AP test success: Almost 32 percent of 2018 graduates from Florida high schools passed at least one Advanced Placement exam, according to data from the College Board that was released by the Florida Department of Education. The 31.7 percent pass rate ranks Florida third in the country, behind only Massachusetts (32.9 percent) and Connecticut (32.2 percent). The national average is 23.5 percent. In 2008, Florida's passing percentage was just 19.3 percent. Florida also led the country with 55.9 percent of students taking an AP exam. Florida school officials have been pushing students to take advanced courses and exams, which mimic college introductory classes and can give the students college credits. Orlando Sentinel. Gradebook. Florida Daily. WGCU. Florida Politics.
School board term limits: The Florida House PreK-12 Quality subcommittee unanimously approves a resolution to ask voters to impose term limits on local school board members, effective Nov. 3, 2020. The bill caps service at eight years, though some members of the committee suggest 12 is more appropriate. The bill has several more hurdles to clear before making it to a ballot. Florida Politics. Florida Phoenix. Gradebook.
Tax bill and school choice: The Republican tax bill contains a mixture of good and bad news for school choice advocates. On the plus side, the bill would allow families to tap up to $10,000 from 529 college savings plans for K-12 expenses, including private school tuition. But the bill does not include a tax credit for donations for private school scholarships. The bill would also cut the deduction for local income and sales taxes, which some advocates believe could have a negative impact on local taxes collected for schools, and the $250 deduction teachers use to cover classroom supplies. Education Week.
Hope Scholarship: A bill that creates a scholarship for bullied students that can be used to change schools will get a hearing before a Florida House subcommittee next week. The Hope Scholarship program would allow victims of bullying or harassment in public schools to transfer to another public school or qualify for a state tax credit scholarship, and also be eligible for transportation scholarships. Students would be eligible for the scholarship within 15 days of reporting “battery; harassment; hazing; bullying; kidnapping; physical attack; robbery; sexual offenses, harassment, assault, or battery; threat or intimidation; or fighting at school.” The bill was filed this week by State Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Naples. redefinED. News Service of Florida.
Technical school boom: These are boom times for career academies and technical education, with more high schools opening that emphasize career choices over a college education. For the past 10 years, state lawmakers have pushed career academies that offer industry certifications, and continue to consider alternative paths to a diploma. "The workforce is not demanding four-year-college-degreed people," says Jim Stone, director of the National Research Center for Career & Technical Education. "The workforce is demanding people who can do something." Tampa Bay Times.
Graduation path options: A Florida legislator files a bill that would offer alternative paths to a high school degree for those students who earn enough credits to graduate but don't pass the state algebra 1 and language arts tests. State Rep. Ralph Massullo, R-Beverly Hills, wants those students to be able to use an industry-recognized certification or a portfolio of school work to earn a standard diploma. Gradebook.
H.B. 7069 lawsuit: When 13 state school districts filed suit against the state's new education law, H.B. 7069, the largest district in the state was conspicuous by its absence. Miami-Dade County school officials have strongly criticized the law, but decided not to join the suit. Instead, school board members will lobby legislators to amend the law to address their concerns. "We made a very clear determination that ongoing dialogue, ongoing collaboration — until it was determined that it has been exhausted — is prudent," says board member Steve Gallon. If the options are exhausted, Gallon says, the board will take another look at joining the lawsuit. WLRN.
Schools of hope: Two Bay County schools that were named "schools of hope" by the state Board of Education this week have different plans for the extra money they will receive. Springfield Elementary will spend its $903,424 grant on mental health services and counseling, and classroom support for teachers. Lucille Moore Elementary officials plan to use their $1,022,048 grant to boost parental involvement and engagement in students’ education, among other things. Eleven schools of hope were designated by the state. Each receives an extra $2,000 per student to provide provide such additional services as tutoring, counseling, more teacher coaches and salary supplements for teachers to run student clubs. Panama City News Herald. WJHG.
Students from Puerto Rico: The Hillsborough County School District is throwing out the welcome mat for students displaced from Puerto Rico by Hurricane Maria. While school officials do not know how many students will arrive, or when, where they will live and where they will attend school, the district is well-equipped to handle the influx. There are 27,000 empty seats in the county's schools, and about 35 percent of the district's students are Hispanic. "We know these students have been through a tragedy and we want these students to feel welcome and safe in our schools," Superintendent Jeff Eakins wrote in a memo to all principals. Tampa Bay Times. Puerto Rican refugees have begun enrolling in some state schools. WUSF.
Testing changes request: Lee and Collier county school districts are asking the state to delay the standardized testing schedule, to suspend assigning letter grades to schools, and to not automatically retain 3rd-graders who fail the state's ready test. Both districts missed 11 days before and after Hurricane Irma moved through the state. Fort Myers News-Press.
H.B. 7069 lawsuit: The Martin County School Board decides not to join 14 other school districts in a lawsuit against the state's new education law, H.B. 7069. The vote was 3-2, and board members say the suit would be counterproductive and waste money. They say they hope to find another way to influence legislators. The districts saying the state say the bill is unconstitutional because it favors charter schools and strips power from local school boards. TCPalm.
