The Florida House unveiled a$1 billion tax-cut packageWednesday — similar in size to what Gov. Rick Scott wants, but a lot less permanent. The House steers clear of the centerpiece of the Republican governor’s plan — a $770 million reduction in the corporate income tax paid by manufacturers and retailers. Instead, House Finance and Tax Chairman Matt…
TODAY’S HAPPENINGS [NOTE: The bills listed below are linked to the each bill’s website where you can find information about the bill including the bill sponsor, committees of reference, and staff analysis. The committees/subcommittees are linked to each committee’s website where you can find information about the committee including the committee’s membership and staff, the committee’s meeting…
A plan to let Florida school districts and parents choose alternative tests in lieu of the controversial statewide assessments cleared its first Senate committee on Wednesday with strong bipartisan support. But the state’s top education official has voiced resistance to the idea, its chances appear bleak at getting heard in the Florida House and critics who oppose Common Core standards and high-stakes…
TALLAHASSEE — Florida’s public schools would get a $650.6 million increase in 2016-17, about a 3 percent bump over the current state budget, under a proposal state Sen. Don Gaetz released Tuesday. A former Senate president who chairs the chamber’s education appropriations subcommittee, Gaetz called his $20.3 billion proposal “historic” and “hefty.” The proposal would…
A controversial proposal aimed at curtailing lawsuits against the state by the Florida School Boards Association is back for the 2016 session and is starting to move through both chambers of the Florida Legislature. House Bill 1155/Senate Bill 1426 prohibit membership groups — namely, the FSBA — from using public dollars to sue the state, a move that critics argue…
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is trying to sell the country on the same flawed education policies causing turmoil in our state. Bush unveiled an education plan Monday as part of his presidential campaign. It echoes the policies he supported as governor, such as increasing the number of charter schools. Last week, Florida teachers rallied…
TODAY’S HAPPENINGS [NOTE: The bills listed below are linked to the each bill’s website where you can find information about the bill including the bill sponsor, committees of reference, and staff analysis. The committees/subcommittees are linked to each committee’s website where you can find information about the committee including the committee’s membership and staff, the committee’s meeting…
Setting the tone for an adversarial debate this session, Florida House Republican leaders want to rein in what they call a “disturbing pattern” of school districts “glaringly and grossly” exceeding a state-imposed limit for spending on school construction projects. Citing annual data that districts report to the state, House education budget Chairman Rep. Erik Fresen,…
This Video Update features FSBA Executive Director Andrea Messina providing an overview of the week’s activities and a discussion of several bills that were considered last week including HJR 759 – Charter Schools, SB 434 – Principal Autonomy Pilot Program, SB 978 – Public School Teachers, and HB 1021 – Award of Attorney Fees /…
1. NAEP assessment going digital: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/dba/?twitter11916 2. Accountability requires a flexible system: http://educationnext.org/the-case-for-maximum-state-flexibility-on-essa-accountability/ 3. Quality Counts 2016 is out: http://www.edweek.org/ew/qc/2016/2016-state-report-cards-map.html 4. Children’s Week is January 24 to January 29: http://childrensweek.org/index.php/events/2014-children-s-week 5. Get recognized as part of the Schools of Opportunity project of the National Education Policy Center. The project recognizes public schools for what they do to give all…