Gov. DeSantis proposes new program to end FTC wait list

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday called on the Legislature to create a new state-funded program that would reduce the number of families on a waiting list to receive the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTC) for lower-income families.  Speaking at Calvary City Christian Academy & Preschool, DeSantis proposed establishing an “equal opportunity scholarship” funded in…

Gov. Ron DeSantis reveals plan to eliminate scholarship wait list

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Friday his proposal for an “equal opportunity scholarship” to supplement the state’s Tax Credit Scholarship program.  He said the new scholarship would be equal in size and purpose to the tax credit scholarship program — one of the nation’s largest school choice initiatives — in order to get more needy children…

Governor Ron DeSantis Calls for Statewide Grand Jury on School Safety

Today, Governor Ron DeSantis filed a petition with the Florida Supreme Court to impanel a statewide grand jury to examine and review school safety measures throughout the state, as well as the responses of public entities to laws designed to protect schools such as the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act. Read More

Bill to arm Florida teachers passes first committee along party lines

A bill that would allow Florida’s teachers to carry guns in schools passed its first committee along party lines Tuesday, setting up what could be one of the most heated debates of the 2019 legislative session.  Senate Bill 7030 expands the “Guardian” program created by last year’s post-Parkland bill, by which school staff can volunteer…

FSBA Session Spotlight – February 8, 2019

Governor DeSantis released his 2019-2020 state budget recommendations on Friday, February 1.  As a result, most of this week’s Legislative Interim Committee Meetings provided presentations on funding and policies outlined in in governor’s budget.  In addition to presentations and discussion of budget issues, legislative committees/subcommittees considered several bills of interest including, among others, bills relating to…

Ron DeSantis proposes record $91.3 billion budget, more spending on students

Gov. Ron DeSantis is proposing a boost in per-student spending, an overhaul in how the state rewards teachers, improvements to the state’s aging transportation network and more money to save the Everglades in a record budget proposal announced Friday.  DeSantis’ $91.3 billion proposed budget, dubbed “Bold Vision for a Brighter Future”, is the largest ever…

DeSantis takes aim at Common Core in executive order

Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to create new state curriculum standards that would eliminate “the vestiges of Common Core,” he announced in Cape Coral on Thursday.  “We stuck with Common Core then we re-branded it … it’s all the same. It all needs to be looked at, it all needs to be scrutinized,” DeSantis said during…

DeSantis issues executive order on workforce education, requests millions for technical programs

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Wednesday that he is challenging Florida to go from No. 24 to No. 1 in the nation for its workforce and technical training programs by 2030, and issued an executive order he said would be the first step to achieving that goal.  “We have too many folks who are not prepared…