Concern over tax-sharing plan doesn’t die with end of Florida legislative session

Many controversial education-related proposals died with the abrupt end of the Florida Legislature’s spring session. Some, however, live on as the chambers prepare to negotiate the 2015-16 budget during a June special session. Among the most troubling to school district leaders is a proposal to require districts to share a portion of their local tax…

Taxpayers and charter schools

School choice in the form of charter schools offers parents good options for their children’s education. But corporate welfare in the form of taxpayer-funded construction of private facilities is another matter entirely. Once again, the Legislature is on track to favor charters over public schools, with the House considering diverting tens of millions of dollars…

Florida House pushes school uniforms, class size changes

TALLAHASSEE, FLA.  Florida legislators on Friday endorsed a line of changes for the state’s public schools, including easing class size penalties for school districts and encouraging students to start wearing uniforms. The Florida House passed several education bills, including one that would let privately-run but publicly-funded charter schools tap into local property taxes to pay…

Amendment Would Give Charter Schools A Share of School Construction Money

School districts would have to share local school construction and maintenance money with charter schools, according to an amendment filed by an influential state senator. Sen. Don Gaetz, former Senate president, filed the amendment Tuesday. The amendment would require half of the money raised by an optional local property tax to be split between charter…

Charter school, choice legislation likely to move in Florida Legislature this session

For two years, the Florida Senate squashed House attempts to revise the state’s charter school laws. The 2015 session looks quite different. Senate Education Committee chairman John Legg, who operates a Pasco County charter school, this week filed a bill (SB 1448) that adopts the language of a House Choice and Innovation proposed committee bill on…