Finland’s classrooms are very different from America’s — far more permissive, with less of an emphasis on academics. There are no standardized tests until high school, and children get 15 minutes of recess in between lessons — more than an hour of recess a day. “Play is important,” one Finnish teacher told the Smithsonian magazine. “We value play.” Yet Finnish kids always get…
TALLAHASSEE — Kameela Russell’s daughter acted out at her neighborhood school, Madie Ives Elementary in northeast Miami-Dade. But she excelled after transferring to the top-ranked Lakeside Elementary in Broward County. Most parents would not have been able to move their child to a public school in another county. Russell could because she was a teacher…
When it comes to spending on classroom technology, the Florida Senate has led the charge in recent years. Senate Education Committee chairman John Legg has held symposiums and school tours, aimed at drumming up support for more money for digital instruction. The effort landed $40 million last year. But when the Senate’s education budget proposal…
FSBA LEGISLATIVE VIDEO UPDATE #3 Our Video Update for the 3nd 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 3 under “Legislative Session Updates” (located below the pictures on our main page)…
This Video Update features FSBA Interim Director Bill Graham providing a quick recap of some of the major education bills that were considered last week, including the House version of the Assessment and Accountability bill — HB 7069 — which has passed the House and is now awaiting consideration in the Senate. In addition, this video…
EDUCATION BUDGET UPDATE We have gotten our first look at the House and Senate budget proposals for K-12 public schools. Few details are available as yet, but we can provide a quick overview of where things stand at the moment. Both budget proposals increase overall funding for K-12 by about $750 million — about a 4%…
A day after the Florida House unanimously backed a bill to reduce state-mandated student testing, the Senate took a whack at the hotly debated topic. The measure that emerged Thursday from the Senate Education Appropriations subcommittee (SB 616) included the same goal of reducing the state’s emphasis on tests. But it differed from the House…
One week after clearing two education panels, the full state House got its first glimpse at a proposal to reduce the number of tests Florida public school students take each year. House Bill 7069 appears to have broad support, clearing both House education panels unanimously last week. On Tuesday, House members were given a chance…
In the House Local Government Affairs Subcommittee: HB 383 – Private Property Rights by Edwards – AMENDED AND PASSED WITH A COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE (CS) Provides that settlement agreements between owners & governmental entities apply if issues are resolved; creates cause of action for damages caused by unconstitutional exaction of property in this state; authorizes award…
TAMPA — Semiretired builder Jerry Tetro put a son through the University of Florida on a prepaid college plan a dozen years ago. Now, the grandkids stand to benefit from the same program. “To me, it makes a heck of a lot of sense,” said Tetro, from the Seminole. “It’s a great program.” The grandchildren…