Florida schools roundup: Testing, charter schools, budgets and more

florida-roundup-logoTesting. Testing resumes without further technological failures. Gradebook. Lawmakers are incensed over Monday’s problems, and aim their anger at the state’s testing vendor. Times/Herald. Tampa Tribune. Seminole schools want to opt out of state assessments and use national exams. Orlando Sentinel.

Budgets. The growth of charter schools could put a fiscal strain on Duval schools’ budget. Florida Times-Union. Clay County school board members face tough decisions and an uncertain future. Florida Times-Union.

Discipline. A task force suggests ways the Hillsborough school district can curb suspensions and ease racial disparities. Tampa Tribune.

Growth. A local government delays a decision on a new school intended to help relive growth. Orlando Sentinel.

Teachers unions. Protests dog Volusia school board members as contract talks remain stalled. Daytona Beach News-Journal.

Superintendents. The school board signs off on Hillsborough’s new superintendent. Tampa Bay Times. Palm Beach’s new leader will likely become the state’s highest-paid. Palm Beach PostSun-Sentinel. The Brevard school board may hire a “non-traditional” superintendent. Florida Today.

Efficiency. Alachua schools try to go green. Gainesville Sun.

Sailing. Sarasota high school students take part in a sailing club. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Impact fees. Local governments in Manatee County may begin a study. Bradenton Herald.

Attendance. School board members reject proposed policy changes in Pasco. Tampa Bay Times.

Help. An on-campus boutique offers free clothing and supplies to students in need. Lakeland Ledger.


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BY Travis Pillow

Travis Pillow is Director of Thought Leadership at Step Up For Students and editor of NextSteps. He lives in Sanford, Fla. with his wife and two children. A former Tallahassee statehouse reporter, he most recently worked at the Center on Reinventing Public Education, a research organization at Arizona State University, where he studied community-led learning innovation and school systems' responses to the Covid-19 pandemic. He can be reached at tpillow (at) sufs.org.