Faculty and staff at Florida’s K-12 schools will receive training on how to recognize and assist students with emotional or mental health difficulties. It’s thanks to a new $2.2-million dollar grant awarded to USF St. Petersburg’s College of Education. Read More
Status of up to seven Nov. 6 measures uncertain as ballot-mailing deadline nears
Legal challenges to at least three and, perhaps, seven of the 13 proposed Constitutional amendments Florida voters will see Nov. 6 remain unresolved as the deadline for mailing ballots to out-of-state voters draws near. The Florida Supreme Court has scheduled two hearings Wednesday – one day after the deadline to set ballots for mailing by Sept. […]
Commentary: FEA: Florida must stop chasing away good teachers
For a parent, it’s a basic question: Is a professional, well-prepared teacher working with my kids? Increasingly, the answer may be no in Florida’s public schools. Headlines this summer have made clear that we have a shortage of teachers. The Orlando Sentinel found nearly 70 teaching jobs posted for the Lake, Orange and Seminole districts […]
Florida, schools getting $95.8 million for Puerto Rico students
Florida and county school districts are receiving $95.8 million in federal reimbursements to cover costs of taking in thousands of students from Puerto Rico who fled the island for Florida after Hurricane Maria last year, the office of U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy announced Tuesday. Under the plan, Florida will retain $47.7 million and distribute another […]
Bucking allies, school choice group favors IRS proposal on tax credits
A Florida-based advocacy group that pushes Georgia and other states to help fund private schools so more children can attend them is breaking ranks with allies over a controversial proposed federal tax rule. The proposal by the U.S. Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service would limit or eliminate the federal tax break for donors in state […]
Florida athletics board works to keep sports fair but growing
As the high school football season kicks off, the governing board for all high school sports is gearing up as well, and is expected soon to take up sweeping changes that could affect post-season championships in basketball, baseball, softball and soccer. Read More
Florida School Boards Association works on legislative priorities
After a tough legislative session, in which school districts received little new funding without strings attached, the Florida School Boards Association is looking to ask lawmakers for increased support in the coming year. School board members are holding out hope that new leadership will be more receptive to increased funding with fewer restrictions. The Florida […]
Former lawmakers urge voters to reject all 8 CRC amendments
Four former lawmakers stood in front of the Great Seal of the State of Florida Tuesday and called on voters to reject the Constitution Revision Commission’s eight proposed amendments, including six that bundle disparate issues. Read More
Gov. Scott Calls on Legislature to Redirect $58 Million for Additional School Security
At Governor Scott’s direction, the Florida Department of Education submitted a proposal today to the Florida Legislature to redirect $58 million of unused funding from the Coach Aaron Feis Guardian Program to school districts for additional school security. Read More
Civil Rights Groups Weigh In On Florida’s Delayed ESSA Plan
Florida remains the only state that hasn’t received approval of a federally mandated education plan. Now, civil rights groups are weighing in on the delay. The Every Student Succeeds Act gives states latitude in creating systems for measuring student success, but they still have to be accepted by the U.S. Department of Education. Read More