Florida law governing the tax credit scholarship program gives vouchers to low-income families to use as tuition for their children in private schools but does not adequately protect the rights of English Language Learners (ELLs), shortchanging Latino students and other groups learning English as an additional language from receiving proper instruction. This flaw in Florida…
BUDGET UPDATE — ACTION REQUESTED Last night, the Senate presented their second counter-offer that would have cleared several remaining differences between the House and Senate education budgets. This Senate offer was contingent upon the House’s agreement to certain stipulations in the offer. However, when the House returned later in the evening with their responding 3rd…
A Senate panel revived the proposed expansion of the school voucher program. But it did not give a second chance to the immigrant tuition proposal. By Kathleen McGrory Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau TALLAHASSEE — A Senate committee used a procedural maneuver Tuesday to put a controversial school voucher bill back in play. But the committee refused…
Thousands of students couldn’t take FCAT online on Tuesday, as problems with the testing company’s website prevented students from logging in. The glitch with the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test affected districts around Florida, including Orange and Seminole county schools. Orange County suspended testing for about 12,000 sixth, seventh, ninth and 10th graders, who were to…
TODAY’S HAPPENINGS In the Senate Session: Bills on 3rd Reading SB 160 – Food Distributed Free of Charge by Bullard – READ 3RD TIME; SUBSTITUTED FOR HB 23; SB 160 LAID ON THE TABLE HB 23 – Food Distributed Free of Charge by Rogers – READ 2ND TIME; SUBSTITUTED FOR SB 160; READ 3RD TIME;…
Schools are suspending today’s FCAT testing because some school districts are having computer issues. The Florida Department of Education says the problem is with testing firm Pearson. The problem is not statewide, they said, but they’ve advised districts having issues to suspend testing. The Tampa Bay Times reports Pasco County schools have stopped testing. Pasco County schools’…
Monday (4-21-2014) we told you about activists who are educating parents about what their options are when it comes to FCAT exams. While state law doesn’t allow parents to withhold their children from the exam, the law does outline alternatives to required tests. But opting out might still come with some consequences. A parent forwarded…
BUDGET ALERT – YOUR ACTION REQUESTED The Education Budget Conference Committee held its first meeting last night. The House presented its first offer on the education budget and budget proviso language. Elements of the House offer, coupled with adjustments to align the budget with approved allocations and with adjustments to align with the 4th Calculation…
A coalition of groups opposing Florida’s use of new math and language arts standards say they will try to force the Legislature to call a special session to address two bills which would put the standards on hold. The gambit is a long shot. Twenty percent of the Legislature must call for the special session,…
BUDGET UPDATE The House announced their budget conferees today and the first organizational meeting was held this evening. House members that will serve on the Education Budget Conference Committee are Representatives Erik Fresen (chair), Janet Adkins, Larry Ahern, Gwyndolen Clarke-Reed, Karen Castor Dentel, Heather Fitzenhagen, Jeanette Nunez, Keith Perry, Jake Raburn, Betty Reed, Charlie Stone,…