More teachers, principals could qualify for ‘Best & Brightest’ bonuses

More top educators in Florida would have a crack at an annual state bonus in the 2017-18 school year, under initial legislative proposals to expand a controversial, 2-year-old teacher incentive program. While there’s more room for compromise this year, House and Senate plans, unveiled this week, likely won’t appease all critics . . . Read More

Charter vs. public schools: Will state fund construction or is local tax hike coming?

A complicated and controversial measure to change how Florida’s 4,300 public schools get taxpayer money for construction and maintenance projects is limping through the Florida Senate, advancing even as lawmakers agree it needs a lot more work before it might become law. Senators behind the measure (SB 376) envision the final bill would have two…

Senate Education Appropriations chairman recommends budget cuts after votes on recess, charter schools

At the end of a 2-hour meeting dominated by discussion on charter school funding and mandatory recess, Senate PreK-12 Appropriations chairman David Simmons introduced one page of proposed cuts to public education.  The $46.3 million list is “simply a starting point for our budget discussions,” which will occur over the next two weeks, Simmons told…