Florida Gov. Scott should veto the misbegotten K-12 education budget. Turn a deaf ear to his political foes’ contention that in doing so he would be caving in to (liberal) teacher’s unions. Swat down fantastical tales of overly larded public-school budgets. Decry, resolutely, the appallingly secretive deal-making between legislative leaders that, ultimately, leaves public schools…
When Florida began its voluntary prekindergarten program, the criticisms began that it aimed to serve many youngsters but with little quality. It’s been 15 years since voters put the system in place, and the reviews have yet to change. In a report released Wednesday, the National Institute for Early Education Research found Florida second of…
Two days after calling for a veto of the Legislature’s education conforming bill, the Florida Association of School Boards upped the ante by asking Gov. Rick Scott to reject the proposed Florida Education Funding Program as well. The group’s executive director and president sent the governor a two-page letter echoing concerns about the spending plan…
The chorus of voices calling for Gov. Rick Scott to veto a controversial education bill — and perhaps part of the state budget for public schools — grew this week, even as supporters tried to push back. Two of the state’s major education organizations — the Florida School Boards Association and the Florida Association of…
Florida has two groups advocating on behalf of school boards, and they are not always asking for the same things. They disagreed on vouchers — in fact, the Florida Coalition of School Board members split from the larger, more established Florida School Boards Association over that issue — and now they disagree over the 278-page HB…
Add the Florida School Boards Association to the growing list of groups calling for a veto of HB 7069, the mammoth $419 million K-12 public schools bill Republican lawmakers unveiled and passed in the final days of their annual session. In a letter to Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday, the FSBA — which represents 64…
The state Department of Education and school districts are asking the Florida Supreme Court to reject an appeal in a case filed by parents opposed to standardized tests — an issue that involves what is known as the “opt out” movement. The dispute stems from parents who told third-grade students to put their names on…
The Legislature adjourned the 2017 Legislative Session, sine die, shortly before 9:00 pm this evening having passed each of the budget Conference Reports and tax cut package. As expected, HB 7069 was the only education related Conference Report that generated significant debate, particularly in the Senate. The bill passed the House by an essentially party…
A swift outcry of condemnation came over the weekend from many parents, teachers and school administrators who want the Florida Legislature to reject a $419 million, 278-page K-12 public schools bill — which was decided behind closed doors, which lawmakers cannot change and which they’ll have had only about 72 hours to review when they…
The Legislature will return to work tomorrow — Monday — for the last day of the extended 2017 Legislative Session. The only items that are scheduled to be considered are a bill outlining the state tax cut package (HB 7109) and the Conference Reports on the budget, budget implementing bill, and the related conforming bills. …