Florida Gov. Rick Scott began his statewide education “listening tour” on Monday, meeting with teachers and students as he prepares to propose significant changes to student testing.

During Scott’s first year in office, public school funding was cut by more than $1 billion dollars. Scott also signed a bill creating a merit pay system for teachers and stripping tenure for new hires—a move that upset teachers unions.

Last year he made a point of his demand to increase education spending by $1 billion — something he’s repeated many times since signing the budget earlier this year. Critics say it didn’t make up for the previous cut.

Asked by a reporter about a possible challenge from former Gov. Charlie Crist in 2014, Scott refused to comment.

“Isn’t that a hypothetical?” Crist asked, in response to the question. “My job is to be the best governor I can on the three things citizens care about. They want to make sure their child can get a good education so they can live the American dream, they want to be able to get a job so they can raise a family, and they don’t want the government to make the cost of living go up.”

Tags | Charlie Crist, education, rick scott