Charter schools. A “double F” charter school in Central Florida will remain open through the end of the school year. WESH. The Florida Senate sifts through a spate of charter school legislation. WFSU. By rejecting a state grant proposal, the Broward school board missed a chance to improve charter school quality, Greg Richmond of the National Association of Charter School Authorizers writes in the Sun-Sentinel. Cape Coral charter schools struggle to find room for all the students in their graduation ceremony. North Fort Myers Neighbor.
Budgets. The Florida House sets aside slightly more for education than Gov. Rick Scott did in his spending proposal. Scripps/Tribune. Rising property values make the budget math easier, and the politics of taxes trickier. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Alachua’s new superintendent grapples with the district’s financial issues. Gainesville Sun.
Testing. State computer systems may have lost some students’ tests. Orlando Sentinel. Critics seize on technical glitches, questioning the tests’ fairness and saying this should be a “baseline year.” St. Augustine Record. Miami Herald. Collier County continues a “sit-and-stare” policy for children who opt out of state assessments. Naples Daily News. More from the Palm Beach Post.
Teacher pay. Volusia teachers’ pay lags that in surrounding counties, and is at the heart of a dispute between the district and the teachers union. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Politics. Conservative activists talk Common Core and charter schools while lauding two Collier school board members. Naples Daily News. Education leaders weigh in on Jacksonville’s mayoral race. Florida Times-Union.
Race. A student’s article about a school play sets off a debate. Palm Beach Post.
College credit. AICE programs grow rapidly in Palm Beach County, displacing Advanced Placement as some students’ go-to courses for college credit. Palm Beach Post.
Investigation. Federal officials seize Leon County Schools’ email systems amid a probe of district contracting. Tallahassee Democrat.
Superintendents. The Sarasota school district is the latest to embark on a search for a new leader. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
STEM. A robotics competition energizes students in Central Florida. Orlando Sentinel.
Money maker. Volusia schools may sell naming rights to some of their facilities. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Safety. A string of violent incidents rock a Broward middle school. Sun-Sentinel. A “kindness corner” offers a safe place for students at a Pasco elementary school. Tampa Bay Times. The Hillsborough school district denies its employees are not properly trained to respond to emergencies in a lawsuit over a students’ death. Tampa Tribune.
Public records. The Manatee County school district faces a public records lawsuit. Bradenton Herald.
Facilities. Orange County schools look to phase out portable classrooms. Orlando Sentinel.
Teacher conduct. A Miami-Dade teacher is accused of attacking a student. Miami Herald.
Arrested. A Polk County mother is accused of confronting a crossing guard. Tampa Tribune.
Student health. A Palm Beach school faces a norovirus outbreak. Palm Beach Post. Sun-Sentinel.
