Tallahassee, FL – In our Week 1 update, FSBA Executive Director Andrea Messina covers leadership priorities, bills and topics to watch during the 2017 Legislative Session that kicked off this week.
CLICK HERE to read this week’s FSBA Friday Five – 5 Things You Should Know in education news.
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This was a relatively light day for committee meetings and floor sessions – detailed in the “Today’s Happenings” link below – so this is a good time for you to review the events of this week and let us know of any concerns or questions you may have about bills considered this week. In particular, we…
DetailsThe Senate on Thursday voted 50-49 to block the accountability rules for the Every Student Succeeds Act created by the Obama administration. Without the rules, the requirements for accountability and state plans will be found in the language of ESSA itself. Read More
DetailsA bill that would eliminate the majority of high school end of course exams, allow schools to give the remaining statewide tests in a paper-and-pencil format and seeks to take student test scores out of the grading equation for teachers and schools has begun to make the rounds in Florida’s capital. Read More
DetailsA $162 million plan to improve state funding for student financial aid opportunities and make Florida’s public colleges and universities more competitive passed the state Senate on Thursday with near-unanimous support — marking early success for one of Senate President Joe Negron’s top priorities. Read More
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At mid-day today, FSBA participated in a press conference announcing bi-partisan support for SB 964 relating to assessment and accountability. The bill is sponsored by Senator Bill Montford and co-sponsored by Senators Tom Lee, Debbie Mayfield, Rene Garcia, Linda Stewart, and Audrey Gibson. The legislation infuses common sense into our assessment and accountability system without…
DetailsA 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…
DetailsFlorida should inject “common sense” into its school testing system by scrapping some required state exams and providing “stressed out” teachers and students the relief they need, a bipartisan group of state senators said today. Read More
DetailsThe School Board of Broward County became the first district in South Florida to pass a resolution that makes school grounds and education-related activities, such as sports tournaments or even prom, safe zones for immigrant students and their families. Read More
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