School assignments. Parents should have more say in where their kids go to school, rather than face felony charges for lying about their addresses, a Sun-Sentinel guest column argues. (The author works at Step Up For Students, which publishes this blog, and an earlier version of the piece ran here.) The Escambia school district starts implementing a digital school registration system. Pensacola News-Journal.
Elections. Florida’s statewide teachers union is keeping a close eye on legislative races as they develop. Gradebook. Charter school operators make campaign contributions in school board races. Gradebook. The League of Women Voters weighs in here. Collier County School Board hopefuls debate. Naples Daily News. A Marion school board candidate drops out of her race, citing confusion over residency requirements. Ocala Star-Banner. A Leon County superintendent candidate may abandon his bid, and seek re-election to the Tallahassee City Commission instead. Tallahassee Democrat.
Collective bargaining. Hillsborough County schools look to rewrite teacher job categories after a Gates Foundation grant expires. A proposal would create three classes of teachers: Tenured teachers, one-year contract employees and probationary hires. Gradebook.
Charter schools. The St. Johns County School Board moves to take over a charter school plagued by financial problems. St. Augustine Record.
School boards. Alachua County’s April Griffin is set to lead the Florida School Boards Association next year. Gainesville Sun.
STEM. Manatee and Sarasota students participate in marine research during a New College-hosted summer camp. Bradenton Herald. High school students learn about environmental issues at Silver Springs State Park. Ocala Star-Banner.
Climate survey. Hillsborough students feel they are treated more warmly by their teachers than by each other. Tampa Bay Times.
Administration. Orange County schools announce principal hires. Orlando Sentinel.
Violence. A teen is charged as an adult in a high school bathroom stabbing. Palm Beach Post. A former Pasco school bus aide pleads guilty to battery on an autistic child. WFTS.
Beautification. A book about Monet’s garden inspires a project at a Pasco elementary school. Tampa Bay Times.
Suicide prevention. State lawmakers say a new law promoting suicide prevention in schools may not go as far as they hoped. Politico Florida.
