Between now and August 18, 2016, the U. S. Department of Education is collecting input from stakeholders on the educational and technical assistance needs of states and school districts. The input received will inform priorities for the next grant cycle of Regional Educational Laboratories as part of the Comprehensive Centers program. Read full article
As Florida Lottery Lotto jackpot winners grab millions, more than a billion dollars a year goes to fund K-12, college and university education statewide. But, for local school districts, lottery proceeds are a very small portion of their overall budget, and that source has been declining. Read full article
Most school districts around the state are struggling to pay for basic maintenance of their aging schools. Money is so tight that some districts are merely patching old leaking roofs and repairing aging equipment instead of replacing it. The main reason for the capital fund shortage is that the state Legislature reduced a school capital…
Despite a topsy-turvy year in the world financial markets, Florida’s $142 billion pension fund managed to show a gain for the seventh straight year. Ash Williams, executive director of the State Board of Administration, which manages the fund, told Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet on Tuesday that the fund ended the state fiscal year…
Reversing a five-year trend, Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet on Tuesday unanimously agreed to borrow $285 million over the next few years to build and maintain facilities for state universities, colleges, and public schools. Read full article
Although the likes of Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg have enjoyed wild success as college dropouts, post-secondary education remains the traditional route to professional and financial success for many Americans. Consider the median incomes for workers aged 25 and older in 2015. Those with a bachelor’s degree earned 68 percent more than those with only…
FSBA #FridayFive – 5 Things You Need to Know Certification programs as a way to engage students during the summer Florida TaxWatch report Illinois shifts from PARCC to SAT Nebraska replaces state test with SAT or ACT Communicating with your Congressional Delegation during recess
FSBA #FridayFive – 5 Things You Should Know Each week, Executive Director, Andrea Messina, compiles a top 5 list of news stories that School Board Members should know about: Website Development School To Open In Wyoming More states sue over transgender bathroom directive Florida parents crowd funding fight against third grade retention What’s good in public…
By Moriah Balingit July 8 Ten additional states are suing the Obama administration to stop a directive that requires schools to allow transgender students to use bathrooms aligned with their gender identity under the threat of losing federal funding, bringing the total number of states challenging the guidance to 21. Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson…
Although Florida House Republicans annually call for overhauling the Florida Retirement System used by about 1 million active and retired public employees, a new study says it’s one of the most solvent funds in the nation. Pew Charitable Trusts’ Fiscal 50 report released Tuesday shows that the low level of Florida’s debt and unfunded employee…