Startups. Two teachers hang out a shingle to create a supportive environment for middle school students in inner-city Orlando. ABC World News Tonight.
Turnarounds. The Florida Times-Union takes an in-depth look at a school turnaround effort in Jacksonville. Single-gender classrooms were part of the plan. See the full series of articles here.
PLSAs. A mom writes in support of Florida's Personal Learning Scholarship Accounts in the Tallahassee Democrat. Step Up For Students, which co-hosts this blog and employs the author of this post, helps administer the program.
Lawsuits. The groups behind a lawsuit challenging Florida's tax credit scholarship program have not yet decided whether they'll appeal. Gradebook. Step Up also helps administer the scholarships.
Testing. A panel approves the lone bidder for a study on the validity of the state's testing system. Tampa Bay Times. Orlando Sentinel. School districts deal with a lack of state testing data. Naples Daily News. The Tampa Bay Times recaps where testing issues stand.
Budgets. The state House and Senate differ on key education funding issues. Sun-Sentinel. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. The Palm Beach Post criticizes charter school construction funding in an editorial calling for more funding to help struggling readers.
Teacher pay. A the Palm Beach school district and teachers union differ on how to pay new teachers. Palm Beach Post.
Discipline. A Southern Poverty Law Center report on school discipline finds a high arrest rate in Escambia County. Pensacola News-Journal.
Special needs. A lawsuit will help make way for service animals in Broward schools. Sun-Sentinel. The Okaloosa school district plans to take a new tack for students needing emotional or behavioral support. Northwest Florida Daily News. A pastor's after-school program helps special needs students. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Employee conduct. A school resource officer is arrested for child abuse. WESH.
STEM. A physics educator leaves a Leon County high school. Bridge to Tomorrow.
Contracts. The Volusia school board might dump a custodial vendor. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
School's out. Some high school students sow chaos as the school year comes to an end. Keynoter.
