The student is hunched over in their seat, feet away from their peers. Sweat is trickling down the side of their temple, their leg shaking vigorously from anxiety. They tap away at the calculator in front of them, stressing over the answer of the question and wondering whether or not it is right. This is what Algebra 2 students have felt every year when taking the Algebra 2 exam at the end of the school year. But as of the 2017-2018 school year, students will not have to worry about taking that exam anymore.

As of June 15, 2017, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed the education bill 7069. Effects coming from the bill include the algebra 2 end-of-course exam no longer being placed, pushing back other state exams until May, and much more. But what do students have to say about the matters?

Setting aside $140 million for charter schools with a track record of success serving poor students is a result of the new bill as well. But this money is coming from taxpayers.

“Charter schools can always benefit, but public schools should take a higher priority,” senior Lexia Garay said. “Majority of students rely on school for not just education, [but] food, clothing, and other things. Charter schools should not be gaining more than they have, public schools need the funding more than they do.”

What is also happening is reducing what districts get for things like school construction, maintenance, and education programs for poor students. But proponents have said that the bill will be fairer to charter schools and their students.

“I don’t think this is fair because public schools have a larger student population and receive their sole funding from taxpayer money,” junior Andrew Sholar said. “While charter schools receive funding from parent groups and private organizations.”

One of the other various results from the bill being passed is $30 million more is being sent to Gardiner Scholarships, which help pay for educations services for students with disabilities.

“I think it’s great that there’s more money for Gardiner Scholarships,” junior Aiden Mathes said. “Students with disabilities deserve the same chances that students without disabilities get.”

As for the bill cancelling the algebra 2 end-of-course exam, there are plenty of mixed feelings coming from both past algebra 2 and upcoming algebra 2 students.

“If the algebra 2 eoc is no longer placed for the upcoming school year, the past algebra 2 students would feel as if they wasted their time and stressed over nothing,” sophomore Kaitlyn Mould said. “For upcoming students, they will be less stressed about testing and possibly wouldn’t even try that much during class since they won’t be tested on it.”

“I think past algebra 2 students and parents will feel that new students who don’t pay attention or learn as much as they need to will be able to pass algebra 2 with the same overall grades as a previous student who studied and worked hard all year,” Sholar said.

With the new bill will come many new changes in school environments and students and teachers. But there can only be hope for an evolving education system that becomes better and better as time goes on, even though there will be ups and downs in the process.