Florida School Boards Association
The early end to this year’s legislative session, without an approved budget, has put Florida school district leaders on edge. Even in normal circumstances, school boards often struggle to craft spending plans largely dictated by state funding formulas. This year, they face the task without any hard numbers as a starting point. Broward County Superintendent…
The early end to this year’s legislative session, without an approved budget, has put Florida school district leaders on edge. Even in normal circumstances, school boards often struggle to craft spending plans largely dictated by state funding formulas. This year, they face the task without any hard numbers as a starting point. “It’s exceedingly difficult,”…
TALLAHASSEE — Blaming the federal government for Florida’s financial woes, Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday said he was prepared to call Florida lawmakers back for a special session to complete the budget — and even encourage them to pass a bare-bones budget if necessary. Scott also suggested one of his top priorities was in jeopardy:…
TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Lottery today announced a new milestone of $28 billion in transfers to the state’s Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF) since opening its doors in 1988. In fiscal year 2013-14, the Lottery achieved record sales resulting in the transfer of $1.49 billion to Florida’s students and schools. The Lottery is currently on…
When it comes to spending on classroom technology, the Florida Senate has led the charge in recent years. Senate Education Committee chairman John Legg has held symposiums and school tours, aimed at drumming up support for more money for digital instruction. The effort landed $40 million last year. But when the Senate’s education budget proposal…
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…
House budget writers unveiled an education spending plan Monday that would provide public schools with almost $47 less per student than Gov. Rick Scott proposed, and a key senator said his chamber was also unlikely to meet the governor’s number when a Senate blueprint is released Tuesday. The two developments cast increasing doubt on one…
Florida House Speaker Steve Crisafulli is calling on lawmakers to overhaul the Florida Retirement System this year, something many observers see as an uphill battle because of continuing opposition in the Senate. Crisafulli on Tuesday laid out his agenda for the 2015 legislative session, including cutting hundreds of millions in taxes, improving the education system,…
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The “Information Superhighway” may soon be regulated as a utility – and that could mean better and fairer access. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler announced this week that he will seek to have the Internet regulated under Title II of the Communications Act of 1934. Whitney Kimball Coe, a program associate…
TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday proposed spending $23.5 million to expand Bright Futures scholarships, but did not address recent criticism of the program — namely, that new eligibility standards put in place to control costs have kept thousands of low-income and minority students from receiving the awards. Scott’s plan would direct new money…