Bright Futures: The number of Florida students claiming Bright Futures scholarships continues to decline, according to the Department of Education. The total number of Bright Futures scholarships is expected to decline 20 percent this year, to 102,000 compared with 128,545 in the 2014-2015 school year. At its peak, about 179,000 students had the scholarships. But there are some projections, now being reviewed by the Legislature’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research, that suggest the number may be improving. Incoming Senate President Joe Negron, R-Palm Coast, hopes to restore the scholarships to cover full tuition and fees. Florida Politics.
Retention fight: The Opt Out Florida Network is raising money through gofundme.com to support a lawsuit that would challenge Florida's retention of third-graders who don't pass a state reading test. The group has raised about $2,500 of the $17,000 it estimates it will need. Gradebook.
Funding problems: School superintendents in Escambia and Okaloosa counties warn that future school budgets are going to be squeezed drastically, and both are starting the search for cutbacks. Florida spends about $7,100 per student, 42nd among the states and well below the national average of almost $9,800. WUWF.
School tax rate: The Miami-Dade County School Board is considering setting a lower tax rate. For many homeowners, the decline would probably offset the forecast increase in property values. First the first time since the real estate crash, the school budget is likely to exceed $5 billion. Miami Herald. (more…)
Retention rules: Manatee County school officials say they will not consider a student's portfolio to justify a promotion to fourth grade if the student has not taken the Florida Standards Assessments test or a state-approved alternative. They say the state Department of Education supports their position. Bradenton Herald. Even while school districts are threatening third-graders with retention because they didn't take the state testing or an alternative, Florida law allows the use of a portfolio as an exemption to testing. Gradebook. Parents in the opt-out movement are headed for a showdown with Manatee County school administrators. Bradenton Times.
Legal fees rapped: The state spent $3.7 million for outside counsel to defend against the lawsuit that alleged Florida failed its constitutional mandate to provide a quality education for all public school students. A circuit judge dismissed the suit. Now one of those groups bringing it, Fund Education Now, is criticizing the state for that expense. The Florida Senate and House split the legal fees because the suit named Senate President Andy Gardiner and House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, as well as the state board and Education Commissioner Pam Stewart. A Gardiner aide says the Orlando Republican is “certainly comfortable with this investment of taxpayer dollars.” Politico Florida.
School crowding: If the courts rule that the Florida Tax Credit Scholarships are unconstitutional, as the Florida Education Association alleges, the state's already crowded schools might have to quickly absorb another 78,000 students. That could cause problems in some districts. Step Up For Students, which hosts this blog, administers the program. Tampa Bay Times.
Construction costs: School districts spend more on buildings using the construction manager-at risk approach than the traditional method of design-bid-build, according to a study by Clemson University researchers. The cost per square meter was $192 for the construction manager approach, and $148 with design-bid-build. The conclusion is based on a study of 137 school projects in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Engineering News-Record.
New schools planned: The Orange County School District is planning to spend up to $3 billion to build 16 schools in the next nine years to accommodate growth in the student population. Orlando Sentinel. The Palm Beach County School District is applying for a grant that could lead to the creation of an arts middle school in Boynton Beach and several other magnet programs at other schools. The grant from the U.S. Department of Education is worth $12 million over three years. Five schools would share the money. Palm Beach Post. (more…)
Test scores stall: Tests scores have stagnated nationally and in Florida, and some experts now think there won't be any significant improvement without radical changes in the focus of education. Orlando Sentinel.
Flawed estimates? Some Broward County School Board members think the district is using a flawed method to calculate the cost of construction projects for its $800 million bond program, and the result is cost overruns. The board is considering a review of the more than 240 projects in the bond program to see if the process was fair to the neediest schools. The bond was approved by voters in November 2014, but no work has begun. Sun-Sentinel.
Nonfiction cutback: Some Broward County high school libraries are ridding their shelves of nonfiction books. School officials say the books aren't needed because the information is available online, and the money saved can be used for other needs. Sun-Sentinel.
Teacher shortages: More than 100 Orange County teachers have to retire six days before the end of the school year, which is causing coverage problem for schools. The departures are the result of changes made to the state retirement program five years ago. Several other state school districts have the same problem, but have arranged to extend contracts for the retiring teachers. Orlando Sentinel. Orange County is not the only district facing a teacher shortage caused, in part, by the changes in the state retirement program. School districts around the state are struggling to fill teacher jobs. Bay News 9.
Help for refugees: More than 10,000 unaccompanied minors were placed in homes in Florida from 2014 to 2016, third most among U.S. states. The influx of students who have fled violence and need support during the immigration process is challenging for school districts. Lakeland Ledger. Refugee children are discouraged from enrolling in schools in at least 35 districts in 14 states, including Florida. Associated Press. (more…)
