Bill would allow transfer students to play high school sports without penalty

ALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35 ORLANDO) – A bill making its way through the Florida Legislature aims to lessen the restrictions currently put on student athletes who transfer schools.  The “Extracurricular Activities Bill” (SB 1480) would make it easier for high school athletes to continue in their sport once they transfer schools. “If a student transfers…

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The Chief Academic Officer’s Evolving Role

This special report, “The Chief Academic Officer’s Evolving Role: Powering Big-Picture Learning Goals,” examines the challenges CAOs are facing in school districts across the country and how they are working to improve academics in the age of common standards and digital teaching and learning. It features findings from an exclusive survey of district leaders. Read…

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Florida senator would temporarily halt test-based third-grade retentions, graduation decisions

A conservative Florida senator with a flair for headline-grabbing proposals could generate lots of support in the anti-testing sector with his latest recommendation. Sen. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, has filed an amendment to the Senate’s major testing reform bill (SB 616) that goes to its final committee stop on Thursday, with availability Wednesday. His objective: To end…

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Florida education leaders raise more testing concerns

With two weeks of computerized writing tests in the rearview mirror, Florida’s superintendents are taking a closer look at what went wrong — and what it means. They’re more concerned than ever that the results will be tainted. In a draft document circulating through district offices, the Florida Association for District School Superintendents raises six…

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FSBA Daily Updates: Legislative Session 03-25-2015

TODAY’S HAPPENINGS In the House Local Government Affairs Subcommittee: HB 63 – Public-Private Partnerships by Steube — PASSED Deletes Public-Private Partnership Guidelines Task Force; revises provisions regarding responsible public entities & unsolicited proposals submitted for qualified projects; revises provisions regarding comprehensive agreements entered into between responsible public entities & private entities; deletes provisions relating to notice to…

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FSBA Daily Updates: Legislative Session 03-24-2015

In the House Government Operations Subcommittee: HB 585 – Holidays & Observances / Sir Lancelot Jones by Raschein — PASSED Designates second Monday in October of each year as “Sir Lancelot Jones Day”; authorizes Governor to issue proclamations commemorating occasion; encourages public officials, schools, private organizations, & citizens to commemorate occasion. HB 599 – Exemption…

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Finland’s radical new plan to change school means an end to subjects

Finland’s classrooms are very different from America’s — far more permissive, with less of an emphasis on academics. There are no standardized tests until high school, and children get 15 minutes of recess in between lessons — more than an hour of recess a day. “Play is important,” one Finnish teacher told the Smithsonian magazine. “We value play.” Yet Finnish kids always get…

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