Arming school employees: Gov. Ron DeSantis says he supports having the option of arming willing employees, including teachers, to help protect schools, as proposed by the state commission that investigated the shooting deaths of 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last February. DeSantis says no one would be forced to be armed, but that "if you're somebody who is working at a school and you are somebody who is trained and has the ability to do it, then you shouldn't be precluded ..." News Service of Florida.
Teacher certification: Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran has reorganized his staff to try to cut the waiting time to process applications for teacher certifications. The increased waiting time since 2017 has corresponded with a decline in educator certificates issued from 70,166 in the 2016-2017 school year to 31,397 in 2017-2018. WFTS. Gradebook. News Service of Florida. The Pasco County School District is turning to lively Facebook videos with catchy jingles in an attempt to recruit teachers. Gradebook. (more…)
More choice, accountability: At its first meeting, Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis' education transition team urges more school choice for Florida students, more information about those choices for parents, expanded personalized learning options and increased accountability for schools. "We're moving from school choice to informed, high quality school choice," says Kim McDougal, former chief of staff and education adviser to Gov. Rick Scott. "The closer we can get to individualizing education for each child, the more success we will see," says Marva Johnson, chair of the Florida Board of Education and co-chair of the transition committee. The group meets again Dec. 19 and 28. Gradebook.
Teacher performance pay: A bill is introduced in the Legislature that would end state restrictions on the way public school teachers get paid. Rep. Rene Plasencia, R-Orlando, wants districts to be able to decide if they want to use the performance pay plans, instead of forcing them to, and to end a prohibition on using advanced degrees as a criteria when making salary schedules. "The way you pay teachers should be done at the local level," says Plasencia, who calls the current model "flawed" and "rigid." Gradebook. (more…)
