Teachers grade lawmakers: The state’s largest teachers union, the Florida Education Association, releases the grades it’s given to legislators. Most Republicans got F’s, while most Democrats got A’s and B’s. The Senate grades are here, and the House grades here. The grades given were almost the inverse of those handed out in April by Jeb Bush’s… Read more »
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Remember this school choice Democrat
Forty years ago, school choice liberals started working with popular Democratic Congressman Leo Ryan to put school choice on the ballot in California. Then, tragedy struck.
Fla. constitutional ‘framers’ want to weigh in on education adequacy lawsuit
News Service of Florida Some members of Florida’s 1998 Constitution Revision Commission are seeking to file a brief in the Florida Supreme Court as part of a legal battle about whether the state is meeting its constitutional duty to provide a high-quality system of public schools. Describing themselves as the “framers” of a 1998 ballot… Read more »
Florida schools roundup: No special session, lawsuit support, taxes and more
No special session: There won’t be a special legislative session to reconsider education funding, according to the latest polling results from Department of State officials. Polling doesn’t end until Thursday, but already 52 Republican members of the House have voted against having a special session, while 36 Democrats voted for it. Three-fifths of each chamber must… Read more »
Florida schools roundup: Rules for scholarships, special session and more
Scholarship rules: The Florida Department of education proposes rules for two new state scholarships. A one-page set of rules is proposed to determine eligibility for bullied students to receive state scholarships to attend new schools. The Hope Scholarship would be available for students who report being bullied or attacked. If they win approval, students could take… Read more »
Florida schools roundup: Superintendent named, tests, 47 cents, appeal and more
New superintendent: Diana Greene is chosen as the new superintendent of the Duval County School System. Greene, who has been superintendent of the Manatee County district since 2015, was unanimously approved by the school board. She replaces Nikolai Vitti, who left last summer to take the top job in Detroit. Greene started her teaching career in… Read more »
Is political trouble brewing in a charter-friendly district?
This week, while the school board in one generally charter-friendly Florida district was voting to reject a charter school application, another lamented the limits of its authority. Speakers lined up to oppose a pair of charter school applications before the Hillsborough County School Board. Most dinged charter schools generally but concentrated their criticism on for-profit… Read more »
Florida schools roundup: Tougher tests, Schools of Hope, top employee and more
Testing standards toughened: The Florida Board of Education adopts tougher standards for the state exams high school students must pass to graduate. The board also eliminated the Post Secondary Education Readiness Test, one of the alternatives for students who don’t pass the state exams. Alternatives to the state tests are now the SAT, ACT and… Read more »
Florida schools roundup: Security, deputy’s pension, charters and more
School security: St. Petersburg officials reverse themselves and say they will not take 25 police officers off the streets to work as resource officers in the city’s elementary schools. City officials point to the cost, more than $3 million, and a reluctance to remove officers from their beats. The decision means the Pinellas County School… Read more »
Another Florida charter school application faces organized opposition (corrected)
A South Florida charter school organization saw a setback in its plans to expand into Sarasota County. Pinecrest Academy now faces a familiar dynamic. A divided school board rejected its application. Now it will likely head to a state appeals process. But the debate surrounding the 4-1 school board vote underscores a rising trend, in… Read more »
