TALLAHASSEE – The Senate and House on Thursday passed differing versions of a state budget but with the common theme of opposition to Gov. Rick Scott’s biggest priorities. The Senate declared Scott’s goal of $1 billion in tax cuts dead on arrival and “fiscally irresponsible” in the words of its top budget-writer, Sen. Tom Lee,…
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1. Online learning is here to stay: http://www.kpk12.com/wp-content/uploads/Evergreen_KeepingPace_2015.pdf 2. Education may cut dementia risk: http://www.techtimes.com/articles/132727/20160211/can-education-reduce-alzheimers-risk-study-finds-link-between-dementia-and-high-school-diploma.htm 3. Low performing students: why they fall behind and how to help them succeed:http://www.oecd.org/pisa/keyfindings/Low-performers-infographic-EN.pdf 4. 2016 Florida Tax Handbook released:http://edr.state.fl.us/content/revenues/reports/tax-handbook/taxhandbook2016.pdf 5. King officially nominated as Education Secretary by Obama: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2016/02/11/obama-to-nominate-john-b-king-jr-to-officially-take-the-role-of-education-secretary/
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CHARTER SCHOOL CAPITAL OUTLAY UPDATE As we reported to you earlier this week, the House has amended HB 873 to include new provisions for funding charter school capital outlay needs. The bill replaces the existing eligibility criteria for charter school outlay funding to provide that, in order to be eligible, a charter school must be part of…
DetailsTALLAHASSEE – A familiar face is back at the center of a perennial tug-of-war in the Florida Legislature between privately-managed charter schools and district-run public schools over taxpayer money for construction projects: Erik Fresen, the Miami Republican who controls the purse for education funding in the Florida House. His connections to the charter school industry…
DetailsThe newest Florida school grading formula became official on Tuesday, and state education officials indicated that 2015 school grades based on the formula would follow soon after. Many people expected the results, which will look much like a simulation released in December, on Tuesday concurrent with the new rule taking effect. Thursday morning, however, found school district officials…
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TODAY’S HAPPENINGS [NOTE: The bills and committees listed below are linked to their respective websites where you can find additional information.] In the House Judiciary Committee: HB 11 – Missing Persons with Special Needs by Porter – AMENDED; PASSED WITH A COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE (CS) Creates pilot projects in specified counties to provide personal devices to aid search-and-rescue efforts…
DetailsTALLAHASSEE – With resounding opposition from Democrats and school officials, Republican lawmakers in the Florida House are fast-tracking a proposal to significantly change how public school districts use taxpayer money to fund construction projects, while making it easier for charter schools to get capital dollars. Education budget committee Chairman Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami, is spearheading…
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CAPITAL OUTLAY FUNDING UPDATE Controversy has arisen from a presentation made at the January 21 meeting of the House Appropriations Committee. The presentation, made by House Education Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Eric Fresen, provided information that compared actual school construction costs with the statutorily set costs per student station. Among other things, this report applied statutory cost…
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TODAY’S HAPPENINGS [NOTE: The bills and committees listed below are linked to their respective websites where you can find additional information.] In the House Education Appropriations Subcommittee: HB 793 – Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program by O’Toole – AMENDED; PASSED WITH A COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE (CS) Provides that initial award period & renewal period for students who are unable…
DetailsThis Video Update features FSBA Executive Director Andrea Messina recapping the events during our 29th Annual Day in the Legislature Conference. She highlights the long list of legislators who brought greetings and offered comments during our Legislative Leadership breakfast as well as those whom school board members visited in their offices during the conference. (Please…
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