Dean Colson, the chairman of the Florida Board of Governors, released the following statement after the U.S. Chamber of Commerce gave Florida ‘A’ grades for its four- and two-year post secondary education.
 
“It is gratifying to see that Florida was the only state in the nation to achieve an ‘A’ from the U.S. Chamber’s annual report card -- for both four-year and two-year public institutions in the Student Access & Success category.

"This is yet another national recognition that our framework of accountability is taking hold, and I hope that the State’s investment in its four-year public institutions will return to a level one day so that we do not need to rely as significantly on student tuition as what has occurred during the past five consecutive years.”

The national business group’s report card, released Tuesday, scored Florida high for student access and affordability at its 14 universities and 62 two-year institutions.

Florida didn’t do as well when it came to meeting labor market demand, where the state received a ‘C’ grade, and for innovation, where the Sunshine State got a ‘D’ due to what the national business group says are “fairly restrictive regulations.”