2014 Legislative Session Video Update #8

In the last Video Update for this Legislative Session, Dr. Wayne Blanton discusses the highlights of the education budget and the status of key bills that have passed, failed, or are still in play.  Dr. Blanton noted that SB 1642relating to the transition to new state standards and assessments and SB 864 relating to adoption…

Voucher bill slated for Senate vote as education advocacy groups urge defeat

A bill that expands Florida’s Tax-Credit Scholarship program — which provides kids from low-income families scholarship vouchers they use to attend private school — likely will get a vote today in the Florida Senate. A collection of advocacy groups, including the Florida PTA and Orlando-based Fund Education Now, is urging a “no” vote, arguing the program diverts public money to private schools…

FSBA Daily Updates: Legislative Session 05-01-2014

TODAY’S HAPPENINGS In the Senate Session: Bills on 2nd Reading SB 1512 – Education / Scholarship Programs by Stargel – READ 2ND TIME; RETAINED ON CALENDAR Authorizing the Auditor General to conduct audits of the accounts and records of nonprofit scholarship-funding organizations; establishing the Florida Personal Learning Scholarship Accounts; revising eligibility requirements for the Florida…

Do school ‘reformers’ really believe in accountability? Let’s look at Florida.

Education policymakers today insist that teachers, principals and schools must be “held accountable.” You would assume, then, that they would take every opportunity to ensure that all students who are educated with public money take the all-important standardized  tests that are used as the chief accountability metric and that can determine how much educators are…

FSBA Daily Updates: Legislative Session 04-29-2014

TODAY’S HAPPENINGS In the Senate Session: Bills on 2nd Reading SB 790 – Education Technology by Legg – TEMPORARILY POSTPONED ON 2ND READING Providing the purpose for the Florida digital classrooms allocation; requiring the State Board of Education to adopt a Florida digital classrooms plan that establishes certain protocols, parameters, requirements, and digital tools; repealing…