UPDATE: Governor Issues EO-01 DOE Testing, Accountability Discussed During Senate Committee (February 15)

Today, Governor Ron DeSantis and Commissioner Richard Corcoran issued 2021-E0-01: WAIVING STRICT ADHERENCE TO THE FLORIDA EDUCATION CODE, AS SPECIFIED HEREIN, PURSUANT TO EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 20-52, MADE NECESSARY BY THE COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.  The order suspends portions of section 1008.22(7), F.S., to modify spring 2021 testing windows and extend the release of assessment…

Teacher bonus repeal, stalled in House, teed up for first Senate panel

Repeal of a controversial teacher bonus program is on a Senate committee agenda Monday.  SB 486, filed by Sen. Rob Bradley, would repeal the teacher bonus program known as “Best and the Brightest.”  The bill, to be considered by the Education Committee, would fully remove the sections of Florida law defining the program and strike it out…

FSBA Session Spotlight – December 9, 2019

The Legislature will hold a sixth, and final, round of Interim Committee Meetings this week to lay more groundwork for the 2020 Legislative Session that will convene on January 14, 2020.  Several committees/subcommittees will consider bills addressing topics of interest including, among others, health and safety, curriculum, personnel issues, and school choice options.  In addition,…

Manny Diaz bill floats lowering governor’s proposed starting teacher salary

Sen. Manny Diaz, a Hialeah Republican, is putting forward his “starting point” pitch on Gov. Ron DeSantis‘ proposal to raise teacher salaries in the state.  But that bill may also divert from the Governor’s goals, detailed in his October announcement, by potentially requiring DeSantis to back off his proposed salary floor. Read More

FSBA Session Spotlight — Governor DeSantis’ Budget Recommendation

State law requires the governor to release his/her state budget recommendations at least 30 days before the opening of the legislative session.  Governor DeSantis unveiled his state budget recommendation on Monday with time to spare.  It is important to keep in mind that the governor’s budget recommendation is exactly that:  a recommendation.  It is the…

DeSantis’ budget: $1 billion on teacher pay, millions for elections security

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday proposed a record $91.4 billion state budget for the next fiscal year, including spending an additional $1 billion on teacher raises.  The proposed budget is more than $400 million higher than the current year and includes plans to spend millions to protect the state’s elections systems and hire hundreds of new…

FSBA Session Spotlight — November 15, 2019

The Legislature held a 5th week of Interim Committee Meetings this week.  Several bills and topics of interest were considered, including funding, health and safety, public records, and ethics.  The outcome of the legislative meetings of interest is provided in the first file below.  In addition, updates on several federal issues are provided in the…

Ron DeSantis seeks tier-based Best and Brightest replacement

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday a plan to replace the Best and Brightest bonus program to reward teachers and principals with tier-based systems.  DeSantis, joined by Department of Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran in Vero Beach, called for $300 million in teacher and principal bonuses in the Florida Classroom Teacher and Florida School Principal Bonus programs. Read More