Teaching Trump: A presidential election year provides civics teachers with plenty of instructional material. This year, the rise of Donald Trump as a Republican front-runner is both a bonanza and a challenge. Tampa Bay Times.
About that incomplete: When Florida school grades were issued Friday, 118 schools got “I” for incomplete. Department of Education officials say there are two reasons for a school to get an incomplete: Either it didn’t have 95 percent of eligible students take the test, or there was some sort of testing impropriety. Gradebook.
Personalized learning: Lake County schools are experimenting with a personalized learning program that could expand around the state. Six districts nationally, including Lake and Pinellas counties in Florida, are involved in the pilot program. Orlando Sentinel.
Duval divisions: One Duval County School Board member is calling for another to resign over disparaging text messages made about Superintendent Nikolai Vitti. Jason Fischer says Constance Hall also insulted people with disabilities. Florida Times-Union.
Transgenders and bathrooms: The Sarasota County School Board will discuss whether to create a district policy on bathroom use by transgender students or allow schools to draft their own policies. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
School culture: Duval County teachers give the school district higher marks for the system’s culture, training for standardized testing and teacher evaluations. The surveys are taken twice a year. Florida Times-Union.
School threats: Experts say the rise in school threats is driven by technology. Judging the validity of the threat is complicated, and the response has to be assessed on a case-by-case basis, they say. Palm Beach Post.
Private school closing: Jupiter Academy will close in June after 35 years. The private school lost its lease and officials say they don’t have enough time to find another site. Palm Beach Post.
Teachers union: Calhoun County teachers file a petition with the Florida Public Employees Relations Commission requesting an election on unionization. Calhoun County is the only district in the state without a teachers union. Panama City News Herald.
Disciplinary board: A Pasco County principal is nominated for the 25-member Florida Education Practices Commission, which rules on teacher misconduct cases. Ric Mellin has been principal of Land O’Lakes High School since 2009. Gradebook.
Gun investigation: Pasco County school officials ask police to investigate whether Sgt. Reggie Roberts left his gun unattended during football practices at Zephyrhills High School. Roberts was fired from his coaching position in January when the school principal said she wanted a coach on campus fulltime. Tampa Bay Times.
Opinions on schools: Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami, doesn’t seem to be worried about potential conflicts of interest. Fred Grimm, Miami Herald. I feel sorry for State Sen. John Legg, the man who killed recess. But he made the right call. John Romano, Tampa Bay Times. School recess may be a desirable thing, but it’s still a mandate. And schools need fewer mandates, not more. Daytona Beach News-Journal. The teacher evaluation system needs to be reformed. Wendy L. Doromal, Orlando Sentinel. Even without a way to make a good comparison, the A grade that Collier County schools received from the state is an impressive achievement. Naples Daily News.
Student enrichment: The Florida Health Department is promoting free dental sealants and other low-cost dental services at schools around the state. AP, via Orlando Sentinel. Presidents Day was a day off for teachers, but several from Hutchison Beach Elementary get to know students better by spending a few hours with them at a Panama City Beach park. Panama City News Herald.
