State law allows schools in Florida to punish students by spanking them with a paddle, which is often a wooden or plexiglass board. The administrators at most schools with corporal punishment policies ask parents for permission to paddle their children. Many principals say they will not paddle a kid against the parent’s wishes. But schools […]
The parents of a South Florida seventh-grader forced him to wear a sandwich board to publicize his poor grades and preference for cracking up his classmates, according to WSVN television. Michael Bell Jr. is standing at a Kendall intersection wearing the sign. As other students enjoy their spring break, Michael will be out holding his […]
Education activists say Florida lawmakers have repeatedly shut down public comment on a bill that would allow parents to choose how to restructure Fund Education Now, 50th No More and other groups critical of Florida’s recent education policy say that at each of three State House hearings on the so-called ‘parent trigger’ bill, those opposing […]
California was the first state to adopt a ‘parent trigger,’ which allows a majority of parents in a failing school to vote on a method to restructure the school. The bill is expected to be among the most contentious education issues of the 2012 legislative session. Activists have lined up against the bill, arguing it […]
Florida law requires grades for students, teachers, schools and districts. So why not parents as well? Rep. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, has introduced a bill — HB 543 — to do just that. Fort Myers News-Press columnist Sam Cook thinks the proposed grades are a bad idea and unlikely to improve the relationship between teachers, parents […]
The so-called “parent trigger” bill is expected to be the most controversial piece of education legislation in Tallahassee this year. House and Senate panels gave initial approval to the proposals, HB 1191 and SB 1718, yesterday. But what does a “parent trigger” do? And how does this bill work? And why do people support and […]
We’ve heard about Governor Rick Scott’s proposed “parent trigger law,” which would give parents the power to shut down low performing schools and transform them into charter schools. Now we’re hearing from some of the people who would be impacted by the change. Maria Mendoza’s daughter attends an underperforming elementary school in Ft. Myers. She […]
Gov. Rick Scott sat down for an interview with WLRN’s Phil Latzman this morning. StateImpact Florida slipped Phil a few questions. Here’s a transcript of Scott’s responses. Listen to the full interview here. Q: Studies show that half of STEM graduates — science, technology, engineering and math — choose careers in other fields. What specific […]
Parents unhappy with their children’s schools are using labor union tactics to build support for charter schools, according to a story by the Associated Press. California was the first state to adopt a so-called ‘parent trigger’ law, which allows a majority of parents to vote to convert a district school to a charter school. Florida […]
Are parents buying junk food in an effort to help their kids’ schools? Our friends at HealthyState.org are asking that question about Box Tops for Education, which donates a dime for every product lid sent in by schools. The program started with cereal, but has now added lots of other items — even Hi-Liter markers. […]
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