Education spending: The Senate Appropriations Committee approves a bill that would spread federal Title I funding to more schools, including charters, and give districts less control over the grants. Gradebook. The committee also approves a bill that would automatically put teachers and other public workers into a 401 (k) investment program instead of the state's pension plan if they fail to choose a retirement plan option when hired. News Service of Florida. Politico Florida. Two bills (S.B. 1314 and S.B. 902) that would increase eligibility and funding for private school choice options also are approved by the committee. redefinED. Politico Florida.
Legislative effects: Duval County school officials say the district may have to close schools as a result of decisions made in the Legislature this year. They've called a community meeting tonight to discuss how the Legislature's decisions could affect the district. Florida Times-Union.
Budget discussions: As mostly secret state budget negotiations continue, the Senate approves the placement of a constitutional amendment on the 2018 ballot that would increase the nonschool homestead exemption by $25,000. The Senate's appropriations committee also approves a three-day back to school tax holiday. Because there's a 72-hour "cooling off" period required, the budget must be finalized today in order for the Legislature to end as scheduled Friday. Politico Florida. News Service of Florida. Associated Press. Tampa Bay Times. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. News Service of Florida.
Federal budget impact: The impact of President Trump's budget would be devastating to south Florida schools, American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten says at a rally. Miami-Dade County could lose $21.6 million for after-school programs, she says, and teachers could lose $17 million for professional development. Miami Herald. (more…)
Open enrollment rules: The state's new open enrollment law was intended to give any student a chance at any open seat at any public school in the state. But in practice, the law could reduce a student's chances of enrolling in an out-of-district school. The law gives in-county transferring students priority over out-of-county students for open seats, so many students who now attend an out-of-county school go to the end of the application line in the future. Tampa Bay Times.
Saturday school: More than two dozen Pinellas County schools are offering voluntary classes on Saturdays to give students a chance to keep up with their work. Most of the schools offering instruction are low performing. Funding comes from programs for extended learning and low-income students. Tampa Bay Times.
District hacked: The names, addresses, wages and Social Security numbers of more than 7,700 Manatee County School District employees are in the hands of hackers after a Friday night cyberattack on the district. District officials say a school employee turned over the information in response to a fraudulent email that appeared to have been sent by Superintendent Diana Greene. Bradenton Herald. WFLA. WTSP.
Dismissal recommended: A federal magistrate is recommending the dismissal of a suit against the Florida High School Athletic Association for its refusal to let a Christian school broadcast a pregame prayer over the stadium's public-address system at a 2015 high school football championship game. Cambridge Christian School of Tampa filed the suit, saying the refusal violated its rights. "Nowhere in the verified amended complaint (filed by Cambridge) is there a single allegation that Cambridge Christian or any of its members were deprived of their right to pray at the championship game," magistrate judge Amanda Arnold Sansone concluded. News Service of Florida. (more…)
