Bush brother trying to sell FCAT software to Florida schools
The Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - A software company run by Neil Bush, a younger
brother of Gov. Jeb Bush, hopes to sell a program to Florida schools that
students would use to prepare for the test that is key to the governor's
education policy. Austin, Texas-based Ignite Inc. makes software being used
in a pilot program at an Orlando-area middle school to help students
prepare for the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, which the governor
has championed as a yardstick for school performance. Ocoee Middle School,
which has received millions of dollars in state grants to study ways of
lowering costs, is using the software for free. But a company spokeswoman
said Saturday that Ignite soon hopes to sell its early American history
course to other Florida schools, at a cost of $30-a-year per-student.
Ignite spokeswoman Louise Thacker denied the company had an unfair
advantage because its founder and CEO, Neil Bush, is a brother of Florida's
governor. A spokeswoman for the state Department of Education said Friday
that Ignite officials had not approached the state about its product. Mike
Eason, formerly the top technology official for the department, is a member
of an Ignite advisory board. Katie Muniz, a spokeswoman for Gov. Bush, said
the governor has never talked with his brother about the business. Gov.
Bush's use of the FCAT complies with a law supported by another brother _
President George W. Bush. The president's "Leave No Child Behind" law
forces states to use testing as a measuring stick for schools. Gov. Bush's
education agenda has been criticized by Democratic gubernatorial nominee
Bill McBride, who has attacked the governor for his reliance on the FCAT to
grade schools. Ryan Banfill, spokesman for the state Democratic Party,
called Ignite's marketing campaign in the state problematic, saying it
creates a strange appearance. "I don't know where the money's going to come
from for this," Banfill said. "These districts are hard pressed to pay for
chalk, let alone to put money in the pocket of the Bush family." Neil Bush
gained notoriety as director of the Silverado Savings & Loan in Colorado,
whose failure cost taxpayers $1 billion and led to a grand jury
investigation during the term of his father, President George H.W. Bush.
Neil Bush was never charged.