In 1989, Albert Shanker wrote a scathing critique of the public education system in the New York Times. He called for allowing Bush Administration "merit schools" to wave most regulations, and give each school total control over its budget, with no interference from school boards.
Who said the following?
“It’s time to admit that public education operates like a planned economy, a bureaucratic system in which everybody’s role is spelled out in advance and there are few incentives for innovation and productivity. It’s no surprise that our school system doesn’t improve: It more resembles the communist economy than our own market economy.”
“… After decades of failure, even the Soviet bloc seems to have concluded that only markets work, that a system without incentives and rewards drives out the good and favors the mediocre.”
Ronald Reagan? Rush Limbaugh? Milton Friedman?
Today, it’s hard to imagine that those words could be penned not by a right-winger, but by the liberal leader of a national teachers union.
Albert Shanker was president of the American Federation of Teachers when he wrote that scathing critique of the public education system in his weekly advertorial in The New York Times, July 23, 1989 (“Put Merit in Merit Schools”). Although he proceeded to criticize Republican President George H.W. Bush’s proposal to spend $500 million on rewarding “merit schools” that had improved academically in one year, he did so not from a partisan perspective or by dismissing it out of hand for ideological reasons. Rather, he feared the plan didn’t go far enough. (more…)
Administrators of several small charter schools have said they are being forced to choose between security and teachers due to budget issues. Some Florida lawmakers say it may be time to revisit the funding distribution formula.
The Ranking House Education Democrat and PreK-12 Appropriations Chairman both said this week the state should re-examine the formula for how security funds are distributed to schools.
Their comments come on the heels of reported concerns from administrators at smaller charter schools who are struggling to pay for security officers to protect their schools.
Rep. Shevrin Jones, D-West Park, the Ranking Democrat, said the state needs to respond to the shortfall at some schools by taking a new look at the distribution formula.
“It would be my hope that the leadership in Tallahassee recognizes that this is an issue that we can’t sweep under the rug,” Jones said. “We need to tackle this issue head on. My suggestion would probably be to look at a state that is doing this right, to see how they calculate school safety into their budgets.”
Rep. Manny Diaz, R-Hialeah, the Education Appropriations chairman, agrees. He said the state should reevaluate the formula, especially for small independent schools.
The concerns stem from a new state law passed in the wake of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. The law requires all public schools to hire a School Resource Officer (SRO), a sheriff deputy or a trained employee to carry a gun on campus. The law, passed as SB 7026, gave public schools an additional $97.5 million for resource officers.
But administrators of several smaller charter schools have said they are being forced to choose between security and teachers because it has been difficult to afford an SRO. And a more affordable option – a training program for employees who could carry a gun – has been implemented in just 22 of the 67 districts to date, according to the Florida Department of Education.
Gov. Rick Scott called on Tuesday for lawmakers to redirect $58 million of unused funding from the guardian program to school districts for additional security. But, according to the Associated Press, key lawmakers, including incoming Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, are not on board with Scott’s proposal.
Galvano wants to continue to address school security in 2019. He recently wrote in a series of tweets that “we cannot be complacent, or think the work is done. We must continually review existing policies and encourage new ideas to keep our students safe.”
Other lawmakers are also weighing in.
Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay, who introduced legislation to enhance security at Jewish day schools in 2017, thinks sheriff’s departments should play a bigger role.
“In those school districts where the sheriff has chosen not to offer a guardian program, the charter schools need to take that up with their local politicians,” he said. “Law enforcement has an obligation to protect children no matter where they are.”
Rep. Jennifer Sullivan, R-Mount Dora, who served as vice chair of the Education Committee, said she is evaluating schools’ discretionary funding and how the funds are being used.
Sen. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, said school districts need more options to comply with the law. He said the private sector could offer school districts tangible help. The current law does not include private security firms as an option for schools.
“The private sector can provide any level of care that you want,” Baxley said. “We need some way to provide for great diversity, size and shape of schools. They are not alike. I think the private sector has a lot of answers, not only on staffing but how to better secure its campuses with electronics and cameras.”
Some charter schools are struggling with finding resources to pay for enhanced security as the new school year begins.
Jackie Grimm, co-director at New Dimensions High School, a top-rated charter school in Kissimmee, found herself in a difficult predicament.
A new state law passed in the wake of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland requires all public schools to hire a School Resource Officer (SRO), a sheriff deputy or a trained employee to carry a gun on campus. In turn, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office sent Grimm its proposed contract to supply an SRO. The tab: $90,000 a year. The new law, passed as SB 7026, gave public schools an additional $97.5 million for resource officers. But charter school officials say that because the allocation to fund security is based on student enrollment, smaller charter schools could struggle to pay for a security officer. They could more readily be put in the position of having to choose between a teacher and a security guard.
At the same time, a less costly alternative envisioned under the law – employee training – has been implemented in only 22 of the 67 school districts to date, according to the state Department of Education (DOE). Osceola is not one of them. That leaves smaller charter schools with no affordable options.
Safe Schools Director Damien Kelly told the Florida Board of Education Wednesday that the states’ sheriffs believe not enough funding was allocated under SB 7026 for school security.
For New Dimensions, a medium-size charter with 470 students, the financial math simply doesn’t add up.
“Student safety is paramount on our agenda, just like it is for the whole country,” said Grimm. “It has placed such a burden on us. Do we have to make a decision on whether we have an SRO or a school? Ultimately our charter could be revoked for not being in compliance.”
She said $90,000 is a tremendous financial burden.
“We literally do not have even $3,000 in our bottom line of our budget,” she said.
Furthermore, several districts are not including charters in their contracts with sheriffs’ offices to provide security, according to Lynn Norman-Teck, executive director of the Florida Charter School Alliance.
“Sixty-seven counties are interpreting this law in 67 different ways,” said Ralph Arza, director of governmental relations for the Alliance.
Arza said he is aware of 100 charter schools that may only be partially compliant with the law because of the cost of supplying an officer.
Asked how DOE responds to the issue, spokesperson Audrey Walden wrote: “We encourage them to work with their school districts and/or local law enforcement to meet the requirements spelled out in the law.”
By contrast, Jane Watt, chairwoman of the board for Marco Island Academy, a small charter school in Collier County serving 230 students, said the school would not have been able to afford an SRO if the city of Marco Island had not stepped in to cover the cost.
The Commish. Pam Stewart is up for a performance evaluation before the Board of Education next week. Gradebook. StateImpact Florida.
Testing. Three-person panel meets today to begin selecting independent reviewer of state tests. Gradebook. Political Fix Florida.
STEM. Black students in Florida are being steered away from the most lucrative college majors, which tend to be in STEM fields. Bridge to Tomorrow. Some Okaloosa students hear from experts whose jobs hinge on STEM. Northwest Florida Daily News.
Middle schools. The Hernando schoool board backs a plan to create a new center for struggling middle school students. Tampa Bay Times.
Turnaround students. Pasco honors them. Tampa Bay Times.
Principals. One in Broward is Florida's Principal of the Year. South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Employee conduct. A former Orange County principal is reprimanded for not immediately reporting a case of possible child abuse to authorities. Orlando Sentinel. (more…)
State tests: The end of the much-maligned FCAT is no cause for celebration by critics, writes the Palm Beach Post. Sen. John Legg correctly recognizes there are too many standardized tests in Florida's public schools, but his proposed solution of a test-free period around state-required tests is impractical, writes the Tampa Bay Times.
Common Core: A state senator has submitted legislation to stop the Common Core State Standards from taking effect in Florida. The Buzz. The new state standards place more emphasis on cursive writing, but not everyone is on board as technology takes over the classroom. Fort Myers News-Press. Studies find textbooks are a poor match for Common Core standards. StateImpact Florida.
Teacher evals: The publication of teacher performance scores this week resonate in Leon County Schools, drawing criticism from school board members and fueling recruitment efforts by the local teachers union. Tallahassee Democrat.
Special needs: The state teachers union releases a video showing Polk County school administrators giving a standardized test to a blind child in a persistent vegetative state. Herald/Times.
State grades: The state Board of Education should listen to parents and educators who want to put the brakes on the grading plan, writes The Ledger.
Pay raises: Pasco County's superintendent recommends new salary schedules for administrators and non-bargaining personnel that would increase their pay by 4 percent and 4.8 percent, respectively. Tampa Bay Times. The roughly 6,000 Palm Beach school district service employees like bus drivers, custodians and electricians will get a 4 percent raise under a new tentative labor agreement. Palm Beach Post.
School boards: Pinellas County School Board members vote unanimously to change the time allotted for public comments from the beginning of their meetings to the end, despite initial concerns the switch would discourage public participation. The Tampa Tribune. More from the Tampa Bay Times. The Palm Beach County school board hears some tough talk on a still-sparse budget for next school year. Palm Beach Post.
School choice: Florida's changing educational landscape requires policymakers to strike a balance when it comes to school choice offerings, writes Duval County School Board member Jason Fischer for Context Florida.
Career tech: Five high schools around Orange County will get $1 million to expand career and technical programs on their campuses thanks to a grant from Dr. Phillips Charities. Orlando Sentinel. Students get to show off their techie skills in a recent regional competition. Tampa Bay Times.
STEM ed: A national nonprofit called Girls Who Code is working to grow the next generation of STEM–science, technology, engineering and math–stars in South Florida. StateImpact Florida.
Eric Cantor: U.S. House of Representatives Majority Leader Eric Cantor will tour Academy Prep Center of Tampa today. ABC Action News.
Legislation: StudentsFirst is pushing a bill that would require the state to create a statewide return on investment index and rating system for all schools. Tampa Bay Times. U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, has introduced legislation that ends the practice of restraining or secluding students with disabilities who become out of control, something Florida has considered. Tampa Bay Times. A proposed bill would give school districts full control over textbook selection, removing the state from the process completely. Tampa Bay Times.
Common Core: The Orlando Sentinel provides readers with a Q&A on the new education standards.
Superintendents: Miami-Dade Superintendent Alberto Carvalho has been named the country’s top schools chief. Miami Herald.
Teachers: Thomashefsky, or “Mr. T” as he’s called by his students, is the 2014 Lee County Teacher of the Year. Fort Myers News-Press.
State testing: Parents and teachers worry over heavy testing schedule. Orlando Sentinel.
School grades: Florida's A-to-F school grading formula could be simplified this year with high school grades available months earlier. Orlando Sentinel.
Charter schools: Three years and a court battle later, Odyssey Space Coast Charter Academy wins approval to open another popular “green-school” in Brevard County. Florida Today. The Lee County School Board votes in favor of suing a closed charter school for $99,793. Fort Myers News-Press.
Florida Virtual School: Julie led FLVS through the ebbs and flows—and some turbulent waves—of the political cycles in Florida and kept the school growing at each turn, writes Michael Horn for Forbes. FLVS's Global School is expanding STEM options and more, writes Alison Anderson at Getting Smart. When it comes to innovations in learning, keep eye out for Julie Young’s next move, writes Tom Vander Ark for Getting Smart.
Private schools: Jazz musician Bob Dorough performs at the Montessori School of Pensacola. Pensacola News-Journal. Hillsborough's Corpus Christi Catholic School celebrates its 50th anniversary. The Tampa Tribune. As the administrator of Title I funds for all schools in Duval County — public, private and parochial — Duval's schools superintendent has a responsibility to all students who fall under that program, writes Gerald Robichaud for the Florida Times-Union.
District schools: Students at this Brevard County high school learn about forensics with the help of chicken carcasses. Florida Today. Brevard high school students prepare for the National Ocean Science Bowl. Florida Today. Lee County's superintendent lead efforts for the BYOD policy, which will allow teachers to integrate lesson plans with students' mobile devices. Naples Daily News. Pinellas County will expand its summer school program to allow even more students to continue their studies. The Tampa Tribune. The Manatee County School Board plans to expand voluntary pre-kindergarten programs and bring in data teams to analyze student performance at all grade levels, kindergarten through high school. Bradenton Herald.
Achievement: Spending more than $440 million for voluntary pre-kindergarten and stopping the practice of “social promotion” are two ways Florida has been able to move the needle in education achievement, says the chairman of the state Board of Education. Florida Times-Union.
STEM: It’s time for those who lead our K-12 schools to start talking with university professors in math, science and engineering about what needs to be done to give more students access to careers in these fields, writes Paul Cottle for the Tallahassee Democrat.
School grades: Education Commissioner Pam Stewart unveils her plan to revamp school grades. The Buzz.
Teachers: Teachers line up against legislation to overhaul the state's $132 billion pension system. The Buzz. Private donors offer $40 million in incentive pay for teachers at struggling Jacksonville schools. Florida Times-Union. A new Florida Education Association poll finds a supermajority of Floridians rate their children’s teachers positively and an overwhelmingly majority approve of the job their public schools are doing. The Florida Current.
AP: The state ranked fifth in the nation for the percentage of 2013 graduates who had passed at least one AP exam. Sun Sentinel. Florida has the highest rate of low-income students of any state in the Top 10, at 56 percent. redefinED. More from the Tampa Bay Times, and Associated Press.
Charter schools: At Oasis High School, one of Cape Coral's city-run charters, students from the Model United Nations team are heading to MIT for their next conference. Fort Myers News-Press.
Tampa Prep's robotics teams qualify for a state tournament. The Tampa Tribune. Chinese exchange students make friends at Carrollwood Day School in Tampa. The Tampa Tribune.
State testing: A state senator, a civil rights attorney and the mother of a young student say the Florida Department of Education is sending a bad message to public school children and their teachers by having lower achievement goals in reading and math for minority students. The Florida Current.
AP Capstone: Hundreds of Pinellas and Hillsborough county students could soon be among the first to earn a new academic distinction with no enrollment caps through the AP Capstone program. The Tampa Tribune.
School legislation: A state House panel approves a draft bill that bars school districts from suspending students for “brandishing a partially consumed pastry or other food item” bitten into the shape of a weapon or “possessing a toy firearm or weapon made of plastic snap-together building blocks.” Tallahassee Democrat. The House K-12 Subcommittee approves a measure that requires middle schools to identify students who get suspended, fail English or math courses or miss more than 10 percent of their classes. Tallahassee Democrat. Sen. Alan Hays files a bill to remove the Department of Education from the selection of textbooks and instructional materials. Tampa Bay Times.
School funding: Tax collections for Miami-Dade County Public Schools could fall $60 million short for the second consecutive year. Miami Herald.
Charter schools: The Pasco County School Board approves a 15-year contract for Pepin Academies, which caters to students with learning disabilities. Tampa Bay Times. Dayspring Academy, Pasco County’s first charter school, plans to add a ninth-grade class in the 2014-15 school. Tampa Bay Times.
Religious schools: A student at Citrus Park Christian School in Hillsborough County takes her ailment and uses it to focus on a medical career. The Tampa Tribune.
Gender specific: A proposal to create more gender-specific district schools sails through the House Choice & Innovation Subcommittee. redefinED.
Career readiness: Manatee County School District works with community business leaders to step up high school career readiness programs. Bradenton Herald.
Rick Scott: School superintendents from across the state tell Gov. Scott that even with his proposed boost in education spending, they still can't afford to pay for maintenance, new school buses, security upgrades and the technology needed to administer computer-based tests. The Buzz. More from the Florida Times-Union. (more…)
Catholic schools: Catholic leaders hail small growth in school enrollment as a hopeful sign. Florida Times-Union. Publicly funded, private school choice programs in Florida are a big reason for the increase. redefinED.
Charter schools: A charter school company in Lee County gets a second chance at opening a school this fall after coming close to a district denial. Fort Myers News-Press.
Magnet schools: Pinellas County school leaders need to ensure reopening shuttered schools as magnet-style schools doesn't widen the gap between the lottery winners and the remaining students, writes the Tampa Bay Times. Pinellas school officials hope reopening those schools as technology magnets will reclaim students who left for private schools or are on waiting lists for other choice programs. The Tampa Tribune.
Traditional schools: The Hillsborough County School Board moves forward with a plan to buy new school busses and offers orientation for new principals. Tampa Bay Times.
Education budget: Florida Gov. Rick Scott says his recommendation for lawmakers to increase education spending would be enough to push it to a record high of $18.84 billion. The Buzz. More from the Tallahassee Democrat, News Service of Florida, Fort Myers News-Press, Palm Beach Post and Sun Sentinel.
Common Core: Brevard residents rally against the new education standards during a Republican Liberty Caucus of Eastern Florida forum. Florida Today.
