Teacher pay: Prospects for a statewide $200 million raise in pay for teachers have dimmed after proponent Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, says he is no longer pursuing the hike. Instead, Simmons says, he is backing an expansion of the teacher bonuses program, known as the Best and Bright Teacher Scholarship. Both the Senate and House are… Read more »
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Florida schools roundup: Class sizes, schools of excellence and more
Class sizes: A bill that would allow schools to comply with the 2002 class size amendment by using schoolwide averages instead of specific classroom counts passes the Florida House PreK-12 Innovation Subcommittee. Schools would be expected to try to get math, reading, science and social studies class sizes to levels required by the constitutional amendment. But there… Read more »
Florida schools roundup: Weapons, security bill, open enrollment and more
Weapons at schools: Two legislators file bills that would stiffen criminal penalties for people who carry guns and other weapons within 1,000 feet of a public school. Anyone breaking the law would be charged with a second-degree felony and could get up to 15 years in prison or fined $10,000, according to the bill filed by Sen. Lauren… Read more »
Low-income students drive Florida’s success on AP tests
Florida continues to be a national leader on college-caliber Advanced Placement exams, fueled by the success of growing numbers of low-income students. The Sunshine State ranks No. 4 in the nation in the percentage of graduating seniors who have passed at least one AP exam, according to 2016 data released in a new report from… Read more »
Florida schools roundup: Capital funding, budget cuts, testing and more
Capital funding for schools: A bill that would allow school districts to raise local tax rates for construction and maintenance also would require those districts to share the money with charter schools. Now, Senate PreK-12 Appropriations chairman David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, says if the bill passes, “there won’t be a need” for the state to provide… Read more »
Florida schools roundup: Testing cutbacks, religion in schools and more
Testing cutbacks: A new plan to cut back on student testing is gaining bipartisan support. The identical bills (S.B. 964 and H.B. 1249), filed by Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, and Rep. Halsey Beshears, R-Monticello, would eliminate several high school end-of-course exams, give districts the option to offer paper-pencil state testing, allow an alternative nationally recognized test… Read more »
Florida schools roundup: Legislative issues, Trump’s visit and more
Legislative session: Vouchers, recess and capital funding for charter schools are among the hot education topics in this year’s legislative session, which begins Tuesday. Sunshine State News. School testing will again be a prominent issue during the session. Several bills have been filed to cut back on the number of tests, and to give options to the Florida… Read more »
Florida schools roundup: No names in bills, alternative schools and more
Bill drops name: A bill that would prohibit Florida high school students from leaving campuses for lunch won’t bear the name of a Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High School girl who was killed in a car crash during lunch off campus in 1999. Sen. Rene Hialeah, R-Hialeah, removed the name of Mayra Capote from his bill at… Read more »
Florida schools roundup: Guns, funding, whistleblower protection and more
Guns and schools: The number of Florida children killed by guns is up 20 percent since 2010, and injuries are up 36 percent. Some legislators think more guns is the solution to the problem, and are proposing that gun-free zones – including at K-12 schools – be eliminated. State Sen. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, says people are… Read more »
The week in school choice: A model for the nation?
So much pre-confirmation talk about Betsy DeVos focused on her home state of Michigan. As education secretary, she’s pointing to a different state — arguably her second home — as a model for the nation. “Florida is a good and growing example of what can happen when you have a robust array of choices,” DeVos said Wednesday…. Read more »
