Reinforced entry gates. School resource officers in elementary schools. Teachers with guns. Politicians, pundits and school officials have tossed around ideas how to beef up security since the horrific school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut last month. The Florida Legislature will be asked to increase security funding for school districts when it convenes in March. Dr. [...]
2012 was a busy year in Florida education. One state education commissioner left, while another will take the reins early next year. And Florida got great news on an international comparison. Here are the biggest education stories of 2012, with links to StateImpact Florida coverage. International test results — The biggest education story of the [...]
Property taxes are complicated, and school officials are worried Amendment 4 will make them more so. It’s why they’re opposing the amendment even though schools are not included in the change. Amendment 4 is one of a handful of ballot questions intended to lower property tax bills. As with all amendments, it must be approved [...]
Kindles or other electronic devices will soon replace textbooks in classrooms. New requirements mean Florida students will use digital textbooks by 2015. Some districts have already started making the change. In Pasco County, where there’s a textbook shortage, the district opted to spend money on digital copies of books this school year. The problem is [...]
The president of the Florida School Boards Association says the state’s next education commissioner must be willing to work with school boards, parents and educators to improve Florida’s testing and school and district report card system. Orange County school board member Joie Cadle also told the Orlando Sentinel that school boards should have more control [...]
Gov. Rick Scott says Florida students might be tested too much, and is talking to teachers and education officials about what changes should be made to the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. Scott’s made the comments Friday at a newspaper editor meeting, the Associated Press reported. Testing is important to measure quality, Scott said, but the [...]
The Florida School Boards Association passed a resolution opposing the current use of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test Thursday. The vote is the strongest opposition yet to the FCAT and Florida’s accountability system to assure teachers, schools and districts are educating students. A dozen state school boards have already passed a similar measure. Read the [...]
Florida school board members say education commissioner Gerard Robinson issued a threat to local control during a lunchtime speech Thursday at the state association meeting in Tampa. Robinson told the Florida School Boards Association members they were free to oppose the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, but they were not free to ignore state law or [...]
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