Lawmakers and Gov. Rick Scott reached a compromise on $480 million in raises for teachers and other school workers. The raises are part of a $74 billion spending plan for the fiscal year beginning July 1. Districts will have flexibility in how the money is awarded based on local collective bargaining agreements. The Governor’s Office […]
The session’s most controversial education bill — the parent trigger — hits the Senate floor today. The bill would allow the majority of parents at a school earning a failing grade to choose how to restructure the school. The options include closing the school, firing the principal or staff and converting to a charter school. […]
A mom of four from Mount Dora is doing her best to convince Florida lawmakers to slow down the Common Core train. Florida is scheduled to complete the transition to the new academic standards in time for the 2014-15 school year. Patricia Sullivan home schools her kids and is concerned about the changes home school […]
Right now, schools determine whether to move a student into special education classes. But a proposed bill in Tallahassee would give parents of children with special needs more power over their education. Fort Lauderdale 6th grader Mariah Harris has Down syndrome, and she wants to be a veterinary technician. “My dream is to go to […]
Gov. Rick Scott is scheduled to sign an education bill which changes high school graduation requirements, expands career education options and creates new elementary and middle school computer training programs. The most significant change is to high school graduation requirements. For students beginning high school in the 2013-2014 school year, the bill will eliminate some […]
Will Florida need a ‘Plan B’ test for new standards set to hit state schools in 2014? And if not, will school have the computers and bandwidth necessary for the online tests? That’s just one item on tomorrow’s State Board of Education agenda. Education Commissioner Tony Bennett has already said he’ll be updating progress on […]
The Florida House has unanimously passed a bill to create an online-only institute at an existing Florida university. “Florida is leading the charge on the digital revolution in higher education,” said House Speaker Will Weatherford. “We are taking the necessary steps to ensure our students will be ready to compete in the global marketplace.” Weatherford had […]
Sen. Bill Montford, a Democrat from North Florida, doesn’t like the Parent Empowerment in Education bill. It’s much better known as the parent trigger bill. “We know overall that the majority of students that are successful have parents that are involved,” Montford said. “It’s critical to have parent support and involvement in the schools.” Montford […]
Shakira Lockett always got pretty good grades in school. That’s why she was surprised to find out she had failed her college placement exam at Miami Dade College. Lockett spent a year a half taking remedial classes in reading, writing and math before she could start earning credits toward a degree. She finished her studies […]
A Senate committee is attempting to defuse a funding dispute between the state-sponsored Florida Virtual School and private online providers. Tuesday, the Rules Committee added an amendment to an online education bill asking the Florida Department of Education to study funding for online courses and to recommend changes by the end of the year. The […]
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