After Parkland, numbers of children hospitalized for mental health care jumped

On the day after the Parkland school shooting, children across Florida were brought to hospitals by police or other authorities to undergo emergency mental health exams — an unusually high number that kept climbing in the days that followed.  On Feb. 27, about two weeks after the Valentine’s Day massacre, 195 children across Florida were…

Constitution Revision Commission attacks public schools, ignores public good | Editorial

The Constitution Revision Commission concluded its agenda last week having squandered most of its rare and precious opportunity. It deserves a harsh judgment from the public in November. The eight amendments it voted to put on the ballot are a mishmash of the good, the bad, and the unnecessary, mostly packaged in ways that deny…

Feds to provide grants to schools enrolling hurricane evacuees

The U.S. Department of Education will move forward with grants to schools in Florida and other states that took in children evacuees from Hurricanes Irma and Maria and then struggled with unexpected costs, U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy‘s office announced Tuesday.  Under legislation Congress pushed through and approved in February, with Murphy’s backing, the department will…

Florida submits revised Every Student Succeeds Act plan

The Florida Department of Education sent in its revised federal school accountability plan Monday, months after the U.S. Education department said multiple revisions were needed.  In its updated version, the state said it had filed for a waiver of certain testing rules for middle school students in science and math, so they do not have to…

Monday Lead Letter: Florida voters should reject amendment on schools

The Florida Constitution Revision Commission has voted to approve ballot language for changes to Article IX of our constitution, relating to public, K-12 education.  Duval voters have good reasons to reject the proposal. Read More

Leon County judge rejects challenge to controversial Florida charter school law

Rejecting arguments of school boards across the state, a Leon County circuit judge this week formally rejected a challenge to a controversial 2017 law that included a series of moves to boost charter schools.  Circuit Judge John Cooper, who had earlier indicated he would turn down the challenge, issued an 18-page ruling Tuesday siding with…

Florida education proposal tagged as Amendment 8 (sound familiar?)

The Florida Constitution Revision’s already controversial education proposal is quickly gaining its own social media tag based on its anticipated spot on the November ballot — #Amendment8.  If that sounds familiar to education advocates across the state, it should. Eight years ago, they waged a heated campaign for a different Amendment 8 also focused on schools.…

Florida a national leader PreK enrollment, but near bottom when it comes to funding

The annual State of Preschool Report, released by the National Institute for Early Education Research Wednesday, found that Florida continues to have among the highest levels of 4-year olds enrolled in public preK programs while at the same time allocating roughly half the national average of per-pupil funding to those programs. Read More

Proposed changes to Florida’s substitute tests would no longer affect current high school students

Florida high school students got some unexpected relief Monday as they headed into the state’s annual spring testing season.  Those who struggle on certain gatekeeper exams won’t have to race to complete substitute ones before the State Board of Education imposes new rules.  Amid rising complaints from educators and families, the Department of Education staff altered its recommendation…