Florida School Boards Association
In a calculated and largely fireworks-free markup of a bipartisan Elementary and Secondary Education Act rewrite, members of the U.S. Senate education committee approved the measure 22-0 Thursday amid much back-slapping and promises to continue working across the aisle. “The vote today is about how we conducted this markup,” said Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., the chairman…
The Independent Benefits Council (IBC) earned high marks for its School Employee Saver campaign website and contests on Thursday at the annual Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) Capital Chapter Image Awards, winning an Image Award and an Award of Distinction, respectively. The IBC brings together the Florida Education Association, the Florida Association of School Administrators,…
A proposal that would allow students to attend one school but play sports for another narrowly passed a Senate education panel Wednesday. The measure (SB 1480) passed the state Senate pre-k-12 education committee on a 6-5 vote. Similar House legislation (HB 7137) was approved last month and is headed to the House floor. Among other…
Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday signed a sweeping education bill aimed at reducing the testing requirements for public schoolchildren. In addition to eliminating an 11th grade English exam and capping the amount of time students can spend taking state-mandated tests, the bill (HB 7069) delays the release of school grades and teacher evaluations until the…
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, during a meeting of Florida’s Cabinet, Governor Rick Scott recognized eight outstanding educators from around the state for their contributions to educating Florida students with Governor’s Shine Awards. The Governor’s Shine Award is presented to educators and administrators in Florida who make significant contributions to the field of education. Governor Scott…
Florida ranked third nationwide for student success on Advanced Placement exams, according to new data released this week from the College Board. The Sunshine State also placed ahead of Massachusetts, one of the country’s “model” states which is well-known for its high academic achievements. AP courses aim to emulate first-year college courses, allowing students to…
A bill to let Florida children attend any public school that has open seats, regardless of where they live, won unanimous support Thursday from the Florida House Education Committee after sponsor Rep. Chris Sprowls modified it to meet school district concerns. Committee chair Rep. Marlene O’Toole recently threatened to kill the bill if it didn’t get fixed…
A proposal that would reduce the testing requirements for Florida schoolchildren — and delay the release of school grades until the new state exams are deemed valid — is headed to Gov. Rick Scott‘s desk. The Florida House passed the high-profile bill (HB 7069) in a 105-6 vote Thursday. Observers had questioned whether the conservative…
School choice in the form of charter schools offers parents good options for their children’s education. But corporate welfare in the form of taxpayer-funded construction of private facilities is another matter entirely. Once again, the Legislature is on track to favor charters over public schools, with the House considering diverting tens of millions of dollars…
After nearly two months of negotiating behind closed doors, Sens. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Patty Murray, D-Wash., the chairman and ranking member of the education committee, appear to be nearing consensus on major pieces of a bipartisan draft to overhaul the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, according to sources. In what seems to be a…