The chairman of the Senate Education committee says lawmakers aren’t interested in cancelling the six-year, $220 million contract with Florida new statewide test provider despite multiple problems with the new exams already. Twice this year contractor American Institutes for Research made changes to their system which prevented students and administrators from accessing the exam. Some…
DetailsThe passage of HB 7069 into law changed the rules for evaluating Florida students and teachers. Exactly how has been the subject of much debate. There’s been a healthy back and forth, for instance, over whether the Legislature’s action gave school districts more flexibility on retaining third graders who score at the lowest levels of…
DetailsThe early end to this year’s legislative session, without an approved budget, has put Florida school district leaders on edge. Even in normal circumstances, school boards often struggle to craft spending plans largely dictated by state funding formulas. This year, they face the task without any hard numbers as a starting point. “It’s exceedingly difficult,”…
DetailsMiami-Dade County Public Schools’ Physical Education Program has been named as a model program for North America by the United Nations’ Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in their case study report, “Quality Physical Education”. This publication was developed in partnership with the European Commission, the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education, the International…
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SPECIAL SESSION UPDATE Governor Scott issued a press release stating, among other things, his intention to establish a Commission on Healthcare and Hospital Funding charged with examining health care issues and gathering information that could inform the building of a budget before July 1. In addition, the Governor stated that he would immediately begin working…
DetailsGoing into the 2015 Florida legislative session, Senate Education Committee chairman John Legg said only one school-related bill mattered: Changes to the state’s testing system. In the end, that’s all lawmakers could manage to accomplish before the House abruptly ended session three days early over budget disagreements. HB 7069 is one of just nine bills…
DetailsHearing complaints that state tests carry too many consequences, the Hechinger Reportreviewed the stakes attached to Common Core-associated exams in 44 states and the District of Columbia. Its question was, essentially, how will each state use its test scores? “We found that very few states will be using this spring’s scores for any student-related decisions. And…
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FSBA LEGISLATIVE SESSION REVIEW WORKSHOPS Normally, at the end of each legislative session, FSBA compiles a comprehensive Legislative Session Summary and conducts a series of Legislative Session Review Workshops throughout the state. We had set a tentative schedule for these Workshops but, given the absence of a state budget, uncertainty of when the state budget…
DetailsTALLAHASSEE — As a $5 billion rift splits the Legislature, the House sent its members home Tuesday with three days left in the legislative session, a rare move that shocked lawmakers, lobbyists and others working at the Capital.. “We have done all we can this session,” House Speaker Stever Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, told his surprised…
DetailsThe sudden shutdown of the Florida House that derailed the 2015 session Tuesday makes it even more difficult for the Legislature’s presiding officers to agree on the framework for a special session. The ugliness between House Speaker Steve Crisafulli and Senate President Andy Gardiner won’t easily subside, and Gov. Rick Scott has already said he…
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