Page 151 – Florida School Boards Association

Allowing alternatives to statewide standardized test gets praise from Florida Senate committee but faces obstacles in House

Assessments, Florida Schools, In the News, StandardsBy fsbawp January 27, 2016

A plan to let Florida school districts and parents choose alternative tests in lieu of the controversial statewide assessments cleared its first Senate committee on Wednesday with strong bipartisan support. But the state’s top education official has voiced resistance to the idea, its chances appear bleak at getting heard in the Florida House and critics who oppose Common Core standards and high-stakes…

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Gaetz rolls out $20.3B education budget proposal

Funding, In the NewsBy fsbawp January 27, 2016

TALLAHASSEE — Florida’s public schools would get a $650.6 million increase in 2016-17, about a 3 percent bump over the current state budget, under a proposal state Sen. Don Gaetz released Tuesday. A former Senate president who chairs the chamber’s education appropriations subcommittee, Gaetz called his $20.3 billion proposal “historic” and “hefty.” The proposal would…

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Term limits legislation advances in Senate

LegislatorsBy fsbawp January 27, 2016

A proposal that would extend term limits for state legislators to 12 years easily passed its first Senate committee Tuesday, but even the sponsor of the constitutional amendment says the measure faces an uphill fight to become law. The Senate Ethics and Elections Committee, on a 6-2 vote, passed the legislation (SJR 902), which would add four…

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Florida Legislature seeks again to limit school boards association

Governance, In the News, School BoardsBy fsbawp January 27, 2016

A controversial proposal aimed at curtailing lawsuits against the state by the Florida School Boards Association is back for the 2016 session and is starting to move through both chambers of the Florida Legislature. House Bill 1155/Senate Bill 1426 prohibit membership groups — namely, the FSBA — from using public dollars to sue the state, a move that critics argue…

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Diverting resources from public schools

In the News, VoucherBy fsbawp January 27, 2016

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is trying to sell the country on the same flawed education policies causing turmoil in our state. Bush unveiled an education plan Monday as part of his presidential campaign. It echoes the policies he supported as governor, such as increasing the number of charter schools. Last week, Florida teachers rallied…

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FSBA Daily Updates: Legislative Session 01-26-2016

2016 Daily Updates, In the NewsBy fsbawp January 26, 2016

TODAY’S HAPPENINGS [NOTE: The bills listed below are linked to the each bill’s website where you can find information about the bill including the bill sponsor, committees of reference, and staff analysis. The committees/subcommittees are linked to each committee’s website where you can find information about the committee including the committee’s membership and staff, the committee’s meeting…

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Florida House scrutinizes public schools’ construction spending

Facilities, Funding, In the NewsBy fsbawp January 26, 2016

Setting the tone for an adversarial debate this session, Florida House Republican leaders want to rein in what they call a “disturbing pattern” of school districts “glaringly and grossly” exceeding a state-imposed limit for spending on school construction projects. Citing annual data that districts report to the state, House education budget Chairman Rep. Erik Fresen,…

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2016 Legislative Weekly Video Update #2

2016 Daily Updates, 2016 Video, In the NewsBy fsbawp January 25, 2016

This Video Update features FSBA Executive Director Andrea Messina providing an overview of the week’s activities and a discussion of several bills that were considered last week including HJR 759 – Charter Schools, SB 434 – Principal Autonomy Pilot Program, SB 978 – Public School Teachers, and HB 1021 – Award of Attorney Fees /…

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FSBA Daily Update: Legislative Session 01-25-2016

2016 Daily UpdatesBy fsbawp January 25, 2016

FSBA WEEKLY VIDEO UPDATE FSBA Video Update #2 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-2/. This Video Update features FSBA Executive Director Andrea Messina…

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FSBA #FridayFive – Week of Jan. 18, 2016

Friday Five, In the NewsBy fsbawp January 22, 2016

1. NAEP assessment going digital: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/dba/?twitter11916 2. Accountability requires a flexible system: http://educationnext.org/the-case-for-maximum-state-flexibility-on-essa-accountability/ 3. Quality Counts 2016 is out: http://www.edweek.org/ew/qc/2016/2016-state-report-cards-map.html 4. Children’s Week is January 24 to January 29: http://childrensweek.org/index.php/events/2014-children-s-week 5. Get recognized as part of the Schools of Opportunity project of the National Education Policy Center. The project recognizes public schools for what they do to give all…

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