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…
Florida’s pre-K program meets fewer “quality standards” than almost any other state-funded preschool program, according to an annual national report released this morning. The Sunshine State also “stands out” for the limited amount of money it spends to educate its 4-year-olds, the report said. The annual “State of Preschool” report ranked Florida 3rd in the…
#FridayFive – Five things you should know Strength of the Florida pension system A call for presidential nominees to debate Common Core Harvard report analyzes educational outcomes for men of color Already controversy on new SAT scoring Many young high school graduates are unemployed
The latest trend in higher education, right after stringer tanks and white Converse, is taking a break from it. It’s called a gap year, and studies suggest all the cool kids are doing it — or thinking about it. Maybe even more, now that President Obama’s oldest daughter, Malia, announced she’ll be taking some time…
TALLAHASSEE – Gov. Rick Scott will head to Washington, D.C. on Wednesday for a two-day trip in search of more resources and greater coordination with the federal government in responding to the outbreak of the Zika virus. “My job is to keep the 20 million people that live in our state safe, the over 100…
TALLAHASSEE A panel of appeals court judges will hear oral arguments on Tuesday in the next phase of a high-profile and controversial lawsuit challenging a voucher-like scholarship program that helps poor children attend private school in Florida. But the merits of the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship program won’t be argued just yet. First to be…
TALLAHASSEE – Florida’s $143 billion pension fund has been on a “circular roller coaster ride” this year, which could result in the first year of a negative return since the fund plummeted 19 percent in 2009. But over the long term, the fund — which pays retirement benefits for state, county, school system and higher-education…
An appeals court Friday said it is up to the Florida Department of Education to handle a complaint from a parent who argues her children should receive more aid under the state’s John M. McKay Scholarship for Students with Disabilities Program. The 5th District Court of Appeal sided with the Seminole County School Board in…
It’s a little-noticed move on Capitol Hill, but one that could negatively impact thousands of Florida children in districts around the state. House lawmakers are proposing legislation that would roll backschool lunch laws passed in 2010. These laws guarantee free lunches and after-school meals for children in high-poverty areas. A proposal the House will consider…
An Escambia County grand jury indicted Newpoint Education Partners and three other companies for grand theft, money laundering and aggravated white collar crime. Newpoint managed charter schools in Escambia County for 21st Century Academy of Pensacola. Last year, the Escambia County SchoolBoard revoked charters for Newpoint Academy and Newpoint High for grade tampering and misuse of…