SPECIAL ELECTION IN HOUSE DISTRICT 64 According to unofficial election returns, James Grant (R-Tampa) was re-elected today in a special election held in House District 64. Although it appeared that Representative Grant had been re-elected in the November General Election, a legal controversy arose over whether the write-in candidate in this race was eligible to…
TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Lottery today announced a new milestone of $28 billion in transfers to the state’s Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF) since opening its doors in 1988. In fiscal year 2013-14, the Lottery achieved record sales resulting in the transfer of $1.49 billion to Florida’s students and schools. The Lottery is currently on…
Glitches plagued the Florida Standards Assessment test statewide again on Monday, caused by a technical mistake by the test creator and vendor. Middle and high school students in Sarasota and Manatee counties were among those unable to log into the state testing portal on Monday morning, and testing was postponed. Previously scheduled afternoon testing went…
“Ethics in government” might strike some people as an oxymoron. But it’s a serious subject, it’s back before the Legislature, and ethics watchdogs like what they see. Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, is the main sponsor of an ethics bill (SB 1372) that passed the Senate Rules Committee on Monday. The bill includes these changes: •…
Florida Department of Education Commissioner Pam Stewart says school districts can resume scheduled tests. The department is blaming testing administrator the American Institutes for Research, for outages that stopped testing Monday. In a statement, Florida Education Commissioner Pam Stewart said AIR made a technical change to its system that resulted in login problems when students…
MANATEE — After a technical glitch caused statewide outages early Monday, standardized testing started hours later in Manatee County schools. In a conference call with the state Department of Education and Commissioner Pam Stewart, every district across the state was told it had regained access to testing, “We have confirmed that the login issue has…
FSBA LEGISLATIVE VIDEO UPDATE #7 Our Video Update for the 7th week of the 2015 Legislative Session has been posted on the FSBA website at www.fsba.org – you may access the video by clicking on the link to 2015 Legislative Session Video Update 7 under “Legislative Session Updates” (located below the pictures on our main page)…
NAPLES, Fla. – Collier County Public Schools announced Monday morning that all Florida Standards Assessment testing has been canceled because of a state computer issue preventing students from logging on. Lee County encountered the same issues, according to Jennifer DeShazo of the district’s communications office, and Florida Education Commissioner Pam Stewart in a conference call…
Florida’s computerized testing system ran into a new round of problems Monday, following a trouble-free week that had officials optimistic the system was on solid footing. Districts across the state reported that students were unable to begin taking their Florida Standards Assessments in language arts and math on Monday morning. The Florida Department of Education…
This Video Update features FSBA Interim Executive Director Bill Graham discussing how the current state budget impasse impacts school districts and proposed legislation relating to hazardous walking conditions — HB 41 & SB 154. In addition, FSBA Director of Board Development Andrea Messina discusses proposed legislation relating to government accountability — HB 1063 &…