TALLAHASSEE — Several thousand supporters of tax-credit funded scholarships targeted the statewide teachers’ union in a massive rally near the Capitol on Tuesday. Black and Hispanic religious leaders and civil rights activists, including Martin Luther King III, implored the Florida Education Association to drop its lawsuit challenging the voucher-like program that serves about 75,000 students.…
DetailsOur first Weekly Video Update features FSBA Executive Director Andrea Messina providing a general overview of the political climate in Tallahassee and of the issues we expect to be in the spotlight during the 2016 Session. In addition, this video provides some more detailed information on the bills and issues that were addressed during the first…
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FSBA WEEKLY VIDEO UPDATE Our first Video Update for the 2016 Legislative Session has been posted on the FSBA website at www.fsba.org – you may access the video by clicking on the link to 2015 Legislative Session Video Update 1 under “Legislative Session Updates” (located below the pictures on our main page) or by using this…
DetailsThe state legislature is meeting until March 11 and that has local governments looking anxiously at the state capitol. Lawmakers have filed more than 20 bills seeking to pre-empt local authority on issues including oil and gas regulations, construction standards for abortion clinics and whether a town can declare itself a sanctuary city. Tallahassee City Commissioner…
DetailsTALLAHASSEE — A major ethics and anti-corruption bill that advocates say is long overdue — but critics say may go too far — faces a rocky path in theFlorida Legislature. The legislation seeks to end what a 2010 grand jury called a “corruption tax” on Florida citizens amounting to millions a year in extra taxes,…
DetailsTALLAHASSEE – A state senator from St. Petersburg says he might wade into the controversial issue of prayer at high school athletic events during this legislative session. Republican Jeff Brandes’ interest in the topic stems from an incident in December when the Florida High School Athletic Association wouldn’t allow two Christian schools — Tampa’s Cambridge Christian School…
DetailsA lawsuit filed in 2009 alleging that Florida has failed in its most important duty — providing every student with a uniform and a high quality education — will finally go to trial in Tallahassee this March. To that end, the attorneys presenting the case are asking the community for financial help to ensure that…
DetailsJeb Bush on Monday outlined a plan to overhaul education that seeks to diminish the federal role while providing more incentive for people to save. Coming on Martin Luther King Day, Bush said, “access to a quality education is the great civil rights challenge of our time.” Ideas include: Create Education Savings Accounts to replace 529 college savings…
DetailsA sweeping proposal to bring “school choice” to Florida high school athletics and other extracurricular activities passed its first Senate committee Thursday, despite concerns that it could encourage rampant recruiting of student-athletes. Senate Bill 684 — approved unanimously by the Senate Pre-K-12 Education Committee — builds on lawmakers’ efforts in recent years to grant more flexibility for student-athletes…
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1. Legislative session hopes to be peaceful: http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/legislative-leaders-look-peaceful-session-start 2. Daily updates posted: https://fsba.org/2016-legislative-session-resource-center/ 3. Florida school districts struggling with teacher shortage: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/education/fl-schools-teacher-shortage-20160113-story.html 4. Kindergarten is the new first grade: http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016/01/07/kindergarten-today-looks-like-first-grade-a-decade-ago 5. Kids want Presidential Candidates to debate science: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2016/jan/14/kids-ask-us-presidential-candidates-to-debate-science
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