Florida school districts learn how much state money they’ll get for construction, maintenance

They said it wouldn’t come close to being enough. Florida school district leaders fought during the 2017 legislative session for permission to increase their local tax rate for capital project funding, anticipating they would have to share with charter schools, knowing they had more projects than revenue, understanding the state’s portion had been low for…

Fifty Florida schools apply for ‘Schools of Hope’ grant

Mor than half of the Florida traditional public schools eligible to vie for newly minted “Schools of Hope” grants submitted applications by Tuesday’s deadline, the Florida Department of Education reported.  The program was a late add-on to a House proposal that set aside millions of dollars to support the creation of new charter schools to…

State: Each school district must review teachers’ eligibility for ‘Best & Brightest’ bonuses

The Florida Department of Education says it will be up to each of the state’s 67 county school districts to determine which of their local teachers is eligible for the state “Best and Brightest” bonus program that lawmakers revamped as part of a massive education law that took effect this summer.  Hershel Lyons, Florida’s chancellor…

Betsy DeVos Says School Vouchers Are Part of Tax Overhaul Discussions

More than a third of U.S. states have created school voucher programs that bypass thorny constitutional and political issues by turning them over to nonprofits that rely primarily on businesses to fund them. But the programs are raising questions about transparency and accountability at a time when supporters are urging that they be expanded into…

Miami-Dade school district agrees to join suit over controversial state education law

Miami-Dade joined a growing number of school districts challenging the constitutionality of Florida’s sweeping new education law.  At a School Board meeting on Wednesday, board members voted 8 to 1 to join litigation seeking to overturn portions of a bill some critics say was designed to boost the fortunes of the politically powerful charter school…

FL schools trying to figure out medical marijuana

A new school year brings new challenges, and one of them is how to deal with students who may have a medical marijuana prescription.  Ten months ago today, 71 percent of Florida’s voters said yes on Amendment 2. Governor Rick Scott signed the legislation June 23rd.  Still, Florida’s 67 school districts haven’t decided how to…