The Florida Constitution Revision Committee continues its quest of meddling in Florida’s Constitution rather than mending it. Monday, the group will consider three measures connected to county school boards and superintendents. Read More
DetailsOfficials in nearly a dozen states are preparing to notify families that a crucial health insurance program for low-income children is running out of money for the first time since its creation two decades ago, putting coverage for many at risk by the end of the year. Congress missed a Sept. 30 deadline to extend funding…
DetailsFlorida’s Constitution Revision Commission, which meets every 20 years to propose changes to the state constitution, has finalized its proposed amendments: (Provides brief summary of each proposed amendment) Read More
DetailsA proposal to impose term limits on school board members will be taken up Monday as the Florida Constitution Revision Commission begins to evaluate 103 measures aimed at changing the state constitution.The term-limit measure (Proposal 43) is sponsored by Commissioner Erika Donalds, a Collier County School Board member. Read More
DetailsState Sen. Dennis Baxley, who once said controversy about evolution being taught in public schools “will never be over,” wants to make Florida school districts teach “controversial theories” in science subjects in a “balanced” manner. Baxley, R-Ocala, filed a bill Friday that would alter Florida’s academic standards in several key ways. His bill would give…
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The Legislature held a fifth round of Interim Committee Meetings last week, Governor Scott released his 2018 Budget Recommendations, the Constitution Revision Commission is considering 103 proposed amendments to the Constitution, and Congress is moving forward with the 2018 federal budget and competing tax reform packages. Please click on the links below to access our…
DetailsAs a public-school principal for 32 years, and now as an elected school board member, I consider protecting our students from violence and bullying our sacred duty. No child should ever feel afraid to attend our schools. Read More
DetailsAnother battle about using increases in local property taxes to bolster public schools will complicate upcoming state budget negotiations. In his $87.4 billion budget proposal for 2018-2019, Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday called for a $770 million increase in funding for Florida’s kindergarten through 12th-grade education system. But nearly $7 out of every $10 of…
DetailsBolstered by new research and federal incentives, experts decided about a decade ago that better teacher evaluation was the path to better student achievement. A flood of states started toughening their teacher-evaluation systems, and many of them did it by incorporating student-test scores into educators’ ratings. Read More
DetailsLogrolling. It’s defined as the practice of including multiple unrelated items in a single legislative bill, with the goal of attracting wider support for the measure as a whole. Florida’s constitution forbids it, stating: “Every law shall embrace but one subject and matter properly connected therewith, and the subject shall be briefly expressed in the…
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