School choice. A political group that supports school choice gets involved in the Democratic primary for a Northeast Florida state House seat. News Service of Florida.
Private schools. A new private school, started by two charter school teachers, is aimed at low-income students in urban Orlando. Orlando Sentinel. A St. Petersburg private school helps gather gift donations for children in the state's Guardian ad Litem program. Tampa Bay Times.
Lawsuits. Parents from around the state are helping to defend Florida's tax credit scholarship program in court. Tampa Tribune. Wayne Blanton of the Florida School Boards Association hits back with an op-ed defending the lawsuit and criticizing the school choice program, which as administered by Step Up For Students, which co-hosts this blog. South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Charter schools. Many Florida charter schools struggle to comply with state transparency laws requiring them to post financial and governance information on their websites. Naples Daily News. See the paper's analysis here. Watchdog.org looks at charter school growth statistics.
Technology. More federal dollars are going to help schools pay for technology purchases. Tampa Tribune. Flagler schools officials find the digital transition hasn't been as wholesale as they hoped. Daytona Beach News-Journal. A Bevard middle school rolls out a one-to-one inititative. Florida Today. Monroe officials try to combat online threats and cyberbullying. Keynoter.
Teacher evaluations. Districts should follow Hillsborough's lead on teacher evaluations, Tampa Bay Times columnist John Romano writes. Some teachers call for changes. Tampa Bay Times. Baker County teachers boast some of the highest VAM scores in the state. WJCT.
STEM. Why not use Bright Futures scholarships to nudge students toward college majors in STEM fields? Paul Cottle raises the idea in the Tallahassee Democrat. Central Florida high school students take part in scientific research on local college campuses. Orlando Sentinel.
School districts aren't the only ones raising concerns about a plan to standardize charter school contracts in Florida.
Some charter school representatives have indicated they have concerns about the proposal, which is set to be taken up next week by the state Board of Education, and might consider challenging a state rule creating a standard contract for charter schools throughout the state.
Provisions in the standard contract would not be binding. They are intended to serve as a starting point for the contracts that govern charter schools. The proposal stems from 2013 legislation passed with backing from charter school advocates who were concerned districts could insert provisions they viewed as problematic.
But Stephanie Alexander, an attorney who represents charter schools, warned state education officials in August that some of her clients might challenge the proposal because it spells out a long list of reasons a school district could potentially shut down a charter school. The draft contract contains a list that "is too broad, goes beyond the statute, and invites further mischief by the school boards," she wrote in an email to state school choice director Adam Miller.
At the time of her message, three schools managed by Charter Schools USA, a charter management organization her firm represents, were in the thick of a standoff with the Hillsborough County school district. Since then, the conflict has ebbed, the two sides are working out their differences, and the district has assured parents the schools won't be shut down.
In her message, Alexander wrote that charter schools might challenge "any rule that goes beyond the explicit statutory criteria on termination at this point, especially given what is happening in Hillsborough." She added in a later message, "we are seeing abuses that seem to justify our concerns about expanding termination criteria."
Many of the concerns school districts have raised are rooted in the idea that a model contract would constrain negotiations with charter schools they're charged with regulating. Alexander's emails to Miller, among hundreds obtained by redefinED through a public records request, focus more on details of the proposal than on the concept of standard contracts in general. (more…)
Competitive grants are prompting some of Florida's urban school districts to take a new approach to charter schools. Rather than wait for charter schools to come to them with applications, they're in a position to actively recruit them.
Take, for example, Hillsborough, which is one of the four districts to apply for charter collaboration grants through the state Department of Education.
The district's request for $3.3 million in grant funding notes that typically, its staff vets applications from charters that choose to apply, and makes recommendations to the school board, which decides to approve the school or reject it.
"This random process of solicitation by a charter school does not always meet the needs of the students in the district," its application states. "HCPS needs a proactive process to bring charter schools to the district and enhance capacity to support and monitor positive student outcomes."
Hillsobrough's plan starts with identifying neighborhoods with high academic needs, which are closely tied to poverty. In its application, the district notes that 43 percent of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches score proficient on the FCAT, compared to 76 percent of students who don't.
The district, Florida's third largest, says it plans a competitive process where different charter operators will submit proposals for schools that would operate in those neighborhoods. It would help them open schools aimed at helping the district's more than 2,000 over-age middle schoolers, many of whom are concentrated in high-poverty areas of Tampa.
Once the charter operators are chosen, the district plans to use the grant funding to help the new schools get off the ground - something it says it does not have the resources to do on its own - and to help them find suitable facilities.
Proposals from the state's two largest districts, Broward and Miami-Dade, also describe plans to solicit proposals from charter organizations with proven track records, which would open schools in some of their most disadvantaged neighborhoods. Both districts say they plan to work with the National Association of Charter School Authorizers to develop a competitive selection process.
"This grant gives the District an opportunity, for the first time, to actively solicit proven high-impact charter school operators to serve the District's students," Broward's application states.
The fourth district to submit a proposal, Duval County, has plans to work with KIPP on an expansion of its Jacksonville schools.
State education officials are vetting the districts' proposals to decide which ones will receive grant funding.
Check out the grant applications below:
Lawsuits. A judge dismisses a lawsuit challenging school choice legislation, but gives lawyers for the teachers union a chance to rework their case. redefinED. Times/Herald. Orlando Sentinel. News Service of Florida. Associated Press. Tampa Tribune. A Palm Beach Post editorial backs a separate lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of tax credit scholarships.
Charter schools. The Hillsborough school board appears poised to reject a proposed charter at MacDill Air Force Base. Tampa Bay Times.
Teacher conduct. Two Hillsborough teachers are expected to face consequences for drug arrests. Tampa Tribune. The state Board of Education plans to set rules defining teacher immorality outside the workplace. Gradebook.
Testing. The Fort Myers News-Press follows up on the local school board's decision to scale back district assessments. More here. A Lee school board member will lead an anti-testing lobbying push. Naples Daily News.
Security. The Manatee school district plans to ask the Attorney General's office if arming its new security guards is legal. Bradenton Herald.
Tax credit scholarships. Creative Loafing gives Charlie Crist's "evolution" on tax credit scholarships some ink after the Miami Herald story about his refusal to denounce the FSBA/FEA suit to kill them.
School choice. Private schools still serve the public good, writes William Mattox of the James Madison Institute, in an op-ed for Hernando Today. Watchdog.org notes that Fund Education Now's Kathleen Oropeza filed a motion to have the judge in the adequacy/funding/choice suit recuse herself because of Catholic ties, but doesn't note the judge granted the request.
Charter schools. The state Board of Education is moving ahead with creation of standard contracts for charter schools. Gradebook. Things are quiet in the simmering dispute between the Hillsborough County School District and Charter Schools USA. Gradebook. Duval County School Board members raise concerns about the performance of schools serving at-risk students, including several charter schools. WJCT.
Florida's progress. Florida gets A's in 3 of 11 categories in a new report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce - in parental options, data quality and academic achievement for low-income and minority students.
School spending. StateImpact Florida writes up concerns that black-owned businesses aren't getting their fair share of contracts from the Miami-Dade County School District.
Testing. The Alachua County superintendent offers qualified support for the kindergarten teacher who refuses to administer a standardized test for diagnostic purposes. Gainesville Sun.
Teachers. Tension continues between the Pasco district and teachers union over planning time. Tampa Bay Times.
9/11. Middle school students in Manatee learn about victim advocate dogs. Bradenton Herald.
Tax credit scholarships. Charlie Crist, a staunch supporter of tax credit scholarships in the past, won't denounce the lawsuit filed by the FSBA and FEA to end the program. Miami Herald. The head of the Florida Association of School Administrators explains his support for the suit. Crestview News Bulletin (Hat tip: Gradebook).
School choice. A 'bumper crop of litigation' threatens school choice in Florida. Watchdog.org.
Charter schools. The West Palm Beach mayor and Palm Beach County superintendent will meet to discuss a proposed city-run charter school. Palm Beach Post.
Magnet schools. The Pasco County School District will open its first in 2015, in part to ease overcrowding concerns at other schools. Gradebook.
Virtual school. Florida Virtual School snags an area superintendent from the Orange County School District to be its COO. SchoolZone.
Single-gender classrooms. Ones in the Broward County School District are among those targeted in an ACLU complaint. South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Parents. Dads march in Daytona to show support for their children's education. Daytona Beach News Journal.
Testing. The Palm Beach County School Board opts not to opt out. South Florida Sun Sentinel. Support grows for an Alachua County kindergarten teacher who refuses to administer a standardized test used for diagnostic purposes. Gainesville Sun.
School boards. A new report looks at how much board members are paid, county by county. Gradebook. (more…)
School choice. Add Voices for Choices to the list of school choice groups in Florida. redefinED. Duval County School District leaders propose a "Public Education Strong" marketing campaign to lure students back from charter and private schools. Florida Times Union. Sunshine State News's Nancy Smith says women are waiting to hear what Charlie Crist's position is on vouchers.
Magnet schools. The Broward County School District looks for ways to improve five F-rated magnet schools. South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Charter schools. The Palm Beach County Commission approves a $20 million financing deal for a new charter school. South Florida Sun Sentinel. The St. Johns County School Board considers a couple of applications. St. Augustine Record.
Teachers unions. More about new NEA President Lily Eskelsen Garcia, who visited South Florida last week. StateImpact Florida. Charlie Crist gets big money from the NEA. The Buzz.'
Technology. Low-income kids in the Pinellas County School District who were given laptops to take home last year outscore their peers without them. Gradebook.
Lawsuits. Members of the Bay County School Board, concerned about unfunded mandates, say they are considering joining the education funding/adequacy suit filed in 2009 by Fund Education Now and others. WJHG.
School spending. A school board member in the Manatee County School District raises concerns about the district's request for proposal regarding the hiring of security guards for elementary schools. Bradenton Herald. (Follow-up story here.) The Pinellas County School Board approves a $1.3 billion budget. Tampa Bay Times. The Hillsborough County School Board approves a $2.9 billion budget. Tampa Bay Times. The Marion County School Board approves a $475 million budget. Ocala Star Banner. The Leon County School Board approves a $530 million budget. Tallahassee Democrat. Guest columnists ask voters in Palm Beach County to reauthorize a property tax hike for education. Palm Beach Post.
Standardized testing. Complaints about a "toxic culture of testing" surface at a Brevard County School Board meeting. Florida Today. The Lee County School Board considers searching for ways to mitigate what it says is too much high-stakes testing. Fort Myers News Press. An Alachua County kindergarten teacher refuses to give her students standardized tests that are used for diagnostic purposes, putting her job at risk. Gainesville Sun.
Charter schools. The boards of three schools threatened with losing their charters offer to meet with Hillsborough district officials. Gradebook.
Parental choice. The parent of a child expected to benefit from a Personal Learning Scholarship Account criticizes the Florida Education Association's lawsuit against parental choice legislation in a Tallahassee Democrat guest column. The Naples Daily News looks at Charlie Crist's past positions on charter schools and tax credit scholarships.
Campaigns. A district manager for Florida Virtual School is mounting a viable campaign against a Broward school board incumbent dogged by controversy over a racial slur. Miami Herald. The Tallahassee Democrat endorses the challenger in Leon County's only contested school board race. A Hillsborough candidate faces an ethnically charged attack. Gradebook. The Daytona Beach News-Journal catches two Flagler candidates plagiarizing.
CAPE. Walton High School adds aeronautics lessons through a dual enrollment program. Northwest Florida Daily News.
Early learning. Pinellas prepares to open a district-run early learning center. Tampa Tribune.
Turnarounds. The Volusia school district focuses on three schools identified as needing intervention. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Back to school. Manatee teachers are overhauling their lessons as they get ready for new state standards. Bradenton Herald. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.The Orlando Sentinel runs down what's new in Central Florida. Tampa children prepare for the new year. Tampa Tribune. A picnic helps prepare homeless students for the school year in St. Johns. St. Augustine Record. The Bradford school district is staggering start times to help kindergarteners adjust. Gainesville Sun. Duval officials christen the renamed Westside High School. Florida Times-Union.
Personal learning scholarship accounts. The Jewish Journal takes a detailed look at Florida's newest option for special needs students.
Charter schools. Some Orange County charters make substantial improvements in the latest round of school grades, while others struggle. Orlando Sentinel. Hillsborough district officials raise concerns about the budget impacts of students leaving for charters. Tampa Bay Times. Researchers study the impact high-performing charters can have on students' health. Health News Florida.
Open enrollment. Less than half of Marion's schools would have room for new students if its controlled open enrollment policy takes effect as expected. Ocala Star-Banner.
Private schools. A Volusia private school hosts a forum to reassure parents in the wake of a teacher's arrest for child pornography. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Dual enrollment. Volusia schools consider a partnership with Bethune-Cookman University. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Common Core. StateImpact and The Hechinger Report reflect on a year of following the standards' implementation.
Campaigns. Gov. Rick Scott talks STEM at a political event in Boca Raton. Palm Beach Post. More from StateImpact.
Tax credit scholarships. Parents of children who receive scholarships answer critics in the Florida Times-Union and the Ocala Star-Banner. The program enhances public education, Doug Tuthill writes in the Miami Herald. He is the president of Step Up for Students, which co-hosts this blog. The president of the Alachua County League of Women Voters criticizes charters and vouchers in the Gainesville Sun. A school board member also criticizes tax credit scholarships in the Sun, focusing on religious education. State standardized testing requirements won't appease all critics, but they might help the program in the long run, Paul Cottle writes at Bridge to Tomorrow.
School choice. Private and charter schools compete with magnet and career education programs in Palm Beach County, fueling a drive to create new options. Palm Beach Post.
Charter schools. Hillsborough officials are scrutinizing the boards that oversee schools managed by Charter Schools USA as lawmakers debate charter legislation. Tampa Tribune. The management group Academica faces federal scrutiny. Miami Herald. The Volusia County school district prepares to end a long legal battle with a failed charter school. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Dropout prevention. Pinellas schools plan a new alternative school aimed at at-risk students. Tampa Tribune.
Digital learning. Replacing old computers won't be cheap for Marion County schools. Ocala Star-Banner. Technology helps a Southwest Florida teacher enhance instruction. Naples Daily News.
Discipline. Kindergarten students face increased suspensions, which disproportionately affect minorities. Florida Times-Union.
Testing. A computer glitch affects FCAT administration in Miami-Dade schools. Miami Herald. A group of parents and teachers protests high-stakes testing. Fort Myers News-Press. Even at the height of FCAT season, educators say kids need a chance to get outside and play. Tampa Bay Times.
