Florida School Boards Association
Between now and August 18, 2016, the U. S. Department of Education is collecting input from stakeholders on the educational and technical assistance needs of states and school districts. The input received will inform priorities for the next grant cycle of Regional Educational Laboratories as part of the Comprehensive Centers program. Read full article
Most school districts around the state are struggling to pay for basic maintenance of their aging schools. Money is so tight that some districts are merely patching old leaking roofs and repairing aging equipment instead of replacing it. The main reason for the capital fund shortage is that the state Legislature reduced a school capital…
Days after closing the window on public input for Florida’s effort to implement new federal education accountability rules, state education commissioner Pam Stewart has sent her own views to U.S. Education Secretary John King. In her seven-page letter, Stewart touts Florida’s existing system, and reminds the secretary that the federal government cannot force states to…
The new federal K-12 education law contains the strongest requirements to date that states gather and weigh the opinions of principals, parents, and others as they create new education plans. But whether states are practicing this kind of “meaningful consultation”—and particularly whether they are tapping the expertise of their principals — depends very much on…
As the Commissioner of Education for Florida, I appreciate the flexibility afforded states by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) to establish a workable, student-centric system of statewide accountability focused on increasing student achievement. The accountability mechanisms established under ESSA are comprehensive and considered. Read full commentary
With No Child Left Behind in the rear view mirror and waivers a thing of the past, states are embarking on a new era of school accountability under the new education law, the Every Student Succeeds Act. And as they get to work using their newfound flexibility to create a more personalized system of checks…
Roughly a month ago, we reported on how the Every Student Succeeds Act puts a new emphasis on students in foster care by requiring that states report disaggregated data about their academic performance. But after the release of the draft ESSA accountability rules last month, a dispute is emerging over another issue related to foster…
Florida shoppers should be reminded that a three-day back-to-school tax holiday is right around the corner! Shoppers won’t pay sales tax on clothes worth $60 or less and on school supplies worth $15 or less. The tax holiday runs Aug. 5 through Aug. 7. Read full article
Capital outlay funding for Florida’s charter schools became one of the most charged debates in the 2016 legislative session, ultimately yielding new law on which schools qualify for the money. Read full article
The U.S. Department of Education today released guidance to states and school districts on the new provisions in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) for supporting homeless youth. The new provisions address the needs of homeless individuals, and ensure educational rights and protections for homeless children and youth. The guidance released today will assist state…