Independents can't vote in Republican or Democratic primaries, but they have a reason to head to the polls today: School board.
Hillsborough County Republican Party chairman Art Wood reminds political independents why they still have a reason to head to the polls today — it may be the only chance to vote for school board.
Non-partisan races such as school board and judges are being held across Florida. If you want a say, Wood recommends visiting your polling site before it closes at 7 p.m.
“Even though they’re a non-partisan race you really need to go vote,” Wood says, “because your selection of the judge and your selection of the school board is going to be determined today — unless there’s a runoff forced by the vote count.”
Brady Spencer sits with her son Brendon. Brendon has Asperger's, ADHD, and mood disorders. A few years ago she decided to take him out of his Mantua, Ohio public school, where he would often be sent to the hallway or a spare office during class.
Readers chimed in saying they’ve seen different data. And we’ve figured out why.
The Florida Department of Education keeps two sets of student seclusion and restraint data.
Every incident is supposed to be recorded in both reports. But the FLDOE says school districts may not know that.
One set of FLDOE data shows more than four times as many students were isolated in seclusion rooms than a second set of data we used, the School Environmental Safety Incident Report (SESIR).
Neither of those figures probably reflects the total instances of seclusion and restraint, though state officials say school districts should be recording incidents of seclusion and restraint in both reports.
Vanessa Richter, 17, works on her online summer course as her friends eat lunch at a food court.
Last year, Luis Gonzalez failed freshman English, Algebra and Physical Science. When he starts school later this month, he’ll still be considered a freshman.
His school has a different name for it.
“They call it a ‘fresh-more,’” he said. “By years I’m a sophomore. But I’m going to have freshman classes.”
Gonzalez thought he could make up the classes during summer school.
But summer school wasn’t an option for the Pasco County student.
Because of budget cuts, Florida’s largest school districts say they cannot offer summer school to everyone who needs it.
Only some students get to attend – and juniors and seniors are the priority in counties such as Pasco, Miami-Dade, Hillsborough, Orange and Duval.
“Now it’s going to be kind of embarrassing going to school because my homeroom is going to be with all freshmen,” Gonzalez said. “I’m not going to have any classes with friends, but I guess it’ll teach me a lesson.”
It may teach the 16-year-old to do better in school next year.
But having few summer school options also makes it harder for Gonzalez to catch up to his peers. The risk is that he keeps falling behind.
You can set your alarm a little later if you're taking classes online.
Here’s a benefit to online classes you may not have considered: Sleeping in.
Seminole County high school students can opt out of early morning courses and take a class or two online later in the day. Others can opt for a mix of home schooling and virtual school.
“People who home-school or send their children to private or charter schools might not know what we have to offer,” said Griffin.
Griffin wrote a report early this year laying out all the ways Seminole County Public Schools can accommodate students. Opportunities stretch far beyond traditional learning in brick and mortar classrooms.
So it’s worth revisiting a piece we wrote in April, looking at how Democrats were working to politicize cuts to federal college aid included in the proposed House budget:
Students want the ability to use smart phones in class. Teachers don't always agree.
Last week we told you about the giant temptation facing Florida students: Itchy texting fingers.
Many teachers and principals grew up without the devices.
But those who have lived their whole lives plugged in say they think about Facebook constantly. Students don’t like to be cut off from their phones during class.
A researcher argues kids are addicted and should be allowed to check their phones every 15 minutes to keep them focused on school work.
But many readers disagreed, including Eileen Thornton on Twitter:
@stateimpactfl I heard this piece. Totally not buying it. (as a smartphone addict)
The order applies to immigrants under age 30 who were brought to the U.S. when they were younger than 16.
The Obama administration is urging immigration agents to grant deferred action status to undocumented students who qualify for the proposed DREAM Act.
Deferred action status simply gives children of undocumented immigrants the ability to get a valid ID, go to work, and go to school. But first, they have to fill out forms and pay fees.
Americans believe U.S. schools should educate students with disabilities. But they also believe there are limits to what schools should spend.
Americans overwhelmingly support educating students with disabilities, but are skeptical of the number of students classified as needing special education.
The Fordham Institute found 40 percent of new education spending between 1996 and 2005 went to special education.
Four out of five Americans believe U.S. schools have a “moral obligation” to educate students with disabilities, according to Fordham’s polling. But when presented with a hypothetical situation, the poll found a majority of respondents were willing to say the cost of educating a student with disabilities was too much.
Brady Spencer sits with her son Brendon. Brendon has Asperger's, ADHD, and mood disorders. A few years ago she decided to take him out of his Mantua, Ohio public school, where he would often be sent to the hallway or a spare office during class. He now goes to a charter school for special needs kids.
Editor’s note: We’ve followed up this post answering some questions about the data raised by readers. Florida keeps two sets of seclusion data. State officials say school districts should record incidents of seclusion in both sets of data, but admit that it does not happen. As a result, Florida Department of Education spokeswoman Cheryl Etters said, neither set of data may include all incidents of seclusion.
Ohio schools are locking children away in cell-like rooms, closets or old offices, sometimes without their parents knowledge.
The practice, known as seclusion, is often used to discipline or isolate misbehaving students. Often those students have disabilities.
University of Florida in Gainesville is a top party school according to Newsweek.
For those who love higher education rankings, the last week has been a bonanza.
The lists suggest Florida has room for improvement in certain areas — unless you’re looking for a party school that doles out an easy curriculum.
First, we look at Forbes’ annual list of America’s 650 Top Colleges. These rankings focus on quality of teaching, great career prospects, high graduation rates and low levels of debt.
The list includes private and public institutions, and Florida has just one entry in the top 100.
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