Tax credit scholarships. Legislation could soon expand eligibility for Florida’s tax credit scholarship program to middle-class families. Florida Times-Union. The Tampa Bay Times editorializes against the bill. The lone House Democrat to support the legislation details her stance and her party’s internal politics in the Miami Herald.
Charter schools. The Manatee County school district considers ending bus service for charter schools. Bradenton Herald. Officials talk charters in the Keys. Keys News.
School choice. A Palm Beach Post commentary criticizes the legislation, notes demand is rising for choice programs offered by school districts, and appears to confuse a proposed new scholarship account program for special-needs students with the existing McKay Scholarship program.
Prom. Students at charter schools and technical institutes organize their schools’ first proms. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Ocala Star-Banner.
Turnarounds. Mandatory school turnaround efforts can bring staff shakeups, even if administrators are reluctant. Tampa Bay Times.
Budgets. The Palm Beach County school board could soon ask voters to extend a tax dedicated to special areas of instruction like the arts. Palm Beach Post. The district’s budget looks bleak, both for capital and operating expenditures, the Post reports. St. Johns County schools will see a smaller funding increase than they expected. St. Augustine Record. Volusia schools officials expect the business community will back proposed sales tax extension. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Magnet schools. Students at a veterinary medicine program in Miami-Dade are scrambling to find homes for dogs as the school prepares for renovations. Miami Herald.
Teachers. StateImpact examines teachers’ use of social media. The Tampa Bay Times posts the results of a Hillsborough teacher survey. The Winter Haven News Chief profiles an International Baccalaureate teacher. A Hillsborough middle school teacher gets a $10,000 bonus. Tampa Bay Times. Two Palm Beach County teachers plan to retire together. Palm Beach Post.
Pay raises. Monroe County teachers are a ratification vote away from a new contract agreement with the district. Keynoter.
Bullying. An anonymous messaging app fuels concerns. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. A Hillsborough cheerleading coach is cleared of bullying allegations. Tampa Bay Times.
Transportation. Focus groups detail worker complaints with Hillsborough’s bus system. Tampa Bay Times.
STEM. Collier County students compete in gadget-building and geocaching. Naples Daily News.
No Child Left Behind. Civil rights groups continue to take aim at Florida’s learning objectives adopted as part of its waiver agreement with the federal government, which set different objectives for groups of students – including racial groups. Gradebook.
