Grand jury indicts Newpoint Education

An Escambia County grand jury indicted Newpoint Education Partners and three other companies for grand theft, money laundering and aggravated white collar crime. Newpoint managed charter schools in Escambia County for 21st Century Academy of Pensacola. Last year, the Escambia County SchoolBoard revoked charters for Newpoint Academy and Newpoint High for grade tampering and misuse of…

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Preparing for Zika in Tallahassee

Florida and local health officials are mobilizing a citizens army to combat the Zika virus. It’s prime mosquito breeding season and Florida leads the nation in the number of confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne virus with 102 cases as of May 5. Residents of  at least 17 counties have travel-related infections. Zika can cause birth defects…

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Public Education Must Be Our New Frontier

Of all the impassioned debate we’ve witnessed in this presidential campaign, there has been remarkably little said about a policy issue critical to America’s future: public education. When the candidates have talked about education, they have primarily focused on higher education, which is provided through colleges and universities. Our presidential candidates have largely been silent…

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New U.S. rules for standardized testing have been drafted. Here’s what they mean for kids.

Last December, Congress passed a new federal education law called the Every Student Succeeds Act, replacing No Child Left Behind. With it will come new rules for states to follow regarding standardized testing for “accountability” purposes. Negotiators have agreed on draft rules, which will soon be released so the public can comment before the rules…

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