Education agenda: Gov. Ron DeSantis and legislative leaders outline an ambitious agenda for reshaping education in the legislative session that begins March 5. DeSantis says his budget, due next week to the Legislature, will include changes in the Best and Brightest program for teacher bonuses and will allow willing teachers to carry guns in classrooms. Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, suggests the Legislature will also consider cutting the number of mandatory standardized tests and adding funding for teacher pay raises as a way to address the shortage of teachers. Orlando Sentinel. Tallahassee Democrat. WUFT.

Workforce training: Gov. DeSantis also said Wednesday that he intends to improve Florida schools' U.S. ranking in career and technical training programs from 24th to 1st by 2030. His first step was to order Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran to audit the state's current programs and make recommendations that will bring them "in line with market demand." DeSantis says his budget request to the Legislature will include $10 million for workforce apprenticeships and $26 million on vocational programs in state colleges. Gradebook. WTVT. Politico Florida. News Service of Florida. WFLA. (more…)

Education amendments: A proposal to impose term limits on local school board members moves ahead at the Constitution Revision Commission meeting. Under the proposal sponsored by Erika Donalds, board members would be limited to no more than two consecutive four-year terms. The measure now moves to another committee. If approved by the committee and then the full CRC, it would go on the November ballot and would require 60 percent support to become part of the state constitution. News Service of Florida. Gradebook. Another Donalds proposal, which would allow the Legislature to authorize the establishment of alternative public schools, such as charter schools, is pushed forward by the CRC to the next committee. Right now that authorization power lies solely with local school boards. redefinED. Gradebook. Donalds withdraws her proposal for an amendment to end the election of school superintendents. Gradebook. An attempt to add gun-control measures onto existing proposals before the CRC fails on a technicality. News Service of Florida. Politico Florida. Tampa Bay Times.

School security: Gov. Rick Scott's offer to place Florida Highway Patrol troopers at every entry point at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School is accepted by Broward County School Superintendent Robert Runcie and Broward Sheriff Scott Israel. Eight troopers will be outside the school today. Sun-Sentinel. Associated Press. Reuters. Politico Florida. Runcie also announces changes in safety protocols for all Broward schools, including a requirement that students use only clear backpacks that will be issued by schools. WSVN. Miami Herald. The Miami-Dade County School District plans to hire 20 armed guards and 100 unarmed ones, and tighten entry points to bolster security at schools. Miami Herald. Every elementary school in Sarasota County would have a resource officer by April 2 if a proposal from Superintendent Todd Bowden is approved by the school board today. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. The Lee County Sheriff's Department is temporarily shifting 40 deputies, detectives and supervisors to the county's schools, starting next week, until more officers can be hired. Fort Myers News-Press. The Alachua County School Board votes against training and arming school personnel through the state's new guardian program. WJXT. Gainesville Sun. At a town hall meeting, St. Johns County parents tell school officials that they do not want to arm teachers. St. Augustine Record. (more…)