Florida locals taxing themselves to cover shortfalls from state cuts in education and transportation funding

For years, Republican lawmakers in Tallahassee have boasted about Florida’s charms as a low-tax state, and according to a recent report, Sunshine State residents do have the lowest tax burden in the continental United States (trailing only Alaska nationwide.)  But with more than 21 million people in the state and hundreds more coming by the day,…

Former Florida Supreme Court chief justice: Amendment 8 ‘misleading,’ ‘deceptive’

It’s still a long way to November, when voters will be asked to vote up or down on 13 proposed amendments to the state constitution. But only a few so far have generated as much debate as Amendment 8, a measure that is the subject of a lawsuit filed by the League of Women Voters. Read…

To Stop School Shootings, Fla. Will Merge Government Data, Social Media Posts

As part of their efforts to prevent school shootings, Florida lawmakers mandated the creation of a centralized database that will combine individual-level records from the state’s law-enforcement and social-services agencies with information from people’s personal social media accounts.  The provision, tucked within the 105-page law passed in March following the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas…

Florida TaxWatch presses for focus on school leadership, role of principals

Florida TaxWatch, the non-profit that calls out legislative “turkey” spending each year, is promoting an education agenda that would focus on the important role that school principals play in academic success.  For the past six years, the group has recognized principals whose schools, which serve low-income children, have accomplished test scores that exceeded expectations. Read More…

Judge sets hearing on education amendment

A Leon County circuit judge will hear arguments Aug. 17 in a dispute about a proposed constitutional amendment that calls for changes in the state’s education system.  Judge John Cooper on Monday scheduled the hearing in the lawsuit filed by the League of Women Voters of Florida, which is trying to keep the constitutional amendment…

Amendment 8 intentionally misleads voters

If you want an education in political flimflam, one needs to look no farther than Amendment 8, School Board Term Limits and Duties; Public Schools. Commonly referred to as the education amendment, it will be on the November 6 ballot along with 12 other constitutional amendments. Read More

Florida Risks Losing $1.1 Billion in Federal Funds Over ESSA Spat

When the Every Student Succeeds Act was first passed in late 2015, Florida officials pledged that they’ll do everything in their power to keep their long-standing accountability system mostly intact.  That’s despite the fact that the federal law has several new requirements that states must abide by. They include factoring in the test scores of…

Rush job on school safety law causes mental-health conundrum for families, no help from state

In the rushed, traumatic days following the February shootings at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, lawmakers scrambled to approve broad gun reforms and new laws to make schools safe.  But quick legislation doesn’t always equate to good legislation, says Kenneth Trump, a well-known school security expert and consultant who has testified before Congress. Read…

Gradebook podcast: Fighting Amendment 8, with Florida League of Women Voters president Patricia Brigham

Supporters of Florida Constitution Revision Commission Amendment 8 focus on the part that would create school board term limits, viewing it as a popular idea that could push the proposal to the 60 percent vote needed for passage.  Critics say the measure goes much further, though — with some potentially devastating provisions that could dramatically…

Lawsuit: Amendment 8 summary ‘misleading’ about control of charter schools

The summary language of a proposed constitutional amendment that would revoke the exclusive authority of school boards to operate public charter schools is “affirmatively misleading” to voters, according to a lawsuit filed by the League of Women Voters of Florida against Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner. Read More