The FSBA Day in the Legislature Conference has been in full swing this week with more than 125 school board members and other attendees in Tallahassee to participate in legislative briefings and advocacy training, network with education leaders, and meet with legislators to discuss issues of interest to school districts. This has been a particularly…
DetailsThe House and Senate on Wednesday advanced separate versions of an $87 billion-plus state budget, with the two chambers taking different courses on health-care spending and a plan to link education policy to the budget process. After initial debate on the bills, the Senate is poised to pass its $87.3 billion bill (SB 2500) on…
DetailsAfter reading an Orlando Sentinel series on the issue, Florida lawmakers came to the conclusion that they needed to stiffen oversight laws affecting private schools that accept state tax-credit scholarships. They looked at a variety of areas, ranging from school inspections to owner financial status. In drafting his legislation on the subject, Sen. David Simmons also…
DetailsIt’s a debate worth about $26.9 billion, and involves the most fundamental, nagging question surrounding Florida’s education system: What does Florida owe its students in public education? And it begins today — at least this year’s rendition. The Florida House’s omnibus education bill, HB 7055, is slated to be heard on the floor Wednesday afternoon — an event that…
DetailsAfter considering more than 100 proposals in committees, the Florida Constitution Revision Commission is ready to move into its next phase, starting with a public hearing today in Fort Lauderdale.The scheduled six-hour hearing, which starts at 1 p.m. at Nova Southeastern University, is the first of five public hearings that will be held across the…
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Today is the beginning of the 5th week – and the half-way mark — of the Legislative Session. Please be sure to watch our Legislative Weekly video featuring FSBA Executive Director Andrea Messina providing a recap of bills considered last week and a preview of some of the issues coming up. There were no legislative…
DetailsTallahassee, FL – This week’s updates on the Florida Legislative Session come directly from the steps of the Historic Capitol where we will join with over 125 school board members next week at the FSBA Annual Day in the Legislature. Watch this week’s edition to learn more about proposed budgets, chamber priorities, and the components…
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Although there were only a few legislative and Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) Committee meetings today, several topics of interest were considered, including a new proposed House bill and a CRC proposal that both addressed government ethics and integrity. Please click on the link below for our report on the outcome of consideration of these issues…
DetailsA budget proposal that is advancing in the Legislature would make next year’s funding for Florida’s public schools contingent on the passage of Republican House Speaker Richard Corcoran’s chief education priority: a new voucher directing taxpayer dollars to private schools. Read More
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Work on the state budget took center stage today and the House and Senate Appropriations Committees reviewed their respective budget proposals and related bills. The House made only a few changes to their main budget bill – none of which impacted Pre-K-12 Education Funding – but adopted a lengthy substitute bill for their main education…
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