Arming teachers: A bill is filed in the Florida Senate that would eliminate a clause in state law prohibiting teachers from being armed in classrooms. Other new provisions include a requirement that county sheriffs establish an armed guardians program if asked to by local school boards, and allowing contract employees to serve as guardians. The first hearing for the bill is Feb. 12. It was submitted by the Senate Education Committee, and follows the recommendation of the chairman of the state commission that investigated the shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last February. Tampa Bay Times.
Gardiner waitlist: Gov. Ron DeSantis says his budget proposal includes $18.8 million to end the waiting list for students who are trying to get Gardiner scholarships. About 1,800 students are on the list for the program, which provides aid for students with disabilities. About 12,000 students now get the scholarships, and most use them for tuition to private schools. Step Up For Students, which hosts this blog, helps administer the program. News Service of Florida. Orlando Sentinel. Florida Times-Union. Florida Phoenix. redefinED. WKMG. WFTV. WPTV. WBBH. Florida Politics. Daytona Beach News-Journal. WFSU. (more…)
Peterson is a no-show: Former Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School resource officer Scot Peterson, who hid in an outside stairwell instead of confronting the school shooter Feb. 14 as 17 were murdered in the Parkland school, did not honor his subpoena to testify Thursday before the commission investigating the massacre. Peterson's attorney, Joseph DiRuzzo, did appear to say he had filed a motion to quash the subpoena and that he is suing the commission for exceeding its statutory authority. And Peterson has started a GoFundMe page to try to raise $150,000 for his legal defense. Two other officials who were criticized for their actions did speak. Broward Sheriff Scott Israel defended his agency's performance and said its policy is that deputies "may" confront a shooter, not that they "shall." He also said he wants "an effective tactical response, not a suicide response.” Robert Runcie, superintendent of Broward schools, apologized to the families of the victims, and says he may discipline some Stoneman Douglas administrators next week. Sun-Sentinel. Miami Herald. Associated Press. Politico Florida.
Discipline guidelines: Guidelines put in place in 2014 by the Obama administration to address discipline disparities in the nation's schools will be rescinded when the federal school safety commission issues its report by the end of the year, according to reports. That panel is led by U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. The Obama policy sought alternative measures to address the wide variation in discipline handed out to white and minority and disabled students. Critics say the guidelines may keep violent students in school. Politico.
