Bill to arm Florida teachers passes first committee along party lines

A bill that would allow Florida’s teachers to carry guns in schools passed its first committee along party lines Tuesday, setting up what could be one of the most heated debates of the 2019 legislative session.  Senate Bill 7030 expands the “Guardian” program created by last year’s post-Parkland bill, by which school staff can volunteer…

FSBA Session Spotlight – February 8, 2019

Governor DeSantis released his 2019-2020 state budget recommendations on Friday, February 1.  As a result, most of this week’s Legislative Interim Committee Meetings provided presentations on funding and policies outlined in in governor’s budget.  In addition to presentations and discussion of budget issues, legislative committees/subcommittees considered several bills of interest including, among others, bills relating to…

FSBA Friday Five – February 8, 2019

Each week, Executive Director Andrea Messina selects 5 Things You Should Know in education news.  Read. Learn. Share. Retweet. Designing for the Spectrum/Autism-friendly education design Why are schools not providing more real-world ways to teach young people traditional subjects? Elementary students participate in Amazing Shake to teach soft skills  Citizenship in the digital age, an…

Ron DeSantis proposes record $91.3 billion budget, more spending on students

Gov. Ron DeSantis is proposing a boost in per-student spending, an overhaul in how the state rewards teachers, improvements to the state’s aging transportation network and more money to save the Everglades in a record budget proposal announced Friday.  DeSantis’ $91.3 billion proposed budget, dubbed “Bold Vision for a Brighter Future”, is the largest ever…

DeSantis takes aim at Common Core in executive order

Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to create new state curriculum standards that would eliminate “the vestiges of Common Core,” he announced in Cape Coral on Thursday.  “We stuck with Common Core then we re-branded it … it’s all the same. It all needs to be looked at, it all needs to be scrutinized,” DeSantis said during…

DeSantis issues executive order on workforce education, requests millions for technical programs

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Wednesday that he is challenging Florida to go from No. 24 to No. 1 in the nation for its workforce and technical training programs by 2030, and issued an executive order he said would be the first step to achieving that goal.  “We have too many folks who are not prepared…

DeSantis weighs in on school safety, supports letting trained school employees carry guns

With a state commission saying classroom teachers should be allowed to be armed “guardians,” Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday backed the possibility of more school employees being able to carry guns — while also calling for other steps to avoid mass shootings.  DeSantis told reporters that his upcoming budget proposal will include money for school security…

Florida bill would allow schools to teach alternatives to evolution, climate change

Florida could teach alternatives to evolution and man-made climate change if a new bill passes the state legislature. State Senator Dennis Baxley, a Republican from Ocala, filed Senate Bill 330, which adds a provision to state science standards requiring schools to teach controversial theories in a factual, objective and balanced manner. Read More