TALLAHASSEE — The Legislature plans to spend a total of $31.8 billion in state and local funds on education in 2016-17, according to the final state budget introduced on Tuesday. That includes $20.2 billion for K-12 public schools distributed through the state’s funding formula, the Florida Education Finance Program. The sum is made up of…
DetailsFlorida education commissioner Pam Stewart, among other state education leaders, has repeatedly stated that all public schools and their students are required to participate in annual state testing. She’s relied on the Florida statute that sets forth the rule as a way to bat back parents who say they wish to opt out of the system. Participation,…
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TODAY’S HAPPENINGS In the House Session (10:00 am – completion of business) to consider the following bills and others: Bills on 3rd Reading: SB 7040 – Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act by Commerce & Tourism – READ 3RD TIME; PASSED THE HOUSE; PASSED THE LEGISLATURE Authorizes county or state official to be granted leave of absence from his or her…
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TALLAHASSEE — House and Senate leaders announced a deal on the state budget during a late-night meeting Monday, pumping more than $120 million in last-minute projects into the spending plan and setting the Legislature on course to end its annual session Friday, as scheduled. The final negotiating session between the budget chiefs for the two…
DetailsThis Video Update features FSBA Executive Director Andrea Messina discussing some of the major issues – many not related to education – that shaped this legislative session. She also provides an overview of where things stand with the education budget and offers some suggestions for issues that districts should be considering, given the limited increase…
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FSBA WEEKLY VIDEO UPDATE FSBA Video Update #8 has been posted on the FSBA website at www.fsba.org – you may access the video by clicking on the link to 2016 Legislative Session Updates (located in the right hand menu on our main page) or by using this direct link: https://fsba.org/2016-legislative-weekly-video-update-8/. This Video Update features FSBA Executive Director Andrea Messina…
DetailsFlorida’s 650 charter schools and 3,600 traditional public schools would each get a pot of $75 million in state funds next year to spend on construction and maintenance projects, under a budget agreement the House and Senate appropriations chairmen announced Sunday afternoon. The figure — about the same as what Republican Gov. Rick Scott had asked for — is $25 million more…
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TODAY’S HAPPENINGS In the Senate Session: Bills on 3rd Reading: HB 793 – Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program by O’Toole — READ 3RD TIME; PASSED THE SENATE; PASSED THE LEGISLATURE Providing that the initial award period and the renewal period for students who are unable to accept an initial award immediately after completion of high…
DetailsTALLAHASSEE — Lawmakers have agreed on a $400 million tax-cut package that is a shadow of the $1 billion in reductions sought by Gov. Rick Scott. The Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday unanimously advanced a key portion of the plan (HB 7099), which is centered on a $290 million cut in local property taxes for…
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BUDGET UPDATE This evening the House and Senate Appropriations Committee chairs – Representative Corcoran and Senator Lee – sat down for the first time to formally work through some of the budget differences that had been “bumped” up to them for resolution. This evening’s meeting focused on health care, agriculture, and natural resources issues. The chairs stated…
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