Influence

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Education is big business. These are stories about the politicians, businesses, lobbyists and other leaders seeking to impact education decisions.

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July 30, 2013

Florida’s School Grading Formula Allows Districts To Check State’s Work

The big news out of Indiana yesterday was that in 2012 then-state superintendent Tony Bennett and staff discussed boosting the grade of a charter school. Bennett now leads Florida schools and defended the change. The school, Christel House Academy, initially earned a C, but Bennett said Christel House performed as well as other A-rated charter […]

Bennett Defends Decision to Boost Indiana Charter School Grade

Florida Education Commissioner Tony Bennett stands by his decision to boost the grade of an Indiana charter schools in 2012, when Bennett was the Hoosier State’s elected superintendent. The Associated Press published emails Monday which showed Bennett and his staff discussed ways to boost the grade of Christel House charter school after learning the school’s […]

July 26, 2013

Common Core Opponents Respond To Former Florida GOP Chairmen

Earlier this week we published an email sent to Florida Republicans urging their support for Common Core State Standards fully adopted by Florida and 44 other states. The letter was signed by five former Republican Party of Florida chairmen, including American Conservative Union chairman Al Cardenas. Common Core opponents have written a rebuttal. “It is […]

July 23, 2013

Florida Republican Party Leaders Urge Support For New Education Standards

Five former Republican Party of Florida leaders have sent out an email asking state GOP members to support new education standards adopted by Florida and 44 other states. The letter is signed by state Sen. John Thrasher and four other former state party chairmen. When Florida has raised its standards in the past, Thrasher wrote […]

July 22, 2013

PARCC: Florida’s Departure Won’t Sink Next Generation Test

Florida Legislative leaders left no wiggle room in last week’s letter to Education Commissioner Tony Bennett: They want Florida to pull out of a multi-state partnership developing a next generation standardized test to (mostly) replace the FCAT. Florida is not the first state to consider withdrawing from the group, known as the Partnership for the […]

Florida Supporters And Opponents Race To Explain Common Core

When Gov. Rick Scott and Education Commissioner Tony Bennett met with school superintendents in April, Florida’s new education standards led the questions. “Let’s start with Common Core,” said Martin County superintendent Laurie Gaylord. “We recently held a Common Core workshop for our school board and our community and we got picketed…So I guess I’m reaching […]

July 17, 2013

House And Senate Leaders Want Florida Out Of PARCC

Both leaders of Florida’s legislative chambers are asking Education Commissioner Tony Bennett to withdraw from a coalition of states developing a new standardized test. The Tampa Bay Times is reporting House Speaker Will Weatherford and Senate President Don Gaetz, both Republicans, have sent a letter to Bennett requesting the state withdraw from the Partnership for […]

July 16, 2013

State Board Of Education Approves School Grade “Safety Net”

Florida school grades will drop by no more than a single letter grade this year after the State Board of Education approved temporary changes to the school grading system. But the issue revealed a divide among board members about the value of the state’s school grading system. Board member Sally Bradshaw said the changes would […]

July 15, 2013

Explaining Florida’s Choices For Its Next Standardized Test

In the next few weeks, the man in charge of kindergarten through twelfth grade education in Florida has to answer a multiple choice question: Which standardized test should the state pick to replace the FCAT? The new test is part of Florida’s move to new, tougher education standards known as Common Core. Students will begin […]

July 3, 2013

Teachers Praise Gov. Scott in New Online Ad

The Republican Party of Florida is out with a new web ad featuring teachers praising Gov. Rick Scott. The teachers aren’t identified, but appear to have been recorded at the recent teacher summit Scott hosted in Tallahassee. Most of the teachers thank Scott for investing in education, particularly his push for across-the-board raises. “I think […]

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