Teacher tests: The Florida Department of Education says a historically high percentage of people who want to be teachers are failing the Florida Teacher Certification Exam, which was recently toughened by the state. And now fewer people are taking the test, as many as 10 percent fewer for some subject areas. “We have a real crisis,” said Dr. Gloria Pelaez, St. Thomas University dean of the school of arts. “This is turning people, good intelligent people away,” said Wendy Mungillo of the Manatee County School District. Melissa Smith, for example. She’s taken and failed the test seven times, and has decided to leave the state and get a master’s degree. Department of Education officials defend the tougher exams, saying they’re in line with more rigorous tests students now take. WFTS.
Minorities and AP classes: A Palm Beach County School District analysis shows an “implicit bias” is in part responsible for lower minority participation in Advanced Placement classes. Minority students with comparable scores to white students are excluded from AP classes at a much higher rate than whites. That so-called “opportunity gap” also favors girls over boys, according to the analysis. “Students who have potential, why are they not in the courses?” Deputy Superintendent David Christiansen said. “There’s a significant gap there that we want to start to close.” Palm Beach Post.
Days lost to testing: Orange County teacher Peggy Dominguez tells a Senate committee meeting this week that she loses 37 days of her 180-day school year to preparing her students for the Florida Standards Assessments tests. Dominguez teaches English at Timber Creek High School. She and others testified about the downsides of the testing process. The Senate is considering a bill that would, among other things, push all testing to the final three weeks of the school year and authorize a study to see if the ACT or SAT tests can be used as a replacement for the FSA. Orlando Sentinel.
Religious expression: The Senate approves a bill that would prohibit school districts from discriminating against public school students for their religious viewpoints of expressions during the school day. The so-called “religious expression” bill now goes to the House, which could vote on a more narrowly drawn version next week. Miami Herald. Florida Politics. News Service of Florida. Politico Florida.
Guns in religious schools: The House Judiciary Committee passes a bill that would grant an exception for teachers and officials to carry guns in private religious schools. The current law prohibits anyone other than law enforcement officers to carry guns in K-12 schools and colleges and universities. The bill, which has no Senate companion, is sponsored by Rep. Neil Combee, R-Polk City. Florida Politics.
Teacher contracts: The House Education Committee approves a bill that bars individual school districts from offering guaranteed contract renewals to teachers who receive “effective” or “highly effective” evaluation ratings. More than half the state’s school districts use the incentive to offer job stability to well-regarded teachers. Legislators say doing that undermines the intent of the 2011 law that eliminated annual contracts. Gradebook. Politico Florida.
Simpson ascends: The chair of the Senate Education Committee, Sen. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, will miss this legislative session as she undergoes cancer treatments. She has chosen future Senate president Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, to preside over the committee in her absence instead of committee vice chair Debbie Mayfield, R-Vero Beach. Politico Florida.
Sports choice: The House Education Committee passes a bill that allows private school students to play sports at any public school, depending on the school district’s rules under the state’s open enrollment law. redefinED.
Students of military: A state program that provides assistance for students of military families is in jeopardy in the Florida House, and Okaloosa County School Superintendent Mary Beth Jackson has begun a campaign to save it. The $14 million program helps seven counties like Okaloosa that don’t collect taxes on huge chunks of land that are home to military bases or owned by the federal government. “This money we get assures the children of our military families get equal resources to everybody else,” Jackson said. Northwest Florida Daily News.
Upgrades for schools: Two Palm Beach middle schools with declining enrollments are receiving better equipment and added teaching help. Both Carver and Congress middle schools have seen neighborhood students flock to magnet programs at other schools. School officials hope the new technology, better facilities and additional instruction will draw those students back to the schools. Sun-Sentinel.
Free meals: Most students at Hernando County elementary and middle schools will be provided with free meals starting in the fall, after the school board adopts the federally funded Community Eligibility Provision. Thirty-nine of the state’s 67 districts participate. Tampa Bay Times.
Accepting diversity: Leon County School Superintendent Rocky Hanna is working on a campaign to promote acceptance of diversity in schools. Reports of anti-Semitism at Deerlake Middle School prompted the decision, Hanna says. Tallahassee Democrat.
Educator honored: Former St. Johns County Superintendent Joe Joyner is named the 2016 Lavan Dukes District Data Leader of the Year for the data-driven success of the district, which is one of two in Florida to receive A grades from the state every year grades have been issued. Joyner retired as superintendent in January, and becomes president of Flagler College in June. Florida Department of Education. Flagler College.
School tax on ballot: Santa Rosa County voters will decide Tuesday whether to extend the half-cent school infrastructure surtax. The tax has been in place 20 years, and must be approved by voters every 10 years. “This is not a new tax,” says School Superintendent Tim Wyrosdick. “It is used specifically for building new schools, renovating existing schools and adding classroom technologies.” Northwest Florida Daily News.
Personnel changes: Laura Kingsley, 59, is named assistant superintendent/chief academic officer for the Sarasota County School District. Under the district budget, four other administrators, 16 assistant principals and others will be hired to fill jobs that have been open since the recession in 2008. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Superintendent survey: A survey shows members of the Flagler County community want a new superintendent to have strong leadership skills, with the top one being “inspires and builds trust and models high standards of integrity and ethics.” Other desirable qualities include accountability, high expectations, the ability to build trust and respect, and a willingness to make tough decisions. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Teacher arrested: An art teacher at Hernando County’s Central High School is arrested and accused of having a sexual relationship with a student. Valerie Michelle Valvo, 34, admitted engaging in sexual activity with a 17-year-old male student, according to sheriff’s deputies. The school district suspended Valvo with pay, pending an investigation. Tampa Bay Times. WFTS. WFLA.
School trainer arrested: An athletic trainer at Tavares High School is arrested and accused of supplying alcohol to and contributing to the delinquency of minors. Kyle Rentschler, 31, who was seen on a video drinking with students at a party in the Ocala National Forest, resigned Thursday. Orlando Sentinel. Daily Commercial.
Students arrested: Three Booker Middle School students are arrested after a .38-caliber handgun is found on a school bus in Sarasota. Two of the boys arrested are 14, and the other is 13. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Carjacking at school: Police say a 14-year-old boy smacked the keys out of a woman’s hands as she waited to pick up her grandchild at Ormond Beach Elementary School, then stole the woman’s car. The car was found by a Volusia County Sheriff’s Department helicopter in Daytona Beach and the boy was arrested. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Opinions on schools: The biggest threat looming over the Miami-Dade public school system during this legislative session is not a cut in funding, but a proposal to split construction funding with charter schools — a move that would make for-profit charter schools equal recipients of taxpayer money in the state. Miami Herald. Perhaps the most important contributor to educational success can’t be measured by a standardized test. I’m talking about parental involvement. You know it when you see it. You know it when you don’t. Joe Henderson, Tampa Bay Times. How we’re fostering civics education in Martin County schools. Mark C. Malham, TCPalm. Is there liberty and justice for all in our schools? St. Augustine Record. Florida is being held up as an example of the benefits of school choice. But the evidence is not clear that school choice options should be endorsed over other potential reforms. Elena Gooray, Pacific Standard.
Student enrichment: Students in the Future Farmers of America program at Tate High School in Cantonment help assemble meals for Meals of Hope as part of the celebration of National FFA Week. Pensacola News Journal. At-risk teens swap roles with police and other law enforcement officials to learn about their jobs. The exercise is part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Building Lasting Relationships Between Police and Community program. Pensacola News Journal. Seacrest Country Day School’s high school robotics team qualifies for the robotics world championship in Houston in April. Naples Daily News. Middle school students in Alachua County get a hands-on look at the various types of jobs performed at the Gainesville Regional Utility. Gainesville Sun. Courtney Sexton, Miss Florida 2016, talks about drug and alcohol abuse to Bayshore Christian students. Bradenton Herald.
