Redondo sought this year through twin funding requests .

The Senate, meanwhile, hasn’t budged from its offer of nothing.

MDCPS tapped lobbyist Ron Book’s firm to pursue the earmark, which would go toward converting one public school in the district into a classical one serving and supporting “up to 250 students by enhancing their educational opportunities while expanding school choice options.”

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