Tax credit scholarships. Tampa Bay Times columnist Robyn Blumner doesn’t like U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio’s proposal for federal scholarships.
Charter schools. Tampa Bay Times columnist John Romano bemoans the number of charter schools that close because of low enrollment (but curiously doesn’t mention traditional public schools that don’t get closed despite the same problem). The Cape Coral City Council will consider a resolution asking the Lee County School Board to share capital funding with the city’s charter schools, reports the Cape Coral Daily Breeze. More from the Fort Myers News Press.
Virtual schools. Expanding digital education is a top issue in the coming legislative session. The Florida Current.
Jeb Bush. In education, “he has a record of making messes,” the Palm Beach Post editorializes (just days after two more credible, independent reports find Florida students leading the country in progress).
Parental engagement. Duval Superintendent Nikolai Vitti wants to import a Parents Academy program similar to one he worked with in Miami-Dade. Florida Times Union.
Education leadership. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune profiles Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, the chair of the Senate Education Appropriations Subcommittee.
Teacher evaluations. The first year of statewide teacher evaluation data using the complicated the VAM formula shows the big difference in progress for students with the highest-rated teachers versus the lowest-rated teachers. StateImpact Florida.
Teacher testimony. Megan Allen, Florida’s 2010 Teacher of the Year, testifies movingly before Congress about the impact that budget cuts will have on high-needs students. Answer Sheet.
Teacher responsibilities. Manatee teachers must take mandatory courses this year to better identify and report suspected child abuse. Sarasota Herald Tribune.
Teacher wisdom. The Orlando Sentinel’s Lauren Ritchie writes about a retired teacher’s wisdom regarding students and their sexual orientation.
School safety. The mother of an autistic child says the Pinellas school district mishandled the reported sexual assault of her son at a Clearwater school for special-needs children, reports the Tampa Bay Times. Some Pensacola-area teachers take firearms lessons in the wake of Newtown, reports the Pensacola News Journal.
School spending. The Monroe school districts gets a bad state audit for the fourth year in a row, reports the Florida Keys Keynoter. The Volusia district is looking at a projected deficit of $25 million, reports the Daytona Beach News Journal.
School poverty. Free lunch, free breakfast, and now in four high-poverty Hillsborough elementary schools, free dinner. Tampa Bay Times.
School atmosphere. A YouTube video of Gainesville’s Eastside High School offers an unflattering glimpse into the school’s day-to-day learning environment, editorializes the Gainesville Sun. At the least, the video has sparked a community-wide discussion, the Sun also reports.
Superintendents. Pasco’s Kurt Browning, elected last year, is already a sought-after voice on education issues. Tampa Bay Times.
FCAT. The writing test is Tuesday. TCPalm.com.
Class size amendment. The Brevard school district considers violating class-size limits because it would be cheaper to pay the penalties. Florida Today.
