Former Florida Education Commissioner Tony Bennett will pay a $5,000 fine as part of a proposed deal with Indiana ethics investigators, according to a copy of the agreement obtained by the Associated Press. Bennett admits using state resources for his 2012 reelection campaign. But Bennett was also cleared of any ethics violations related to changes […]

Testing firm ACT has hired former Florida education commissioner Tony Bennett as a consultant for the new test tied to Common Core standards the company is developing, according to Education Week’s Catherine Gewertz. The company said Bennett would advise ACT as state’s decide which exam to choose for Common Core standards. From the story: ACT […]

Indiana’s Inspector General has filed an ethics complaint against former Florida education commissioner Tony Bennett for using state computers for campaign business in 2010. The Associated Press reported documents showed Bennett had kept a database of campaign donors on state computers and had asked staff to parse campaign speeches by Democratic opponent Glenda Ritz: This […]

Every month, Washington, D.C.-based education policy firm Whiteboard Advisors anonymously survey “insiders” about their views on education issues. August’s survey is all about former Florida Education Commissioner Tony Bennett. Whiteboard’s insiders were evenly split — 50/50 — on whether Bennett should have resigned. Whiteboard also asked about the effect Bennett’s resignation will have on Common […]

Our colleagues at StateImpact Indiana have crunched the numbers and found that 165 schools benefited from changes to the school grading formula former Florida Education Commissioner Tony Bennett made in 2012 while the elected leaders of Hoosier State schools. Much of the focus has been on emails between Bennett and staff which revealed Bennett’s concern […]

Florida Education Commissioner Tony Bennett resigned his post Thursday following questions about his role in changing the state’s grading formula to boost the grade of an influential Indiana charter school while leading Hoosier State schools in 2012. Bennett called the charges “malicious” and “unfounded,” but said he did not want to become a distraction in […]

Florida Education Commissioner Tony Bennett is expected to resign today after the Associated Press published emails this week showing he and staff worked to change the state’s grading system in 2012, which boosted a charter school’s grade. While we’re waiting for a press conference later this morning, here’s a link to a story our colleagues […]

The Foundation for Florida’s Future and Michael Petrilli, writing at The Thomas B. Fordham Institute, are defending Florida Education Commissioner Tony Bennett’s decision to change Indiana’s school grading formula while leading Hoosier State schools in 2012. The change boosted a notable charter school to an A grade from an initial C grade. Emails published by […]

Education Commissioner Tony Bennett says he will have more information next week about plans for implementing new education standards known as Common Core. The State Board of Education is meeting next week. “We have rolled out a very aggressive implementation plan,” Bennett said. “We know that we have to be fully implemented and prepared to […]

Education Commissioner Tony Bennett updated a Senate budget committee that oversees Florida education funding on the implementation of Common Core State Standards today. Bennett gave a presentation explaining where we are in the process and what’s next. He told the committee the Common Core will transform learning, teaching and assessments. “Florida’s children will be exposed […]