TALLAHASSEE — Signaling that he will be open to the expansion of non-traditional school programs, Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis on Thursday said he wants former House Speaker Richard Corcoran to be the state’s next education commissioner.

DeSantis, the newly elected Republican governor, said he will ask the state Board of Education to appoint Corcoran, who used his two years as House leader to promote the use of charter schools and publicly funded vouchers to send students to private schools. Corcoran would succeed Education Commissioner Pam Stewart, a veteran educator who will step down on Jan. 8.

“Richard is known as a no-nonsense reformer whose sole focus has been how best to support students, parents and teachers,” DeSantis said in a statement.

DeSantis, whose term begins Jan. 8, said the selection of the new commissioner to oversee a state education system, which has 2.8 million students, “is very personal” to him and his wife Casey, who are the parents of two toddlers.

“I know Richard will never stop fighting until every child in Florida has access to a world-class education,” he said.

DeSantis’ announcement to back Corcoran is in line with his campaign pledge to expand school “choice” options and to put more money directly into classrooms. He also wants the K-12 system to develop a curriculum that will teach students about the U.S. Constitution.

Marva Johnson, chairwoman of the seven-member Board of Education, said she looks forward to reviewing DeSantis’ recommended appointment for the next commissioner.

“He has the knowledge and experience to ensure continued success at the Department of Education and to protect Florida’s legacy as a national leader in education,” Johnson said of Corcoran.

On Thursday, DeSantis named Johnson as one of the leaders of a 41-member education transition committee to advise the new governor on policy impacting the entire education system, including public schools, state colleges, state universities and technical schools. Mori Hosseini, a University of Florida trustee, will be a co-chairman of the panel, along with Johnson.

Corcoran, a lawyer and Republican from Pasco County, secured the passage of two major education bills during his 2016-18 tenure as speaker.

In the 2017 session, Corcoran successfully advanced legislation to allow the creation of charter schools, known as “schools of hope,” near struggling public schools. Earlier this year, he backed a bill that created “hope scholarships,” allowing bullied students to use publicly funded vouchers to transfer to private schools. The legislation also expanded vouchers used by disabled students and students who are struggling readers.

Both laws are now being challenged in court.

In contrast to Stewart, who has nearly four decades as a teacher, principal and education administrator, Corcoran has scant direct experience in the education system, although his wife, Anne, helped create a charter school in their community.

Fedrick Ingram, president of the Florida Education Association, the state’s largest teachers’ union, urged the state Board of Education to conduct a nationwide search for a new education commissioner rather than endorse the selection of Corcoran.

Ingram said Corcoran has not made public schools “a priority” and “has expanded tax-funded private school vouchers and presided over a starvation budget” for public schools.

“His focus is privatization of our schools,” Ingram said in a statement. “As public school teachers and education staff professionals, we put students at the center of everything we do. Politicians can’t be a champion for students and at the same time be at war with educators and public schools.”

But former Gov. Jeb Bush, who led an education-reform movement that included the expanded use of vouchers to send low-income students to private schools, endorsed DeSantis’ decision to back Corcoran.

“Richard is one of the state’s most experienced leaders and has long been a trailblazer in education reform,” Bush said in a statement.

Bush said Corcoran “will fearlessly challenge the entrenched status quo” and “is a passionate advocate for expanding opportunity, especially for children most at risk.”

In a 20-17 vote Monday, the Senate backed a bill (HB 7055) that has been a top priority of House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, and includes dozens of changes for the state’s 67 school districts. Hours later, the House gave final approval in a 74-39 vote, sending the measure to Gov. Rick Scott.

Corcoran came onto the House floor after the final vote, hugging some of his top lieutenants in celebration.

House leaders have pushed the bill to expand school choice, including the promotion of charter schools and the use of publicly funded vouchers to send students to private schools.

The most significant change may be the addition of two new voucher-like programs that would be funded by sales-tax credits. Previously, such programs relied on corporate income-tax credits and general revenue.

One measure would provide “hope scholarships,” which would offer aid for public-school students who are bullied or otherwise face harassment to transfer to private schools. The program could provide up to $40 million in scholarships annually. It would be funded by motorists who designate up to $105 that they would otherwise pay in sales taxes on vehicle purchases.

Another new voucher program would bolster the existing Gardiner scholarships, which provide aid to disabled students, and could be used to expand the longstanding Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program.

The program would be funded by allowing businesses and others who lease commercial property to designate to the scholarship programs the sales taxes paid on the leases. It would be capped at $57.5 million per year.

A third new voucher program would provide reading scholarships, which can be used for private services like tutoring, for struggling readers in the third through fifth grades. It would be funded with $9.7 million in general revenue.

The voucher expansion drew strong opposition from Democrats, with 13 of the 15 Senate Democrats voting against the bill.

“Why are we expanding these vouchers, while we’re starving our public schools? It’s insanity. And it’s patently unfair,” said Sen. Gary Farmer, D-Fort Lauderdale.

Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, a Naples Republican who oversees public school funding in the Senate, rejected the argument that lawmakers were shortchanging the public-system, noting lawmakers are moving toward agreement on a new state budget that would provide $21 billion for the schools.

“That’s a huge amount of dollars. We are not starving the schools. We are doing the best we can for our educational system,” she said.

Passidomo also defended the new hope scholarships, saying the program would help students who are bullied in school.

“Why not let them move? Why not give them a fresh start?” she asked.

Sen. Tom Lee, R-Thonotosassa, renewed his opposition to a provision in the bill that could force teachers’ unions to disband if their membership falls below 50 percent of the employees they represent in the collective-bargaining process.

He said the measure, which is aimed specifically at “instructional personnel,” would “slap the teachers of Florida in the face.”

Lee, a former Senate president, also urged senators to “stand up for the sovereignty” of the Senate and reject the measure.

Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, rejected the notion that the bill was largely the work of House leaders, noting the numerous provisions from the Senate that would provide more educational “flexibility” to students and their families, including the hope scholarships.

“That’s the core of educational choice,” Stargel said. “This is not something that is being forced upon me. I don’t in any way feel bullied by the House.”

In the Senate, four Republicans, Lee, Dana Young of Tampa, Denise Grimsley of Sebring and Dorothy Hukill of Port Orange, joined 13 Democrats in opposing the bill.

Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, joined 19 Republicans in supporting it.

Sen. Daphne Campbell, D-Miami, did not vote.

The bill had to go back to the House for a final vote because of some changes made by the Senate. But the Republican-dominated House approved it after rejecting two Democratic amendments.

Other provisions in the bill include:

— Requiring schools to prominently display the state motto, “In God We Trust.”

— Overhauling rules governing charter schools, including raising evidentiary standards used by school boards in terminating charter contracts.

— Allowing charter schools the same access to surplus property as traditional public schools.

— Providing more flexibility in construction standards for school projects.

— Lifting a requirement that home-school students provide their own instructional material when they participate in “dual enrollment” programs at state colleges or other institutions.

— Exempting students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Broward County from taking statewide assessments this year and retaining the school’s “A” rating. A mass shooting last month at the school killed 17 people.

Describing himself as one of the largest “business owners” in Leon County, he sympathized with businesses during these tough economic times. He talked about how over the last six years education revenue had been cut by $65 million and explained how Leon County was able to maintain an A rating during this period. He gave credit to the “best teachers in the state” and to a school board that “stayed focused on priorities and did not complain about the cuts.” He was also thankful to the business partners that donate time and services to public schools.

Superintendent Pons was clearly excited about the CNG program that will not only  help the Leon County School Board save money, but also help the citizens of Leon County. The project will provide CNG for school buses, but there will also be two locations where citizens that own CNG vehicles will be able to refuel their cars. “We have had people calling us from all over the county about the project. The project will save money and help with the environment” said Superintendent Pons.

Responding to a question from the audience about the proposed $30 million increase in City of Tallahassee electric base rates, Pons said “this not the time to raise electric rates.” He talked about the impact of increased rates on the school budget and the effect on local businesses. He also discussed a school board analysis that concluded that high electric rates can put Leon County Schools at a competitive disadvantage with other school districts.