Teacher evaluations: The Florida Department of Education has told superintendents it intends to give greater weight to teachers with multiple years of success in the value-added model evaluation system. It also sent a list of 32 elementary teachers who meet the highly effective criteria in reading and math, and those from five districts who scored unsatisfactory in both. Gradebook.

Testing scores: The Florida Board of Education votes Wednesday on how to score the new Florida Standards Assessments tests. This Q&A touches on the controversy and the potential impact of the decision. Orlando Sentinel.

Legislative agenda: State Sen. John Legg, R-Lutz and chairman of the education committee, says class sizes and teacher bonuses are the most pressing education matters for the Legislature to tackle in the session that starts Jan. 12. WUSF.

Private investors: Two Florida legislators want the state to allow private investment "to solve social issues." Utah has adopted such a model to pay preschool costs for children who had been expected to need special-education services. Gradebook. New York Times. (more…)

School grade concerns: The Seminole County School Board is urging Gov. Rick Scott to suspend the issuing of grades this school year due to concerns about the reliability of the Florida Standards Assessment tests. Superintendents around the state have been arguing that school grades issued using results from the new tests will be unfair and inaccurate. Orlando Sentinel.

Charters and grades: State Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, proposes a bill that would prohibit charter schools from denying admittance due to a student's previous academic performance. Gradebook.

Charter school query: Mason Classical Academy is being investigated by the Department of Children and Families for alleged "mental injury" and "inappropriate supervision." The Collier County charter school was founded by two school board members. Naples Daily News.

Unions and Supreme Court: The Florida Education Association could become a model for teachers unions if the U.S. Supreme Court ends the  collection of union agency fees in the Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association case. A decision is expected in 2016. Education Intelligence Agency.

Education behind bars: States should do more to educate young people in jail, the Justice Center at the Council of State Government argues after surveying services in all 50 states. (more…)