Accountability: A look at why the accountability piece in former Gov. Jeb Bush’s overall education program seems to be eroding. The Cato Institute. State education officials stall on a records request for a school-by-school breakdown of school grades that would show how each school fared under the original grading formula. Tampa Bay Times. Duval County School Board members criticize Superintendent Nikolai Vitti’s projections for student growth. Florida Times-Union.
Budgets: The Escambia County School Board adopts a tentative $553 million budget and sets the millage rate. Pensacola News Journal. The Polk County School Board sets its first public hearing for the $754.9 million budget at month’s end. The Ledger. Sarasota County property taxes are set to rise to help with increased school costs. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Leon County Schools Superintendent Jackie Pons unveils a $281-million spending plan. Tallahassee Democrat.
Common Core: Florida education leaders look at creating the state’s own Common Core State Standards tests. The News Service of Florida. Duval County teachers prepare for the new standards. Florida Times-Union. Five Florida Republican leaders ask GOP members to support the new Common Core State Standards. StateImpact.
Teacher pay: Collier County teachers gather to plan their next move following the school board’s decision to freeze salary increases. Naples Daily News.
Safety: Collier County school officials call a recent bus accident that injured a student a tragedy, but say the district’s transportation system is regularly reviewed for safety. Naples Daily News. New gates and fences are going up at some Hillsborough County schools that officials deemed too accessible. Tampa Bay Times. Sarasota County schools cut back on police resource officers due to finances. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Teacher conduct: Four teachers from Broward and Palm Beach counties lose their licenses for misconduct ranging from bank fraud to child abuse. Sun Sentinel.
Back-to-school: The Florida Department of Health is offering Broward County students free immunizations. Sun Sentinel. Target and The Salvation Army team up to outfit students for school. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
K12: The Broward School Board unanimously approves a $300,000 contract with the for-profit company that provides online courses for about 70 elementary school students. Miami Herald.
Charter schools: Inlet Grove High School, one of two conversion charter schools in Palm Beach County, looks to open a second campus — nearly six hours away in Jefferson County. Palm Beach Post.
Teacher evals: The Pasco School Board proposes making it easier for teachers to get a highly-effective rating in the district’s evaluation system. Gradebook.
Construction: Hillsborough County schools looks at long-term options to build and renovate schools despite a lack of new state construction dollars. Tampa Bay Times.
New teachers: About 200 new Pinellas County teachers embark on a two-week training to learn how to run a classroom. The Tampa Tribune.
STEM: Mentors from 100 Black Men of Tampa Bay check out Hillsborough’s STEM Corps High School Program showcase. The Tampa Tribune.
