Florida has channeled billions of taxpayer dollars into scholarships for poor children to attend private schools over the past 15 years, using tax credits to build a laboratory for school choice that the Trump administration holds up as a model for the nation. The voucherlike program, the largest of its kind in the country, helps…
DetailsFlorida House Speaker Richard Corcoran wants nonprofits that have operated high-performing charter schools in other states to replicate their success here. To that end, he’s made them an offer: $200 million to cover facilities costs, personnel and specialized educational offerings, plus a wish list of statutory and regulatory changes designed to help them prosper. But…
DetailsA bill that would expand two of the state’s school-choice programs is heading to the House floor after gaining approval Thursday from the House Education Committee. The proposal (HB 15), sponsored by Rep. Jennifer Sullivan, R-Mount Dora, was amended Thursday to add back provisions that would expand the reach of the Gardiner Scholarship program, aimed…
DetailsTallahassee, FL – Week 5 of the Florida Legislative Session has come to an end. Watch this FSBA Legislative Weekly Update for highlights, and visit the FSBA Session Spotlight Blog and 2017 Legislative Session page for in-depth summaries, resources, and analyses.
This week marks the mid-point of the Legislative Session and has brought attention to key bills that directly address the priorities identified in the FSBA 2017 Legislative Platform: assessment and accountability, education funding, and capital outlay funding. During this very hectic week, the Senate Education Committee took up SB 926 relating to K-12 Student Assessments…
DetailsPort St. Joe – Billy Quinn, Danny Little and Cindy Belin of the Gulf County School Board joined over 130 school board members, district superintendents, and other education leaders in Tallahassee March 29-31 to participate in the Florida School Boards Association’s 30th Annual Day in the Legislature Conference and Board of Directors’ Meeting. Read More
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The Senate and House Appropriations Committees reviewed and amended their respective proposed state budgets today. In the Senate Appropriations Committee meeting, there were more than 120 amendments filed with about 30 of these proposed amendments relating to education. The majority of the education related amendments revised non-FEFP allocations and the remaining few focused on post-secondary…
DetailsA sweeping plan to reduce standardized testing in Florida’s K-12 schools cleared its first state Senate committee on Monday, after lawmakers struck a compromise to blend competing reform proposals. Despite political drama last week that delayed the policy discussion, senators breezed through vetting SB 926 and passed it unanimously after considering most of the amendments…
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On Wednesday, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees will meet to review and revise their respective budgets. To set the stage for this, we have prepared a Side-by-Side Comparison of current year (2016-2017) education funding with the funding in the proposed 2017-2018 House and Senate budgets (our Comparison is also posted with other 2017-2018 Education…
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As outlined in yesterday’s Session Spotlight, the House and Senate took up several bills of interest today. Perhaps most notable of these was the consideration of SB 926 relating to K-12 Student Assessments and sponsored by Senator Flores. The bill was taken up today for its first formal review by the Senate Education Committee. During…
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