Florida Department of Education officials are looking for ways to funnel more money to the state’s aging schools and their growing backlog of deferred maintenance and repairs. On Thursday, they proposed a new formula for doling out money from the Public Education Capital Outlay fund, known as PECO. Read full article
The Florida Board of Education on Friday approved a budget request for the coming fiscal year that would funnel $20.9 billion in state and local tax dollars through the main formula for funding public education. The proposal, which would mark an increase of $721.6 million from the current year, now heads to Gov. Rick Scott…
The Florida Board of Education on Friday backed a budget plan that would eliminate funding for the state’s controversial two-year-old Best and Brightest bonus, which rewards teachers based on their job evaluations and their SAT or ACT scores. Read full article
Education Week is reporting that former Florida education commissioner Gerard Robinson, who resigned his post under pressure after just one year, will lead Donald Trump’s education transition team. Read full article
As the Commissioner of Education for Florida, I appreciate the flexibility afforded states by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) to establish a workable, student-centric system of statewide accountability focused on increasing student achievement. The accountability mechanisms established under ESSA are comprehensive and considered. Read full commentary
FSBA #FridayFive – 5 Things You Should Know Each week, Executive Director, Andrea Messina, compiles a top 5 list of news stories that School Board Members should know about: Website Development School To Open In Wyoming More states sue over transgender bathroom directive Florida parents crowd funding fight against third grade retention What’s good in public…
FT. WALTON BEACH, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – The Florida Commissioner of Education recognized two hospitals in Okaloosa County for their contributions to the school district’s science, technology, electronics, mathematics and medicine (STEMM) programs. Okaloosa School District Superintendent Mary Beth Jackson presented a plaque to Fort Walton Beach Medical Center and Twin Cities Hospital representatives on behalf…
Annual school grades were just part of the latest data released Friday by the Florida Department of Education Less noticed, but also with their own impact, school districts grades came out, along with the list of lowest performing elementary schools. Those schools have to offer an extra hour of daily reading instruction. More than half…
TAMPA — Statewide scores on the Florida Standards Assessment showed modest gains this year, the Florida Department of Education said Friday as it released a large batch of results. Closer to home, there were gains and losses in the Tampa Bay area. Pinellas math scores were up. Hillsborough students dropped a bit in English. And…
At the end of the day Friday, Florida students will have completed the 2016 state testing season. “We hold our breath through the entire situation,” education commissioner Pam Stewart told the State Board of Education. But “this year’s test administration has been very successful.” Last spring, the Florida Standards Assessments and other state exams were…