Florida School Boards Association
Florida House freshmen attended an introductory course to writing a state budget Tuesday. They learned that the process gives them sweeping authority, but within the limits of fiscal reality. At present, Florida government is running a $3 billion reserve within a total budget of around $83.5 billion. But if spending continues at existing levels, that…
Florida high school students could soon ditch Spanish class in favor of computer coding. State Sen. Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg) filed a bill Monday that would allow students to take two computer coding classes in lieu of foreign language requirements currently in place. Read full article
From Washington to the state Capitol, political stars are aligning for a major drive to expand charter and voucher schools – a double-barreled push sparking fear among defenders of traditional schools. President-elect Donald Trump’s choice of Michigan school choice advocate Betsy DeVos as new education secretary is viewed as a clear signal he is serious…
The Republican Party has a firm grip on the Florida statehouse, but voters could be disappointed if they expect the 2017 legislative session to hum along like a finely-tuned sports car. Speaker of the House Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, and Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, may enjoy comfortable margins in their chambers, but the two…
Florida education funding could face tight times in the coming legislative session, with revenue low and competition for resources high. But key state senators told the state’s school board members this week that they remained staunch supporters of public schools, and they would work to direct as much money as possible into the system, while…
A motivational speaker who worked in the White House. A mandatory seminar on sexual harassment. Breakout sessions on the death penalty, workers comp, Medicaid, the courts and the Florida retirement system. It’s all part of two days of member training next week in the Florida House of Representatives, with code numbers assigned to each seminar,…
Some new faces will oversee the education policy debates in the Florida Senate during the 2017 session, while a familiar hand will run education appropriations in the chamber. Senate President Joe Negron announced Tuesday that Sen. Dorothy Hukill, a Volusia County Republican, will chair the Education Committee with Sen. Debbie Mayfield, an Indian River County…
The Florida Legislature entered a strange new world Tuesday as the incoming House speaker condemned the power of lobbyists and demanded changes in spending that will face resistance from the Senate and Gov. Rick Scott. In his inaugural speech as speaker, Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’Lakes, railed against a Capitol dominated by lobbyists and politically wired…
Florida’s economy continues to grow, but not at the pace state budget forecasters expected. The slower-than-expected economic growth could affect tax revenue that feeds the state budget, which already promises increased costs next year for Medicaid and education. Budget analysts from the House, Senate and governor’s office gathered Friday for the State Economic Estimating Conference. Read full…
A week after Florida voters elected them, 66 new state lawmakers — who make up 40 percent of the entire Legislature — will be in Tallahassee on Tuesday for training and orientation. More than a third of the 120-member House and half of the 40-member Senate are new to their legislative seats for 2017. Many have held elected…