School leaders urge Trump to uphold protections for ‘dreamers’

Robert Runcie came to this country at age six from Jamaica, the son of parents with a third grade education.  Today he’s superintendent of the Broward County School District, a large system at the forefront of efforts to celebrate the cultural diversity of its students.  On Wednesday, he added his voice to a chorus of…

Civil Rights Groups Mobilize to Block Florida’s ESSA Waiver Request

A national coalition of civil rights groups want U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to reject Florida’s soon-to-arrive waiver request that will ask to be relieved from key pieces of the Every Student Succeeds Act dealing with the nation’s most vulnerable and historically disadvantaged students.  Approving Florida’s request, activists say, will set a disturbing precedent…

Florida Council of 100 Releases PreK-3 Recommendations 

The Florida Council of 100 has released The Horizons 2040 Project: PreK-3 recommendations.  These recommendations come as part of a long-term vision for education in Florida, and they will be followed in months and years to come with additional recommendations at Grades 4-8 and 9-12. Prior to the public release, the Council met with the…

Florida students make significant improvement on statewide assessments

The Department of Education today announced that scores on the 2017 statewide, standardized assessments are on the rise and that students narrowed the achievement gap across multiple subjects and grades.  Governor Rick Scott said, “Today’s announcement is great news for Florida’s students and demonstrates that Florida’s dedicated teachers coupled with our continued focus on education…

Letters to the Editor: Every child has a place in our schools

In the midst of change, redirection and refocus there is one goal that remains immutable, and that is protecting the safety, well-being, and future of children. Recent federal action affecting immigration policy has generated vigorous debate and civil unrest across the nation. Additionally, there is a sense of fear and anxiety in the hearts of…

FDOE Memo: Every Student Succeeds Act Update

The United States Department of Education regulations for accountability, state plans and data reporting were released November 29, 2016, effective January 30, 2017. Of note, the state plan due dates are pushed back to either April 3 or September 18, 2017. The timeline for school improvement decisions based on the accountability system is moved back…

Every Student Succeeds Act: Summary of Final Regulations

High-quality assessments are essential to effectively educating students, measuring progress, and promoting equity. Done well and thoughtfully, they provide critical information for educators, families, the public, and students themselves and create the basis for improving outcomes for all learners. Done poorly, in excess, or without clear purpose, however, they take valuable time away from teaching…

Education Department Releases Final Regulations to Promote a High-Quality, Well-Rounded Education and Support All Students

After considering and incorporating extensive feedback from stakeholders across the education system and the public, the U.S. Department of Education today announced final regulations to implement the accountability, data reporting, and state plan provisions of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), with a focus on supporting states in using their flexibility to provide a high-quality,…

U.S. Department of Education Releases Guidance on English Learners

The U.S. Department of Education today released non-regulatory guidance to help states, districts and schools provide effective services to improve the English language proficiency and academic achievement of English learners (ELs) through Title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The guidance is an…