Florida School Boards Association
No matter what you’ve read or heard about the importance of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education in Florida’s schools, the reality is that it’s been a tough six years for the idea that every Florida K-12 student should be scientifically literate. The science literacy cause reached its highest point on Feb. 19, 2008…
Bill Gates knows a thing or two about product development. So when the Microsoft billionaire’s foundation recommends that states wait at least two years before assigning high-stakes consequences to new Common Core State Standards testing schemes, Tallahassee should listen. Maintaining Florida’s already discredited school grading scheme simply for continuity’s sake makes no sense. A change…
TALLAHASSEE — Parent and teacher groups are turning the pressure up on Gov. Rick Scott to veto a proposed expansion of the state school voucher program. Members of the Florida PTA, grassroots parent groups, the Florida Conference of NAACP, the League of United Latin American Citizens and the statewide teachers union have launched a campaign…
In this edition of The Sunshine Economy: The school year may be over, but the next chapter in public education begins in less than three months: Common Core State Standards. However, Florida public school kids won’t follow Common Core, at least not in name. The state has dubbed the standards “Florida Standards.” Still, the principles…
We are excited to launch the new FSBA App. Now FSBA members can get real-time education news, training materials and conference agendas on the go — all to further FBSA’s mission and increase student achievement through the development of effective school board leadership and advocacy for public education. Here are 12 reasons why you should download the new…
The pair of education advocates had a big idea, a new approach to transform every public-school classroom in America. By early 2008, many of the nation’s top politicians and education leaders had lined up in support. But that wasn’t enough. The duo needed money — tens of millions of dollars, at least — and they…
A new Education Week report analyzing graduation rates shows that Florida remains among the lowest states in getting teens through high school, with a 75 percent rate for 2012 compared to 81 percent nationally. That places Florida 43rd, along with Alabama and better than Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, South Carolina and the District…
Learning disabled students can get up to $19,829 of taxpayer money each year to attend private school if they choose – but there is no state accountability to ensure the kids’ needs are being met. The law that created the vouchers does not require private schools to have anyone on staff with any sort of…
More than 200 seniors at the former “dropout factory” known as Miami Jackson Senior High School were about to walk across a stage and become high school graduates. For student leaders, it was a moment to talk about memories and all they had yet to accomplish. But Principal Carlos Rios used his speech to celebrate…
Two articles crossed my desk today regarding violation of open meeting laws. The first article http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-grand-jury-xway-20140604,0,7022859.story involves Grand Jury indictments handed down to three public officials in Orlando for violation of Florida’s public meeting law. The second article, http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/education/2014/05/28/kings-lawsuit/9681795/, cites improper public notice for a meeting by the board majority when they held a special…