This issue of the Session Spotlight provides highlights of events during the past week including activities and meetings during Legislative Interim Committee Meeting Week 2, information about the online Review of the Report of the Marjory Stoneman Douglass Public Safety Commission conducted by Commission member and Citrus County School Board member Doug Dodd, and other…
Andrew Pollack, the father of slain Marjory Stoneman Douglas High student Meadow Pollack, is one of two appointees to the Florida Board of Education. Gov. Rick Scott nominated Pollack to a four-year term replacing Jacksonville businessman Gary Chartrand, who was ineligible because of term limits. Scott also reappointed former state Rep. Tom Grady of Naples…
Richard Corcoran is Florida’s next Education Commissioner. The State Board of Education on Monday unanimously voted to appoint Corcoran Education Commissioner, meaning the former state House Speaker will lead the Department of Education after Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis takes office. DeSantis earlier this month recommended Corcoran as the state’s next chief educational officer, making him all…
Public school advocates don’t like what they see and hear coming out of Tallahassee.Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis’s selection of Richard Corcoran as his choice to be the next Education Commissioner and the appointment of two pro-charter school lawmakers – with questionable credentials, according to their critics – have led public education allies on the left and…
Pam Stewart, Florida’s education commissioner since 2013, announced her resignation Tuesday as speculation swirled that Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis sought to replace her with former House Speaker Richard Corcoran. In a letter to State Board of Education chairwoman Marva Johnson, Stewart said she would return to her original plan to retire on Jan. 8. Read More
How do you tell a teacher who’s got the passion and gets the results, you’re fired? “I’m getting emotional thinking about it right now,” said Emily Mixon, a drama teacher in Escambia County who just learned she won’t be able to return to the classroom next month. “My purpose is to educate. I can’t believe at…
Florida high school students got some unexpected relief Monday as they headed into the state’s annual spring testing season. Those who struggle on certain gatekeeper exams won’t have to race to complete substitute ones before the State Board of Education imposes new rules. Amid rising complaints from educators and families, the Department of Education staff altered its recommendation…
Gov. Rick Scott on Friday announced the reappointments of Marva Johnson and Andy Tuck and the new appointment of Joe York to the State Board of Education. Read More
Florida Supreme Court won’t consider ‘opt out’ lawsuit Jul 17, 12:42 PM EDT TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The Florida Supreme Court won’t take up a case that challenged the right of school districts to hold third-graders back when they score badly on a mandated standardized… READ FULL ARTICLE
The Department of Education today announced that scores on the 2017 statewide, standardized assessments are on the rise and that students narrowed the achievement gap across multiple subjects and grades. Governor Rick Scott said, “Today’s announcement is great news for Florida’s students and demonstrates that Florida’s dedicated teachers coupled with our continued focus on education…