Before and during the tenure of Florida's former education commissioner, Eric J. Smith, the state made bold moves toward incorporating charter schools, began corporate "scholarship" programs that provide funding for students to attend private schools, implemented class-size caps that voters approved via referendum, and earned $700 million in federal money through round two of Race to the Top. Gerard Robinson was chosen by the state Board of Education to continue the state's reform efforts. Known as a proponent of charter schools and school choice, Robinson, who held the same job in Virginia, helped to spur the Virginia General Assembly to create both public charter schools and college laboratory schools while expanding public school virtual learning programs through the Opportunity to Learn legislation. With just a few weeks on the job, Robinson is faced with issues on quality options, scholarship programs, merit pay, class sizes, and the federal Race to the Top money. Time will tell whether Robinson and district administrators around the state are able to stretch limited funds to keep class sizes where voters want them and to build on the state's work in implementing school choice and merit pay for teachers--while successfully navigating the tropical storm of controversies swirling around all of the issues.