Florida 2016 legislative elections ‘our opportunity,’ FEA president McCall says

Florida Education Association president Joanne McCall has big ambitions for the state’s 2016 legislative elections. Many lawmakers who have been unfriendly to the teacher union’s view of public education will depart, while others face more realistic challenges than they have in the past. It’s a chance, McCall said, to begin changing the complexion of Tallahassee…

Florida lawmakers opt not to change how after-school programs are funded

TALLAHASSEE – How Florida gives state money to organizations that provide after-school care, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Boys & Girls Clubs, won’t change anytime soon. The 2016-17 budget that Gov. Rick Scott signed Thursday maintains a decades-old funding structure that designates money to a handful of prominent organizations — which means an…

FSBA #FridayFive – Week of Mar. 14, 2016

Education funding trial began this week: http://www.chron.com/news/article/Failing-grade-Trial-over-Florida-s-schools-6889498.php Prayer at School Board Meetings issue now in U.S. District Court of Appeals: http://www.dailybulletin.com/social-affairs/20160304/chino-valley-unified-to-appeal-ruling-on-praying Concerns raised about school mock elections this year: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/farina-worried-bullying-schools-hold-mock-election-article-1.2567081 John B. King confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Education: http://time.com/4258604/senate-confirm-education-secretary/ Teen inventors from Intel’s Science Talent Search: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/education/wp/2016/03/16/meet-the-teen-who-just-won-150000-for-inventing-a-device-to-diagnose-lung-disease/