Last week Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill targeting bullying, HB 609, into law. The law makes three big changes: Students can be bullied publicly or privately; defines cyberbullying as harassment using electronic means, such as email or impersonating someone online; and allows schools to get involved if off-campus bullying affects the targeted student’s on-campus […]
UPDATE: We’ve added Senate President Don Gaetz’ response at the end. Florida TaxWatch has released its annual list of “turkeys” found in the proposed state budget. TaxWatch bills itself as an “independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit public policy research institute and government watchdog.” The group targets 107 items for veto, including some education-related projects. Gov. Rick Scott […]
Gov. Rick Scott hasn’t given any indication that he’s ready to sign the $74.5 billion budget the Florida Legislature sent him early this month. He’s expected to veto some line items, including a 3 percent tuition hike for universities and a similar increase for state colleges. “I’m reviewing the budget, and I haven’t decided when to finish […]
Now that the Florida Legislature has wrapped up its regular session, pundits are weighing in on how education fared. Lawmakers added a billion dollars back into the education budget, which totals about $20 billion. But compromises were made. Some of the big issues were addressed Friday during the Florida Roundup on WLRN 91.3FM in Miami. […]
Gov. Rick Scott hopes teachers remember his efforts to get them more money, now that the Florida Legislature has adjourned. Scott embarked on a Teacher Pay Raise Pep Rally Tour today as part of National Teacher Appreciation Week. Scott requested $480 million for raises. He got the full amount, but it won’t be doled out […]
This week the controversial parent trigger bill died in the Florida Senate on a tie vote — for the second year in a row. Supporters quickly announced they wouldn’t give up on the bill, but their attempts to fire up an online campaign didn’t quite work out the way they planned.
Governor Rick Scott signed a broad-ranging education bill this session that—among many changes—establishes an entirely online bachelor’s degree program through the University of Florida. UF already has experience offering online courses and degree programs that allow students to finish the last two years of a bachelor’s degree online. But this is the first time a […]
The Foundation for Florida’s Future isn’t giving up on the parent trigger bill. They’re asking people to announce their support on Twitter and other social media with ready-made post to cut and paste. The bill — officially titled Parent Empowerment in Education — would give parents more power in choosing how to change a chronically […]
Teachers might not have to wait another year for a raise after all. Leaders in the Florida Legislature are working on a fix to the education budget that provides $480 million in raises for teachers and other school personnel. But according to the budget, that money won’t be in paychecks until June 2014. Lawmakers say a […]
Update: It’s deja vu in the Florida Senate, where the parent trigger bill has gone down to defeat for the second year in a row on a 20-20 tie vote. The bill was expected to pass this year thanks to a new makeup in the Senate and some amendments that watered down the original version. […]
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