Florida School Boards Association
A legal motion the Department of Education filed yesterday could have big ramifications for half a million teachers, social workers, police officers and other public servants. The motion asserts that there has been no final decision on whether these people will have their student debt forgiven, as they had believed. Read More
A new education law that has inspired lawsuits from school districts and derision from teachers’ unions nearly fell victim to an intra-party feud in the Republican-led state Senate, as detailed in a series of text messages exchanged by legislators and their staff during the hectic final days of the 2017 legislative session. Read More
The Sarasota County School Board voted unanimously not to join in a lawsuit against the state for passing legislation that will direct tax dollars to charter schools, among other changes, though some board members were quick to explain they still don’t support the bill. Read More
This school year, children who rely on medical marijuana for a variety of ailments may be allowed to use the drug at school. On June 23, Gov. Rick Scott signed legislation that established the framework for medical marijuana in Florida. In addition to legalizing cannabis oils, pills and edibles for eligible patients, the law allows…
5 Things You Need to Know Click below to read Executive Director Andrea Messina’s top picks for this week’s education news. Read. Learn. Share. Retweet. 1. Students don’t know where to go for mental health services: READ ABOUT IT 2. 8 ways Florida public schools will be different this year: READ ABOUT IT 3. Girl Scouts now offering…
The Miami-Dade School Board is one step closer to joining a growing number of school districts across Florida in challenging the constitutionality of a controversial new education law. Board members on Wednesday directed their attorney to draft a plan that they can vote on at their next meeting Aug. 9 as to how exactly the…
Every year, new state laws hit the books that have to be implemented once they take effect. But House Bill 7069 isn’t your average new law. The sweeping, 274-page, $419 million measure that reforms Florida’s public K-12 schools spans dozens of changes in statute — some of which are complex and take effect at different…
The Department of Education has cleared away confusion surrounding Bright Futures for the fall semester. In a letter to university and college financial aid officers Wednesday night, DOE confirmed how much money the program’s top award recipient will receive during the 2017 – 2018 school year. Read More
The budget year for Florida school districts tracks the state’s fiscal year that started July 1. Local education leaders now have Tallahassee politicians to thank for the late juggling necessary to compensate for the additional multimillions of public tax dollars that must be turned over to privately managed charter schools. Read More
In world history lessons, as Pinellas County social studies specialist Matthew Blum knows well, religion is key. The trick can be not letting it get out of hand. Parents might challenge what’s being taught, as they’ve done in Brevard and Collier counties. And students might assert one world view over another. But strong teachers “have…