University of Florida senior Andrew Hecht understands the bind in which university president Bernie Machen finds himself. The legislature has cut funding for higher education for several years — and another $36.5 million for the next school year. The money schools depend on to renovate and expand campus facilities is drying up. And Machen is […]

A Florida student activist group says Gov. Rick Scott has appointed too many businessmen and developers and not enough people connected to the state’s universities and students. The Florida Alliance for Student Action is planning a March 1st statewide protest. The group is also concerned about a bill that would strip a student-chosen representative from […]

This was a good year for us at StateImpact Florida. We launched six months ago with the mission of becoming Florida’s source for education news and analysis brought to you by NPR and WUSF in Tampa, WLRN in Miami, and WJCT in Jacksonville. We had a few successes and learned a few lessons along the […]

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 […]

A Jacksonville state Senator has filed a bill that would earmark gambling money for K-12 education as state lawmakers prepare to debate allowing megacasinos, according to the Jacksonville TImes-Union. The bill would set aside 2 percent of gaming revenue for a Department of Education endowment and juvenile justice. But is it a good idea to […]

Charles Reed says Florida’s colleges and universities have lost their way. He paints a picture of a disjointed, parochial higher education system where every university and college is out for itself, and “It’s turned into what the local chamber wants, not what the state needs.” Exhibit number one, he says: USF Polytechnic’s drive for independence. […]

Now that the drama over USF Polytechnic is behind us (at least for now,) higher education officials are back to focusing on less showy things…like helping more Florida students to graduate successfully and get good-paying jobs. That last part is the mission of Florida College Access Network (Florida C.A.N.) They’ve issued “A Call for Leadership” […]

Why should a student need a parent to fill out a financial aid application to renew a merit-based scholarship if the student pays for his or her education? And why should a parent put their personal information at risk if they receive no benefit from the scholarship? That’s what Palm Beach County resident John Loeffler […]

University of Florida president Bernie Machen has offered an alternative to higher education reforms floated by Gov. Rick Scott, according to a letter obtained by the Times/Herald capital bureau. Scott has yet to submit a proposal, but the Texas reforms have sparked criticisms from administration and faculty. Florida State University’s president has also drafted an […]

StateImpact Florida’s Monday story about the effect of new Bright Futures scholarship requirements on illegal immigrants or the children of illegal immigrants prompted a number of comments from readers asking why those students should get the lottery-funded scholarships — or any public benefits — at the expense of another student. The story also spurred Juan, […]