Budget problems: A tiny increase in financial support from the state and more unfunded mandates have Florida school districts scrambling to cope. To make ends meet, some districts are asking voters to approve property and sales tax hikes, while others consider larger class sizes, trimming teaching staffs and making cuts in educational programs and bus services. And raises are out of the question in most districts. "It has become increasingly difficult to provide the level of service with the dwindling resources," says Martin County Superintendent Laurie Gaylord. Tampa Bay Times.
Open enrollment: It's the time of year when students can transfer from school to school under the state's open enrollment law, which allows such transfers to schools that have available slots. But as students are discovering, not all that many schools are accepting transfers. In Orange County, only 36 of the 187 traditional public schools are accepting students from outside their zones. In Seminole, just 15 of the 58 schools are, and in Lake only 6 of the 19 elementary schools are. Last year, only about 1,200 students of the more than 311,000 enrolled in Lake, Orange and Seminole public schools transferred. Orlando Sentinel.
School threat responses: The number of Florida children involuntarily committed for psychiatric observation skyrocketed after the Feb. 14 shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. On Feb. 27, 195 children were taken for observation under the Baker Act, the highest single-day total in at least five years, according to records kept by the University of South Florida. Between 2011 and 2016, the number of children hospitalized under the Baker Act rose by almost 50 percent. Sun-Sentinel. Volusia County has arrested 27 students for making threats against school since the Feb. 14 shootings at Stoneman Douglas High in Broward County, while Lake has arrested five, Osceola and Orange three apiece and Seminole none. Orlando Sentinel.
Discrimination query: The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights launches an investigation into the Pinellas County School District's treatment of black students. The investigation will determine if the district is denying black student access to special programs and quality teachers, school leaders and support staff. Tampa Bay Times.
Standardized testing: State education officials, responding to complaints from parents that school districts are threatening students with retention if they don't take the Florida Standards Assessments tests, say test results alone are never the sole reason for promotion or retention. Gradebook. Less than 1 percent of Manatee County third-graders opted out of Florida Standards Assessments testing, district officials say. Just 5 of the 3,100 students chose not to take the tests. Bradenton Herald.
Athletics changes: Athletic directors around the state are split on the effects of a bill that would allow athletes to transfer schools and be eligible to play sports immediately. Some think late changes to the bill mitigate the potential problems. Gov. Rick Scott has until April 14 to sign the bill into law. Miami Herald.
Emphasis shift: The emphasis of the Legislature next year will shift from K-12 to higher education, incoming Senate President Joe Negron, R-Palm City, says in a memo to senators. Gradebook.
IB programs: Lake County school officials are considering adding an International Baccalaureate curriculum to Leesburg and South Lake high schools. Orlando Sentinel. Fewer incoming kindergarten students are applying to attend Frances Wakeland Elementary School, the Manatee district's only International Baccalaureate elementary school. Bradenton Herald. (more…)
