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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December 27, 2011

Six Education Bills To Watch In The Florida Legislature

The week between Christmas and New Year’s is something of a slow news week for education reporters. But lawmakers return to Tallahassee next month, so we’ll spend a few days getting you up to speed on what to expect this legislative session and who the key players are. Here’s six bills that could set the […]

December 21, 2011

Can Charter Schools Legally Turn Away Kids With Severe Disabilities?

Sarah Gonzalez / StateImpact Florida Tonya Whitlock and her son Tres, 17, say they have not been able to get Tres into Pivot Charter School near Tampa. Tres has cerebral palsy, and the family said the charter school is concerned they cannot provide all the services Tres needs. This month, an investigation by StateImpact Florida revealed […]

December 16, 2011

FAMU Update: Champion’s Death Ruled A Homicide; Ammons Considers Stepping Down

The FAMU Marching 100 drum major who died last month in Orlando was a homicide victim, according to the Orange-Osceola Medical Examiner‘s Office. The information was released Friday after a meeting between Governor Rick Scott and Florida A&M University President James Ammons. It also came shortly after we learned of a reported molestation at FAMU’s […]

December 15, 2011

Cashing In On Kids: Investigations Raise Questions About Florida Charter Schools

New investigations by the Miami Herald and StateImpact Florida raise serious concerns about Florida’s charter schools – including who’s profiting from them, and whether they are serving kids with severe disabilities. That’s the topic of a one-hour radio special, “Cashing in on Kids,” by WLRN/Miami Herald News in conjunction with StateImpact Florida and WUSF Public […]

December 14, 2011

How Academica Became The Biggest Name In Florida Charter Schools

South Florida charter school management firm Academica has built a successful network of high-performing charter schools. The company has also built a profitable real estate portfolio. That’s the findings from part two of the Miami Herald‘s three-part investigation of Florida charter schools.

December 8, 2011

What They’re Saying About Gov. Rick Scott’s Budget

Here’s a sampling of coverage of the budget proposal Gov. Rick Scott unveiled Wednesday. Scott wants to add $1 billion to K-12 education, but it could come at the expense of Medicaid and other state programs. Scott vowed to veto any budget that did not increase K-12 funding. From the Palm Beach Post:

Why Florida’s Education Commissioner Raised the Bar on Reading

Florida Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson said his decision to raise reading test requirements means fewer students will pass, but that state teachers and students will rise to the occasion Of particular concern are the new reading requirements for 10th graders on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. Students must meet a minimum score in order to […]

December 5, 2011

Florida Hazing Death Under FDLE Investigation

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is now investigating the death of a Florida A&M University (FAMU) student who had reportedly been hazed by his fellow band mates. 26-year-old Robert Champion died shortly after he collapsed on a bus in Orlando, where he and other members of FAMU’s famed Marching 100 were performing. Governor Rick […]

November 29, 2011

Study Finds Florida Middle Schools Bad for Student Achievement

A study in Education Week makes the case for districts to get rid of middle schools in favor of K-8 schools. Harvard University researchers Guido Schwerdt and Martin R. West looked at public schools in Florida. They used statewide data to track kids in grades 3 through 10 from 2000 to 2009. The study found […]

When Governor Scott Tests Universities, Universities Do Their Homework

When Governor Rick Scott asked the state’s 11 public universities to prove their worth to him, the universities responded to the challenge. The Governor asked the schools to answer 17 questions that he says will help him craft higher education reform. And those schools have been turning in their answers. The Sun Sentinel reports the University of […]

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