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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September 27, 2012

“Won’t Back Down” Is Not Winning Over Movie Critics

The big education movie “Won’t Back Down” is opening this week. The movie tells the fictional tale of a Pittsburgh parent and school teacher fighting to turn around their failing school. The movie is based on parent trigger legislation being considered around the country, including Florida. Supporters hope that “Won’t Back Down” can focus a […]

September 26, 2012

Gov. Rick Scott And Florida Teacher’s Union President Meet Again

Staying true to his word, Gov. Rick Scott will sit down again this afternoon with Florida Education Association President Andy Ford. They’ll meet in the Governor’s Office at the Capitol to talk education policy. “This needs to be the beginning of a long series of meetings that examines the direction we’re going with public schools […]

September 25, 2012

Presidential Candidates Talk Schools At NBC News’ Education Nation

President Barack Obama and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney both appeared at NBC News’ Education Nation event in New York City today. Here’s video of the two interviews. Obama sat down with Savannah Guthrie in a pre-recorded interview while Romney was interviewed by Brian Williams and took audience questions. Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world […]

September 24, 2012

Florida Student SAT Scores Rise Slightly

Florida students scored slightly better on the SAT college aptitude test in 2012, but scores still trailed the national average. The average score on the reading and math exams was 492, while the average writing score was 476. That’s up between three and five points from 2011. Nationally the average reading score was 496, the […]

September 21, 2012

Emergency Meeting Called to Extend Search for Education Commissioner

The State Board of Education will hold an emergency conference call next week to consider extending the deadline to accept applications for a Commissioner of Education. The current application deadline is Thursday, September 27, but the Iowa search firm Ray and Associates recommended an extension because of a lack of highly qualified applicants. The firm, […]

September 20, 2012

School Board Votes to Support LGBT History Month

Next month is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender History Month. The Broward County School Board voted Wednesday to get behind the designation. Now the district is being recognized nationally by the advocacy group Equality Forum as the first district in the nation to pass an official resolution in support. School board member Nora Rupert told the […]

Q&A With Florida Teacher’s Union President Andy Ford

Gov. Rick Scott’s announcement that education is his priority moving forward got the attention of the Florida Education Association (FEA). FEA President Andy Ford had dinner with Scott last week and is talking about why he thinks the governor is now so focused on improving education in Florida. Q: How did your dinner with Gov. […]

September 18, 2012

State Rep. Says Governor is Posing as an Education Advocate

A Florida congressman says Governor Rick Scott is starting to sound more like an education advocate — but he doesn’t buy it. State Representative Dwight Bullard (D-Miami) issued the following statement after Scott’s announcement this morning that he wants to reduce teacher paperwork and cut unnecessary regulations in education. It’s becoming more and more difficult to know […]

September 15, 2012

Join the Education Conversation with NPR’s Tell Me More and StateImpact

We are inviting educators, parents, reporters and you to join in via Twitter. What role should teachers, parents, the government, and private sector, be playing? Let the exchange of ideas begin #npredchat

September 13, 2012

What K12 Told Investors About Florida’s Investigation

K12, Inc. held a conference call with investors this morning to announce its earnings. Ron Packard, founder and CEO of the nation’s largest online education firm, started the call with a statement about the Florida Department of Education investigating whether the company used improperly certified teachers in Seminole County schools. Packard said K12 always uses […]

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