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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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March 19, 2012

Debating The Parent Trigger Online

The New York Times is hosting a debate among national education leaders about the push for so-called “parent trigger” laws in many states. Florida’s Senate rejected the proposal on the final day of the session, so of course Florida plays a prominent role in the discussion. Parent triggers would allow a majority of parents at […]

March 13, 2012

Wrapping Up Education Bills In The 2012 Florida Legislative Session

The big school issue was the budget, and Gov. Rick Scott threw out a challenge early on — add $1 billion to K-12 funding or risk a veto. Lawmakers hit that target, though schools say the new money won’t make up for rising enrollment and past budget cuts. Here’s a wrap-up on the other big […]

March 12, 2012

Why Florida Schools Want the Right to Paddle Misbehaving Students

Spanking in school may seem like a relic of the past. But in Florida, students from preschoolers to high school seniors are still being paddled by teachers and principals. In parts of the state, mostly in the rural north, getting spanked at school, on your butt, with a wooden or fiberglass board, is just part […]

Some Teachers’ Unions Changing Their Approach To School Reform

The Washington Post published a story looking at the Montgomery County teachers’ union, and how union leadership has worked with the school district on training teachers, firing low-performing teacher and setting budget priorities. The cooperation is one reason the suburban D.C. district is one of the nation’s best public school systems, according to some quoted […]

March 8, 2012

Florida Senate To Decide Whether To Pull Parent Trigger

The parent trigger debate could reach its conclusion today, with the Senate scheduled to vote of the bill. The vote is expected to be very close, and supporters and opponents have stepped up their efforts this week. A StateImpact Florida reader says she got a phone call yesterday urging her to call Sen. Ronda Storms […]

March 7, 2012
March 5, 2012

Parents Say They Were Shut Out On ‘Parent Trigger’ Debate

Education activists say Florida lawmakers have repeatedly shut down public comment on a bill that would allow parents to choose how to restructure Fund Education Now, 50th No More and other groups critical of Florida’s recent education policy say that at each of three State House hearings on the so-called ‘parent trigger’ bill, those opposing […]

March 2, 2012

Senate Panel Wants School Grade Changes To Wait

Senate lawmakers have pumped the brakes on a Department of Education plan to rewrite rules for grading schools, according to the Miami Herald. School officials, parent groups and advocates for the disabled have criticized the plan, which would have resulted in 230 additional school earning ‘F’ grades. Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson and the Board of […]

USF Poly Puts Staff, Student Recruiting On Hold

The University of South Florida Polytechnic is not recruiting faculty or students while lawmakers debate the school’s future, its interim regional chancellor told The Lakeland Ledger. From the story: It’s not an atmosphere under which a quality academic staff can be drawn in, said Touchton. “We just feel like we need to wait and see […]

March 1, 2012

Union Leader: Parent Trigger And School Grade Changes A “Land Grab”

Hillsborough County Classroom Teachers Association president Jean Clements says dual efforts to toughen Florida’s school grading system and approve a law allowing a majority of parents to choose how to restructure their child’s failing school amount to an education land grab for private business. Clements’ op-ed was published on the Washington Post’s Answer Sheet blog. […]

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