Gov. Doug Ducey of Arizona signed a universal education savings account (ESA) bill into law Thursday night, making Arizona the second state to pass a universal ESA program. However, Arizona may be the first state to actually implement a universal ESA as the Nevada Supreme Court struck down the Silver State’s funding mechanism last year. ESAs in… Read more »
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Florida schools roundup: Budgets, charter schools, scholarships and more
Education budgets: Differences in the Senate and House education budgets are a significant factor in the yawning gap in the overall spending plans between the two chambers. The House is proposing to spend $81.2 billion and the Senate $83.2 billion. But the Senate budget doesn’t include $2 billion that is factored into the House budget, widening… Read more »
Florida schools roundup: Charter schools bills, reading, religion and more
Charter schools plan: State Rep. Kionne McGhee, D-Miami, says the House proposal to turn over failing schools to charter schools “creates a separate but unequal system” that violates the Florida and U.S. Constitutions. The so-called “schools of hope” bill calls for traditional schools with D or F grades for three years to become charter schools. “These schools have… Read more »
Florida schools roundup: Diverging recess bills, charter schools and more
Recess in schools: The Florida Senate unanimously approves a bill that would require 20 minutes of daily recess for the state’s nearly 1.3 million elementary school students. But the bill is at odds with the one moving through the House now, which would eliminate the daily mandate, allow schools to blend time in physical education classes with… Read more »
Florida schools roundup: ‘Schools of hope,’ testing and religion bills and more
‘Schools of hope’: In Florida, 77,000 students attend public schools that have received grades of D or F from the state for three years or more. Those are the schools House Republicans plan to improve with their “Schools of Hope” legislation, which would set aside $200 million to bring in well-regarded charter schools to offer those students an… Read more »
‘Schools of Hope’ and a judge’s ‘warning not to be complacent’
The Florida House’s effort to create new “Schools of Hope” in struggling areas has rocketed to the top of education agenda in this year’s legislative session. Its backers may find support for charter school recruitment and aggressive school turnaround efforts in interesting places, like a “warning” flagged last year by a Leon County judge. The… Read more »
Florida schools roundup: Turnaround schools, recess, unions and more
‘Schools of hope’: The House Education Committee approves a bill that would tighten the timetable for districts to turn around low-performing public schools, and start a new program to bring well-regarded charter schools – called “schools of hope” – that have a history of success with large numbers of low-income students into areas with persistently struggling schools…. Read more »
Florida schools roundup: Budget plans, improvements, HQ evacuation and more
Education budget plans: The Senate appropriations subcommittee approves a plan to increase preK-12 education spending by $535 million. The panel chairman, Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, says retaining current property tax rates would let localities collect hundreds of millions of dollars more as property values increase. “We don’t consider the additional amount of taxes they pay… Read more »
Florida scores well in new ranking of state charter school laws
Florida continues to score highly in the annual ranking of charter school laws in states around the country. The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools ranked Florida eighth in the nation in the latest analysis of state charter school laws. “Florida continues to move forward with offering high-quality charter schools as an option for the… Read more »
Florida schools roundup: K-12 funding, recess, choice, charters and more
K-12 funding: The Senate Budget Committee proposes a boost of $790 million in spending in the next school year for Florida’s K-12 public schools. Almost 68 percent of that would come through higher property taxes for local districts. Gov. Rick Scott has proposed an $815 million increase for K-12 schools, also with 68 percent of the… Read more »
