Magnet schools. Miami-Dade schools unveil a new planetarium to coincide with the debut of a new astronomy magnet program. Miami Herald. WSVN. More on the district's new school choice plans from the Herald.
Testing. Teachers are nervous about the challenges of preparing students for new standards and assessments. Tampa Bay Times. The new tests are expected to be longer and more difficult. Sun-Sentinel. Common Core lessons are tougher, but students are starting to rise to the challenge. Orlando Sentinel. What will lawmakers do about state testing? StateImpact explores.
School choice. Duval parents learn about district choice options during a public expo. Florida Times-Union.
Special needs. A new program in Volusia helps special needs students participate in sports. Daytona Beach News-Journal. Hillsborough schools recruit teachers with non-traditional backgrounds to teach special needs students. Tampa Tribune.
Community schools. Evans High School has improved results since it started offering tutoring, medical care and other services to students in its low-income neighborhood, Orlando Sentinel columnist Beth Kassab writes.
Tutoring. Lee County schools plan to drop free after-school tutoring in favor of a new summer program. Fort Myers News-Press.
Superintendents. Community leaders in Palm Beach hope the coming search for a new schools chief goes better than previous attempts. Palm Beach Post. An activist accused of extorting the Palm Beach superintendent faces additional charges. Sun-Sentinel.
Teacher evaluations. Hillsborough teachers say they should have had more input in developing the district's rating system. Tampa Bay Times.
Charter schools. The City of North Miami faces another setback in its bid to open a charter school. Miami Herald. A charter school funding study is disputed. StateImpact.
Pre-K. Pasco schools consider expanding their early learning offerings. Tampa Bay Times.
Tax credit scholarships. Orlando Sentinel Columnist Scott Maxwell cribs a zombie metaphor to rail against the program.
Testing. Education Commissioner Pam Stewart , PolitiFact and a Palm Beach Post column smack down a lawmaker's recent statement about the state's new standardized tests promoting homosexuality.
Merit pay. The Alachua County school board grapples with ways to implement a new pay system in the coming school year. Gainesville Sun.
Facilities. Hernando County officials pitch a one-cent sales tax that would help pay for school construction. Tampa Bay Times. Students at one Hernando elementary school will get to stay in their buildings as the school gets renovated, the Times reports.
Superintendents. A contract extension for Lee's superintendent is pushed back amid talk of a pay hike. Fort Myers News-Press. The St. Lucie superintendent apologizes to parents for other employees' misconduct. St. Lucie News Tribune.
Politics. An outspoken Orange County School Board member announces plans to run for a State Senate seat that will be vacated by Sen. Andy Gardiner. Sentinel School Zone.
Discipline. Pinellas plans changes to its code of conduct. Tampa Tribune.
Summer school. Pasco schools may expand their summer school programs. Tampa Bay Times.
Teacher quality. The Duval County school district announces a incentive program to bring more teachers into high-needs areas. Florida Times-Union. WJCT. WJXT. First Coast News.
Charter schools. A Broward charter once on the verge of closing can stay open after finding a permanent home. Sun-Sentinel. A former astronaut addresses students at three Lake Wales charter schools. Lakeland Ledger.
Vouchers. A poll commissioned by Sunshine State News finds voters do not support using "taxpayer funds" for scholarships that allow low-income students to attend private schools.
Magnet schools. A Hernando County magnet program uses field trips to teach kids about environmental science. Tampa Bay Times.
Career education. Pinellas schools name a new director. Gradebook. Clay County grows its career academies. WJXT.
Facilities: Business groups back a half-cent sales tax for school construction and technology in Volusia. Daytona Beach News-Journal. After a $55 million renovation, a Miami high school is being rededicated as a "palace of learning." Miami Herald.
Early learning. A change of providers in Duval County means Head Start teachers will have to reapply for their jobs. Florida Times-Union.
Tax credit scholarships. A bill that would expand access to the program is ready for a final vote in the House. News Service of Florida. Associated Press. Times/Herald. Palm Beach Post.
Broad prize. The award for urban school districts raises its standards, naming only two finalists for this year's prize. One of them is Orange County, Fla. Orlando Sentinel. EdWeek.
Charter schools. A former teacher lodges a complaint about a Hillsborough charter school, alleging it does not use properly certified teachers. Tampa Bay Times.
School safety. Miami-Dade schools hope to tamp rumors that circulate among students with a new text-messaging system. Miami Herald.
Career academies. A Glades construction academy could become a reality thanks to a recent donation. Extra Credit.
Teacher quality. Duval schools prepare a new initiative to lure high-caliber teachers and administrators to high-need areas. Florida Times-Union.
Superintendents. Seminole County's Walt Griffin gets a contract extension. Orlando Sentinel.
Common Core. A survey shows public opinion on the standards is split. Sunshine State News.
School days. Hernando schools consider six-period days to save money and give kids more time in each class. Tampa Bay Times.
Economic development. Palm Beach County schools and other officials are promoting their school system in an effort to lure new businesses into the area. South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Maintenance. A bell in front of a Manatee County elementary school gets a rare cleaning. Bradenton Herald.
Awards. A newspaper honors 45 high school seniors. Daytona Beach News-Journal. Gainesville students are named Achievement Scholars. Gainesville Sun.
Tax credit scholarships. House Speaker Will Weatherford and Americans for Prosperity tout the proposed program expansion (among other non-education-related issues) before the start of the session. Orlando Sentinel. Gets a mention in The Florida Current and Sunshine State News, too. Also gets a mention in this Times/Herald story, which oddly refers to the tax credit scholarship program as the " 'opportunity scholarship' voucher program" and says Republicans are moving ahead on it "to appeal to their political base and special-interest groups." First Coast News in Jacksonville logs in a brief story. (Full disclosure: The program is administered by Step Up For Students, which co-hosts this blog.)
Dual enrollment. State Sen. John Legg, R-Lutz, proposes "collegiate high schools" tied to Florida colleges that would help students earn more college credit and industry certifications. Orlando Sentinel.
Magnet schools. Supply and demand doesn't match up for magnet programs in Orange. School Zone.
Common Core. As the legislative session begins, the conversation shifts from what's in them to how to implement. StateImpact Florida. Does Jeb Bush realize what Common Core will do to school choice? Fox News, picking up EAG.
Teacher unions. Intercepts logs in the "melodrama" from the election for a new head of the Broward union.
Teacher evals. VAM is "bureaucratic baloney," writes Tampa Tribune columnist Joe Henderson.
Testing. Florida Education Commissioner Pam Stewart takes on the Florida Education Association's criticism of testing for special-needs students. Gradebook. Extra Credit. Answer Sheet.
Education spending. Mo' money, mo' problems for the Leg this year? Sarasota Herald Tribune. (more…)
Common Core: The new national education standards are attracting opposition and causing a rift among Republicans. Miami Herald. Parents can expect more project-based homework, group work in class and less multiple-choice tests thanks to Common Core State Standards. Sun Sentinel. More from the Miami Herald. Parents: This school year will be the last time your student has to take the FCAT. Probably. Palm Beach Post. Treasure Coast educators say the curriculum this year will be a blend of current and new standards. TC Palm.
Charter schools: Florida's auditor general calls for increased oversight of charter schools after report shows an increase in the number operating at a deficit. In Broward County, 17 of 73 charter schools ended the 2011-12 financial year in the red. In Palm Beach County, it was four out of 35 schools. Sun Sentinel. Pembroke Pines considers selling a highly-contested 43-acre property to Discovery Schools to build a charter school. Sun Sentinel. Duval County's charter schools have tripled from seven in 1999 to 21 today with enrollment jumping from 609 in 2003 to more than 7,500. Florida Times-Union.
Parents: The Tampa Tribune looks at what some education experts say has the biggest impact on a child's academic success.
Scheduling snafu: An open house at Olsen Middle School in Dania Beach leaves parents and students waiting long hours in line to fix class schedules. Miami Herald.
Special needs: Unicorn Village Academy opens in West Boca and caters to students with autism and other learning differences. Sun Sentinel. Federal funding cuts hit home for Polk County's ESE students. The Ledger.
Bus battle: A blind Lake County mom wins her battle to get her visually impaired 5-year-old son on a bus to his district school. Orlando Sentinel.
International learning: Students from China are attending the Community School of Naples in Lee County, part of an international education program. Naples Daily News.
School security: Hillsborough County students and parents are greeted with tightened security as they head back to class, with controlled access about to be the norm at all 215 district schools. The Tampa Tribune.
Conduct: Manatee County Superintendent Rick Mills says the district still does not have a plan to replace three assistant principals charged with felonies in a recent investigation. Bradenton Herald. (more…)
Report cards: Palm Beach County second-graders won't see traditional A-F grades on report cards this year as the district moves toward a standard-based system. Sun Sentinel.
Charter schools: There are already 40 charter schools in Palm Beach County, serving 12,000 students, with another 11 set to open this fall. Palm Beach Post.
More magnets: Palm Beach County school board members want more arts high school and middle school magnet programs. Palm Beach Post.
Tony Bennett: Indiana school officials continue to investigate school grading manipulation that could result in changes to that state's system created by Tony Bennett. Associated Press.
Back to school: One of Central Florida's largest back-to-school events, which has drawn 30,000 people, will be held this year at the Citrus Bowl. Orlando Sentinel.
FCAT: "Don't, don't, don't focus on the FCAT," Pasco County schools Superintendent Kurt Browning tells the staff at Lacoochee Elementary, a D school tapped by the state for a turnaround. "I don't care about FCAT. I don't." Tampa Bay Times.
Teacher conduct: A special-education specialist fired for her role in a high-profile scandal is reinstated by the Miami-Dade School Board. Miami Herald. Another Manatee County school administrator is placed on paid leave during an ongoing investigation into a former football coach accused of groping students. The Tampa Tribune. More from the Bradenton Herald.
Library cuts: The Miami-Dade School Board may open some of the district’s libraries after hours to offset the closure of some 14 facilities. Miami Herald. (more…)
Charter schools. The charter schools in Pinellas expect to add 1,400 students this fall, for a total of nearly 6,500. Gradebook. A new charter school in Naples is offering a summer camp to boost literacy skills for ELL students entering kindergarten. Fort Myers News Press. The struggling Tiger Academy charter school in Jacksonville shows big improvement in its third grade FCAT results. Florida Times Union.
Private schools. Q&A with the new head of Tampa's Carrollwood Day School. Tampa Tribune.
Teacher transfers. Alexander Russo takes a look at a recent study examining involuntary transfers in Miami-Dade.
School spending. Pasco anticipates $1 billion in capital expenses through 2025 and $711 million from all funding sources. Gradebook. Pasco considers shifting some school start times to save money on bus routes. Tampa Bay Times.
Superintendents. The Tampa Bay Times profiles new Hernando Superintendent Lori Romano.
Porn. Pasco deputies arrest a 15-year-old high school student for possession of child pornography after school officials find a photo on her iPhone of two teens having sex. Tampa Tribune, Tampa Bay Times.
Head Start. The feds uphold the suspension of the Jacksonville Urban League as a program provider, citing health and safety issues. Florida Times Union.
Parent power. Gov. Rick Scott signs into law a bill that gives parents of disabled students more say over their kid's education. Orlando Sentinel, Associated Press.
Virtual schools. Scott also signs the digital learning bill into law. Florida Current.
Charter schools. The Lakeland-based Achievement Academy, a charter for students with disabilities, plans to double enrollment to meet demand. Lakeland Ledger.
Career academies. A new firefighters academy is opening at Wellington High School next fall. Palm Beach Post.
Schools and religion. Atheist materials censored by the Orange County School District contained criticisms of the Bible. Orlando Sentinel.
School grades. The state again considers revision to the system in the face of concerns that the results will be too harsh. Tampa Bay Times. Add Treasure Coast districts to those warning parents about a drop in grades. TCPalm.com. A new task force should retract the most "onerous" changes to the grading system. Miami Herald. Or "trash" the system altogether. Palm Beach Post.
School technology. New technology in the Miami-Dade district is boosting education for students with disabilities. Miami Herald.
School spending. The state approves Manatee's financial recovery plan. Bradenton Herald. Bay plans to remove 22 old portables this summer. Panama City News Herald.
School districts. Pinellas needs to be more transparent with public records. Tampa Bay Times. (more…)
Charter schools. They're becoming more involved in the political process, reports the Florida Times Union. The Bradenton Herald takes a look at the challenges ahead for Rowlett Elementary, the Bradenton magnet that's becoming a charter school. So does the Sarasota Herald Tribune. (Sidebar on other charter school conversions here.) The fledgling Ben Gamla charterschool in Pinellas closes because of a dispute with its national board, reports the Tampa Bay Times. The Lake Wales Charter School system has more than 400 students on a waiting list for its middle school, prompting debate how to expand, reports the Lakeland Ledger.
Dual enrollment. Districts are chafing at having to pick up the tab, reports the Tampa Bay Times. More from the Northwest Florida Daily News.
School choice. The lottery process will be a topic for discussion at a school choice summit in Palm Beach County. Extra Credit.
Common Core. Training helps teachers instill love of math, reports StateImpact Florida. It's clear, concise and good for kids, says a teacher at a high-poverty school in this column by Karin Choweth at Ed Trust (H/T Tampa Bay Times).
Testing. The Happy Scientist raises questions about the science FCAT. Miami Herald.
Humanities. Don't forget them amidst the growing emphasis on STEM. Tampa Bay Times.
School technology. Hillsborough teachers like BYOD. Tampa Bay Times. (more…)
