Stage is set for a big court battle over Florida’s funding of charter schools

The legal war has officially begun over a highly controversial, charter school-friendly education law Republican state lawmakers pushed through last spring.  Palm Beach County School Board members filed a lawsuit this week challenging the constitutionality of one part of House Bill 7069. Another, potentially more far-reaching lawsuit with the backing of at least 14 other school…

FSBA #FridayFive – September 29, 2017

  5 Things You Should Know in Education News Click below to read Executive Director Andrea Messina’s top picks for this week’s education news. Read. Learn. Share. Retweet. 1. Think traditional public schools are short on choice?  Think again:  READ ABOUT IT 2. Innovative school model-NY’s  Portfolio School: READ ABOUT IT 3. Understanding the impacts of the “word…

U.S. Department of Education Announces Hurricane Flexibility Guidance

As part of its ongoing work to aid hurricane relief efforts, today the Department of Education released new non-regulatory guidance to help Department grantees and program participants remove barriers to restoring teaching and learning environments and to expediting the recovery process for all those impacted by the recent hurricanes. Read More  

FSBA #FridayFive – September 15, 2017

  Click below to read Executive Director Andrea Messina’s top picks for this week’s education news. Read. Learn. Share. Retweet. 1. 29% of teens report cheating use on electronic devices:: READ ABOUT IT 2. Look at what the competition is doing: READ ABOUT IT 3. A fascinating look at “digital distress” or, lack of broadband availability in neighborhoods:   READ…

Irma delays financial aid selection for Florida’s struggling schools

Some of Florida’s lowest-performing traditional public schools will have to wait a bit longer to find out if they’ll be among the 25 schools that will get financial help through a new state program called “Schools of Hope.”  The State Board of Education was supposed to meet in Tallahassee on Wednesday to select the recipients…

Irma may affect voices of Florida taxpayers

Hurricane Irma could delay some Florida taxpayers’ voices from being heard.  It’s an unavoidable case of timing. The powerful hurricane bore down on the state as cities, counties, school boards and other taxing bodies were scheduling two public hearings required by law before they can set property tax rates for the new fiscal year. Read…

Across Florida, Schools Transform Into Shelters To Save Those In Hurricane Irma’s Crosshairs

A makeshift sign hanging from a fence outside of New Renaissance Middle School warned residents seeking last minute shelter from Hurricane Irma that the school’s gym had reached its capacity and couldn’t accept any more people. Outside, nearly 160 cars filled the school’s main parking lot. Inside, hundreds of people had gathered. Read More