TALLAHASSEE — A showdown over Florida’s public schools that began Monday in a Tallahassee courtroom is expected to delve into whether the changes pushed by Republican governors and a GOP-controlled Legislature over the past two decades helped or hurt the state’s school children. Education groups and parents from Duval and Pasco counties filed a lawsuit…
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – It’s primary election day in Florida, but since not all the state’s registered voters get to participate, some folks believe it’s time to vote for a change in the system. Florida is one of only a handful of states that has a completely closed primary – meaning that people can only cast…
TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott surprised many observers on Tuesday when he announced plans to veto $256 million in projects, a much smaller list than expected after lawmakers blocked some of his top legislative priorities. While it’s more than $200 million larger than the veto list last year, which sparked anger among many members who…
Many high school voters will be casting their ballots for the first time this Tuesday. Historically, most 18 year olds don’t participate in elections. And the 2014 midterm election was no exception. About one in four 18 year olds registered; 12.5 percent reported voting, according to U.S. Census Bureau statistics. Even during the last presidential election, only one-third…
TALLAHASSEE — The Legislature sent a massive omnibus education bill to Gov. Rick Scott’s desk on Friday after spending the final hours of the 2016 legislative session negotiating privately and trading several amendments that were each more than a hundred pages long. The House voted 82-33 on Friday to pass a heavily amended HB 7029, a…
A wide-ranging education bill dealing with everything from funding for high-performing universities to high-school membership in athletic associations made it through the final day of the legislative session Friday, despite the long odds that such policy “trains” often face. But in the process, lawmakers cut a provision aimed at ensuring that taxpayer-provided construction dollars for…
TODAY’S HAPPENINGS The Legislature has adjourned, sine die, after passing the state budget and related appropriations bills as well as a lengthy list of education related bills. With regard to the education budget, we are working on our detailed analysis of the education portions of the budget but, in the meantime, we have prepared a…
1. Harvard’s multiyear initiative to transform K-12 education: http://edredesign.org/by-all-means 2. Increase in bomb threats? You are not alone: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/03/08/schools–computer-bomb-threats/81489322/ 3. Heard of the “Stop Swatting in Our Schools Act”? http://www.chron.com/news/article/Proposed-federal-bill-would-combat-swatting-in-6873330.php 4. SXSWedu takeaways: https://www.the74million.org/article/3-things-we-learned-about-the-future-of-education-at-south-by-southwest-education 5. John B. King, Jr. closer to being confirmed as Education Secretary: http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2016-03-09/senate-committee-votes-to-approve-new-education-secretary
TODAY’S HAPPENINGS In the Senate Session: Bills on 3rd Reading: HB 189 – Teacher Certification by Diaz – READ 3RD TIME; PASSED THE SENATE; PASSED THE LEGISLATURE Providing alternative requirements for earning a professional educator certificate that covers certain grades, etc. HB 1147 – Character Development Instruction by Latvala — READ 3RD TIME; PASSED THE SENATE; PASSED THE LEGISLATURE Requiring…
TALLAHASSEE — Florida voters will be asked to vote on three constitutional amendments dealing with taxes. The Florida Legislature on Wednesday approved three amendments for the ballot. One of the amendments (HJR 1009) would grant a property tax break to any first responders who were disabled in the line of duty. Another one of the…