FSBA Session Spotlight — June 2, 2017

In response to the requests and advocacy of school board members, superintendents, district staff, parents, and students, Governor Scott has announced that he intends to veto the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) portion of the state budget because he finds it to be inadequate to meet the needs of students and their families. A Special…

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Veto the Florida Legislature’s harmful education budget, Gov. Scott

Florida Gov. Scott should veto the misbegotten K-12 education budget. Turn a deaf ear to his political foes’ contention that in doing so he would be caving in to (liberal) teacher’s unions. Swat down fantastical tales of overly larded public-school budgets. Decry, resolutely, the appallingly secretive deal-making between legislative leaders that, ultimately, leaves public schools…

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Florida prekindergarten access among nation’s best, but funding among worst

When Florida began its voluntary prekindergarten program, the criticisms began that it aimed to serve many youngsters but with little quality.  It’s been 15 years since voters put the system in place, and the reviews have yet to change.  In a report released Wednesday, the National Institute for Early Education Research found Florida second of…

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Veto FEFP too, Florida School Boards Association tells Gov. Rick Scott

Two days after calling for a veto of the Legislature’s education conforming bill, the Florida Association of School Boards upped the ante by asking Gov. Rick Scott to reject the proposed Florida Education Funding Program as well.  The group’s executive director and president sent the governor a two-page letter echoing concerns about the spending plan…

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Florida School Boards Association joins chorus seeking HB 7069 veto

Florida has two groups advocating on behalf of school boards, and they are not always asking for the same things.  They disagreed on vouchers — in fact, the Florida Coalition of School Board members split from the larger, more established Florida School Boards Association over that issue — and now they disagree over the 278-page HB…

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