TALLAHASSEE A panel of appeals court judges will hear oral arguments on Tuesday in the next phase of a high-profile and controversial lawsuit challenging a voucher-like scholarship program that helps poor children attend private school in Florida. But the merits of the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship program won’t be argued just yet. First to be…
DetailsTALLAHASSEE – Florida’s $143 billion pension fund has been on a “circular roller coaster ride” this year, which could result in the first year of a negative return since the fund plummeted 19 percent in 2009. But over the long term, the fund — which pays retirement benefits for state, county, school system and higher-education…
DetailsAn appeals court Friday said it is up to the Florida Department of Education to handle a complaint from a parent who argues her children should receive more aid under the state’s John M. McKay Scholarship for Students with Disabilities Program. The 5th District Court of Appeal sided with the Seminole County School Board in…
DetailsIt’s a little-noticed move on Capitol Hill, but one that could negatively impact thousands of Florida children in districts around the state. House lawmakers are proposing legislation that would roll backschool lunch laws passed in 2010. These laws guarantee free lunches and after-school meals for children in high-poverty areas. A proposal the House will consider…
DetailsAn 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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Latest numbers out for education statistics Education Commission of the States report on teacher shortages Center for Public Education’s report on teacher shortages A Policymaker’s Guide to Improving School Leadership ED received a record number of Civil Rights complaints last year
DetailsFlorida 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…
DetailsOf 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…
DetailsA proposal by Monroe County School District staff to bring back random drug testing of student athletes drew more questions than support from School Board members when they met Tuesday. Board member Bobby Highsmith, an attorney who played football at Key West High School, opposed the random drug testing, saying it’s unfair to single out…
DetailsTALLAHASSEE — Talk of a special session to deal with Florida’s workers’ compensation insurance appears to be nothing more than that. Last week two high-ranking Republicans in the Florida Cabinet openly asked whether the Legislature needs to hold a special session in the wake of a state Supreme Court ruling tossing out caps on attorney…
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