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…

Constitution Revision Commission advances bundled education proposal to November ballot

Despite calls to treat each idea separately, the Florida Constitution Revision Commission has sent a proposal to voters that would set school board member term limits, require civic education in public schools, and allow for the creation of a state charter school authorizer.  Commission member Roberto Martinez, a former State Board of Education chairman and…

Three education ideas in one proposed Florida constitutional amendment earns negative reviews

In the Florida Legislature, the act of lumping several unrelated ideas together in one bill is called logrolling, and it’s generally frowned upon.  In the vicennial Florida Constitution Revision Commission, it’s allowed. And commissioners are taking that liberty on several measures, including three that they’re recommending be combined into one education question (P 6003).  The…

Seventeen amendments on November ballot? Whoa! | Editorial

It’s beginning to look like a long day at the polls Nov. 6. If the Constitution Revision Commission doesn’t come to its senses, there will be 17 amendments on the ballot, an unenviable record. Some of its members worried aloud the other day about “voter fatigue,” as well they should. When there were merely 11…

Voters beware: Don’t be fooled by deceptive education proposal | Guest column

The Constitution Revision Commission is just one step away from finalizing the list of proposed constitutional changes that will go on the November ballot. We’ll soon find out how the “shell game” of packaging proposals into bundles that will be voted up or down plays out.  There are multiple opportunities for subterfuge at this point in…