TALLAHASSEE –The Legislature opened final negotiations on a budget Friday by delivering crushing defeats to Gov. Rick Scott on his two priorities of tax cuts and incentive money to attract jobs. Scott had insisted on $1 billion in tax relief, but legislative leaders settled on $400 million, half of which is for one year. Scott…
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Ladies and Gentlemen: Earlier this evening, Senate President Gardiner and House Speaker Crisafulli announced that the Budget Conference process would begin this evening. At 5:30, House Appropriations Committee Chair Richard Corcoran, and Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Lee met for an organizational meeting to appoint Representative Corcoran to serve as chair of the Budget Conference…
DetailsThe Florida Legislature, particularly the House, is hell-bent on pushing its charter school facility funding and expansion agenda at the expense of the state’s traditional public schools. Let me be perfectly clear. I don’t oppose charter schools. In fact, I’ve been very supportive of them. While in the Legislature I voted for legislation that promoted…
DetailsSome of the most controversial education measures being discussed during the 2016 legislative session could have a new vehicle for passage in the Florida Senate, indicating a possible deal between House and Senate leaders to get these proposals through before session ends in two weeks. Senate education budget committee Chairman Don Gaetz, a Republican senator from…
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1. Universal Design for Learning: https://www.noodle.com/articles/once-architectural-term-now-universal-design-is-changing-education 2. Work from home days in schools: http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/02/23/466460375/study-in-your-pjs-what-a-high-school-work-from-home-day-looks-like?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=technology 3. More students passing AP tests: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2016/02/24/far-higher-share-of-students-are-passing-at-least-one-ap-test-during-high-school/ 4. Florida Standards “As Stringent” as NAEP: http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/florida-standards-stringent-naep-levels-says-report?utm_source=Constant%20Contact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=News%20Alert 5. Escambia County student advances to Scripps Bee: http://www.pnj.com/story/news/2016/02/20/escambia-county-student-advances-scripps-bee/80683592/
DetailsNearly 30 education-related topics — including some of the most high-profile and contentious policies discussed this year — have been folded into two bills that the Florida Senate’s budget committee approved Thursday. Niceville Republican Sen. Don Gaetz proposed sweeping rewrites of two of his bills in order to give House and Senate priorities a better chance at…
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FSBA LEGISLATIVE REVIEW WORKSHOPS AND WEBINARS After the 2016 Legislative Session adjourns, FSBA will be conducting a series of Legislative Session Review Workshops and Webinars for school board members, superintendents, district staff, and any other interested parties. Our on-site Workshops and on-line Webinars provide a comprehensive analysis of education appropriations and detailed summaries of the education related…
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TODAY’S HAPPENINGS In the House Session: Bills on 3rd Reading: HB 7107 – Public Employees / Retirement by State Affairs – READ 3RD TIME; PASSED THE HOUSE Authorizes renewed membership in retirement system for certain retirees who are reemployed in position eligible for Elected Officers’ Class; provides for renewed membership in retirement system for certain retirees of Senior Management…
DetailsTALLAHASSEE — Still trying to work out differences on key issues such as tax cuts and economic-incentives funding, House and Senate leaders have not made enough progress to begin formal negotiations on a budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1. “I’d say we’re making some progress, but we’re not there yet,” Senate Appropriations…
DetailsThe Florida Standards Assessment is only two years old, but some state lawmakers are already looking for another option to test Florida’s students on what they’ve learned during the school year. Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, is leading the charge in the Florida Legislature to allow school districts to choose other types of standardized tests —…
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