Page 201 – Florida School Boards Association

Booker T. Washington High to unveil one-of-a-kind stellar planetarium

Florida Schools, In the NewsBy fsbawp January 28, 2015

The newly renovated planetarium is the centerpiece of the school’s Astronomy Magnet program that will offer students a challenging curriculum exposing them to critical thinking, technology, STEM, research opportunities and Advanced Placement, while earning college credit through Florida International University. The quarter-million-dollar, high-def. digital projector has the latest sound and lighting systems that will take…

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Opting Out Of State Tests Isn’t An Option, Education Commissioner Tells Lawmakers

Assessments, Florida Schools, In the News, StandardsBy fsbawp January 27, 2015

Education Commissioner Pam Stewart says students can not skip state-required tests, and teachers and schools can be punished for refusing to administer required exams. Stewart’s letter is a response to questions from Senators as they prepare for the upcoming legislative session. Senators wanted to know if students could opt out of state-required exams and how…

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No Resolution to Annual-Testing Debate After First NCLB Reauthorization Hearing

In the News, NationalBy fsbawp January 27, 2015

In the opening bid to reauthorize the federal K-12 education law, No Child Left Behind, the Senate education committee took up the divisive issue of testing, in which the overwhelming recommendation to the committee was to maintain the current law’s annual-testing regimen. In fact, only two of the six witnesses who testified at Wednesday’s hearing…

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New Book Looks At The History And Future Of Testing In U.S. Schools

Assessments, Florida Schools, In the News, StandardsBy fsbawp January 26, 2015

Lots of people think there’s too much testing going on in schools right now. It’s one of the most contentious issues in education. Lawmakers want to scale back the amount of time Florida students spend taking tests. But at the same time, Florida is rolling out a new test tied to new math and language…

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Teachers union loses appeal in merit-pay case

In the News, TeachersBy fsbawp January 26, 2015

The Florida Education Association today lost an appeal in one of the cases it had filed challenging the legality of the teacher merit-pay law (SB 736) the Florida Legislature passed in 2011. The controversial law overhauled how Florida’s public school teachers are evaluated and paid and required that student test scores be used in instructors’…

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Brevard families, teachers seek clarity on how to respond when children ‘opt out’ of tests

Assessments, Florida Schools, In the News, StandardsBy fsbawp January 26, 2015

Darcey Addo practiced with her son, Sammy, after dinner and again before school, coaching him on what to say. She had kept Sammy home during a district reading test earlier this month, and wanted him to be prepared when he was asked to take a make-up exam. She gave Sammy a letter explaining her decision…

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After cuts pushed by Gov. Rick Scott, minority participation down in Bright Futures program

Florida Schools, Funding, In the News, UncategorizedBy fsbawp January 23, 2015

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday proposed spending $23.5 million to expand Bright Futures scholarships, but did not address recent criticism of the program — namely, that new eligibility standards put in place to control costs have kept thousands of low-income and minority students from receiving the awards. Scott’s plan would direct new money…

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Commentary: Pro-voucher strategy evades accountability

Florida Schools, In the News, VoucherBy fsbawp January 22, 2015

A recent commentary written by William Mattox, a fellow with the right-wing think tank James Madison Institute, provides a glimpse of the strategy pro-voucher forces use to build support for their program. It begins with an anecdote of a student who says he was ill-served in “government schools” — a familiar pejorative used instead of…

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Mayfield bill would change school start date requirement

Florida Schools, In the NewsBy fsbawp January 21, 2015

Local school districts have asked Rep. Debbie Mayfield, R-Vero Beach, to work on legislation to change the requirement that schools can’t open any earlier than 14 days before Labor Day. With Labor Day happening late this year on Sept. 7, schools wouldn’t start until at least Aug. 24, making it the latest school year start…

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Florida lawmaker revives old idea of ‘charter’ school districts

Charter Schools, Florida Schools, In the NewsBy fsbawp January 20, 2015

Back about 15 years ago, the Florida Legislature gave school districts the opportunity to apply for charter status, freeing them from many of the rules and limitations that the state imposes on public education. Hillsborough County won the label. So, too, did Volusia and Palm Beach counties. The districts tinkered around the edges of the…

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