Teacher raises: The Florida Senate Education Committee has released its $22.6 billion budget plan that calls for an increase in spending of $762 million, with $500 million of it going toward teacher salary increases. That’s about $100 million less than Gov. Ron DeSantis requested to raise starting teacher salaries, and the Senate also would distribute the money differently than DeSantis wanted…
Weapons at schools: Two bills are approved by a House subcommittee that would allow people to carry guns in churches that have schools and permit school board members with concealed carry permits to be armed at school board meetings. Both H.B. 1437 and H.B. 183 received bipartisan support in the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee…
Restricting restraints: A House subcommittee has approved a bill that could put restrictions on the use of restraints on students. H.B. 1231 would define the terms “restraint” and “seclusion” and establish when their use is permitted. School districts would have to create policies emphasizing positive behavior interventions and train employees in their use…