House advances hurricane proposals on nursing homes, evacuations

Requiring nursing homes to have adequate backup power, blocking storm-damaged properties from being rebuilt in “high-risk” areas and looking into changes in highway traffic flow during evacuations are among hurricane proposals that moved forward Tuesday in a Florida House select committee. Read More

How the GOP tax overhaul could impact your kid’s education

The sweeping $1.5 trillion tax overhaul President Donald Trump signed into law last week will likely impact many areas of American life, including education.  Experts are still analyzing what the GOP tax plan means for each state, but it could affect everything from how parents pay for private schools to the amount of money available…

Florida’s accountability plan needs more work, federal government says

Florida’s plan to change its education accountability and testing system as little as possible, despite changes to federal rules, ran into a roadblock this week.  The U.S. Department of Education told the state that it can’t simply adopt rules that run counter to the Every Student Succeeds Act, particularly without seeking waivers. That includes the way it…

How A Deregulated Internet Could Hurt America’s Classrooms

Schools across the country are nervously watching to see if the Federal Communications Commission chooses to repeal Obama-era regulations that protect an open internet, often referred to as “net neutrality.”  The 2015 rules are meant to prevent internet providers, such as Comcast, AT&T and Verizon, from controlling what people can watch and see on the…

Frank Brogan, former Martin County superintendent, lands national education position

President Donald Trump has tapped a former Martin County superintendent for a top national education post. Frank Brogan, superintendent here from 1988-1994 before moving on to stints as Florida’s commissioner of education and lieutenant governor, was nominated as assistant secretary of education for elementary and secondary education, the White House announced Monday. Read More

Department Issues New Q&A on Free Appropriate Public Education following Supreme Court Decision

The U.S. Department of Education today released a question-and-answer document supporting the unanimous March 2017 U.S. Supreme Court opinion on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)-related case Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District clarifying the scope of a free appropriate public education (FAPE). Read More

States prepare to shut down children’s health programs if Congress doesn’t act

Officials in nearly a dozen states are preparing to notify families that a crucial health insurance program for low-income children is running out of money for the first time since its creation two decades ago, putting coverage for many at risk by the end of the year.  Congress missed a Sept. 30 deadline to extend funding…

FSBA Session Spotlight — November 20, 2017

The Legislature held a fifth round of Interim Committee Meetings last week, Governor Scott released his 2018 Budget Recommendations, the Constitution Revision Commission is considering 103 proposed amendments to the Constitution, and Congress is moving forward with the 2018 federal budget and competing tax reform packages. Please click on the links below to access our…