A House committee unanimously approved a bill requiring school districts to post standardized testing schedules online. Districts are already required to post the schedule for state-mandated tests such as the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. Schools districts would have to identify additional testing they’ve required. Rep. Manny Diaz, Jr, R-Hialeah, said districts would have to post […]
The 2013 Legislative session officially opens today in Tallahassee. Lawmakers will meet for 60 days and with no election or redistricting, fewer high-profile issues and a small budget surplus, education could be a headline issue this year. Here’s five things to watch as lawmakers return. Budget: Teacher raises? State analysts project Florida will have a […]
The chairman of the Senate education committee has introduced a bill postponing the next generation of standardized tests until Florida schools prove they have technology and broadband capable of handling the computerized tests. Sen. John Legg’s bill, S.B. 1630, would require school and district information technology systems “be load tested and independently verified as appropriate, […]
The Florida Council of 100 held a summit Wednesday in Orlando to discuss Florida’s transition to new education requirements known as Common Core State Standards. Advocates say the standards focus on deeper knowledge of fewer subjects, and not only ask students what they know but to prove how they know it. But there is growing […]
The Florida Legislature convenes next week for its annual 60-day session. Education will be among the key issues getting lawmakers’ attention. The Miami Herald and WLRN radio hosted a town hall meeting this week in Fort Lauderdale featuring three panelists – Senate majority leader Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater; Senate minority leader Chris Smith, D-Oakland Park; and […]
Education took up a big chunk of the Fort Lauderdale town hall Monday hosted by WLRN and The Miami Herald. Topics ranged from college affordability to K-12 funding to teacher raises. Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Chief Mary Ellen Klas ran through some ideas lawmakers are considering. “Gov. Scott has proposed an initiative that would give […]
Tonight’s the Town Hall on Session 2013, live from Fort Lauderdale. Florida legislative leaders and journalists from the Miami Herald and WLRN Radio will discuss the big issues lawmakers plan to tackle during the 60-day session that begins Tuesday, March 5th. The event is hosted WLRN and The Miami Herald and is sponsored by Global Integrity. […]
Florida lawmakers are considering a bill which would change the way the state calculates class size limits required by the state constitution. Lawmakers may allow district schools to use the more flexible rules granted to charter schools. District schools must calculate the class size of every classroom and count every violation. Charter schools are allowed […]
Two civil right groups have teamed up to write resolutions against the proposed Parent Empowerment in Education bill in Florida. The bill — best known as the “parent trigger” — passed the Florida House last year but failed on a tie vote in the Senate on the final day of the legislative session. Legislative leaders […]
The way charter school teachers are evaluated has become a source of conflict for teachers and for lawmakers in Tallahassee. The question isn’t whether charter teachers have to be evaluated under state law – they do. Just like traditional public school teachers, they will eventually have to follow the standards set by the law passed […]
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