Florida school recognition funds on their way, Department of Education says

Teachers and other school employees who have long anticipated a bonus from the state’s A-Plus plan shouldn’t have to wait much longer. The money should be delivered to school districts on Tuesday, according to the Florida Department of Education. School grade appeals have been reviewed, and the 2015 grades are now formalized. So the $134.6…

Still waiting for Florida’s 2015 school grades?

The newest Florida school grading formula became official on Tuesday, and state education officials indicated that 2015 school grades based on the formula would follow soon after. Many people expected the results, which will look much like a simulation released in December, on Tuesday concurrent with the new rule taking effect. Thursday morning, however, found school district officials…

A primer on the damaging movement to privatize public schools

Marion Brady is a veteran educator who has long argued that public education needs a paradigm shift. Brady says schools need a complete transformation in what and how students learn — not the Common Core State Standards, standardized tests and other elements of corporate-influenced school reform. Here’s his latest piece, on efforts by some reformers…

Florida Board of Education vice chairman speaks against school grade rule proposal

Florida Board of Education vice chairman John Padget, long a vocal proponent of tougher academic standards, on Monday expressed his disappointment with commissioner Pam Stewart’s proposed school grading rules in a letter to his colleagues. Stewart’s grading simulation, released earlier in December, would allow schools with less than 50 percent of points in the grading…

President Signs ESEA Rewrite, Giving States, Districts Bigger Say on Policy

For the past quarter century, federal education policy has been moving in one direction: toward standards-based education redesign, a greater reliance on standardized tests, and bigger role for Washington when it comes to holding schools accountable for student results. President Barack Obama reversed course with the stroke of a pen Thursday, putting states and districts…