School choice: Expect debates on vouchers, school grades and charter schools this year as legislators set priorities for the upcoming session. The Buzz. Lawmakers propose legislation affecting public schools, from an overhaul of Florida’s school accountability system to a “massive expansion” of school-choice and career-education programs. Tallahassee Democrat. More from The Florida Current. More than 3,000 parents and prospective students crowd into the Bradenton Area Convention Center for Manatee County School District’s first school choice fair. Bradenton Herald.
Charter schools: The Charter School Appeals Commission recommends the state Board of Education turn down a Lakeland group’s proposal for a charter school. The Ledger. Former Gov. Jeb Bush tours the Latin Builders Association Construction & Business Management Academy Charter High School as part of National School Choice Week. Local10.com
Virtual schools: Mom Heather Tempesta lets her daughter try Florida Virtual School after all. Tampa Bay Times.
Magnet schools: Manatee School for the Arts student and teacher get to spend D-Day at Normandy. Bradenton Herald.
Education budget: Orange County school leaders say Gov. Rick Scott’s budget proposal isn’t as generous as it seems. Orlando Sentinel. Much of Scott’s proposed education spending boost would come from property taxes. The Buzz.
Governor’s race: Seventy-one percent of Washington insiders surveyed in January think that the Florida gubernatorial race is the most important one to watch for education. Education Week.
Teachers: A former Chicago social worker-turned chef-turned teacher wins the 2015 Francisco R. Walker Miami-Dade County Teacher of the Year. Miami Herald. Six finalists vie for Brevard Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year. Florida Today.
Board of Ed: Gov. Rick Scott has made his next pick for the state Board of Education: citrus grower and former Highlands County School Board Chairman Andy Tuck. The Buzz.
Assessments: A testing firm starts advertising on a new Florida website as the state Department of Education prepares to choose a new exam. StateImpact Florida.
Cell phones: The Broward County School Board considers banning parents from using cellphones and all other electronic devices on school grounds, even headsets or Bluetooth. Sun Sentinel.
Athlete recruitment: The Lee County School Board tells coaches to stop recruiting student athletes. Fort Myers News-Press.
Conduct: St. Lucie County district’s director of communications is sentenced to a year of probation and 50 hours of community service after being found guilty of driving under the influence. TC Palm. A video shows no one helped a Pinellas County teacher caught in the middle of a school fight. Tampa Bay Times.
