Florida
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Ward Connerly began a campaign to place his initiative on the ballot in Florida in the 2000 election, but was pre-empted by Governor Jeb Bush’s introduction of the “One Florida” plan. On November 9, 1999, Governor Bush signed Executive Order 99-281, which eliminated the use of “racial or gender set-asides, preferences and quotas” in government employment, state contracting, and higher education. In conjunction with this, he also introduced a percentage plan that guaranteed admission to a state college or university to students graduating in the top 20% of their high school class. The program resulted in a decrease in black student enrollment, while overall minority student enrollment remained steady.
News and Publications
Colleges Note Fewer Black Students—The Tallahassee Ledger—August 29, 2005
NAACP to Proceed with Challenge to One Florida Initiative—Black Issues in Higher Education—January 1, 2004
Update on One Florida Equity in Education Plan—Florida Department of Education—November 2003
Minority Enrollment Holds Steady—St. Petersburg Times—September 6, 2001
One Florida Initiative Having Divine Effect on State—Black Issues in Higher Education—March 30, 2000
Protestors Await Bush—The Florida Times-Union—March 7, 2000
Jeb Bush Plans Affirmative Action Ban in Florida—The Guardian—February 19, 2000
Affirmative Action in Florida—The New York Times—November 14, 1999
Florida and Affirmative Action—AAD Project
