Jeb Bush on Tony Bennett: “Tony will be sorely missed in Florida at a time when we need his leadership the most,” writes former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. Miami Herald.
School grades: The fall of Tony Bennett might bring a new level of scrutiny to grading systems across the country. Education Week. There must be total transparency in any school accountability process, writes Nina Rees, executive director of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, in U.S. News & World Report.
More fallout: Dale Chu, chief of staff to Tony Bennett, resigns. Associated Press.
PARCC: Top Florida lawmakers will continue their push to abandon the PARCC testing consortium. Tampa Bay Times.
Teen work: Lauderdale Middle School students have received more than $500,000 in grants to spruce up an overpass behind their school. Sun Sentinel.
Charter schools: Even as 11 new charters open this fall in Palm Beach County, the district has another 31 applications in the pipeline. Palm Beach Post.
Magnet schools: The Pinellas County school district looks to bolster career and technical education and help low-performing schools by offering new magnet programs at middle schools. The Tampa Tribune.
Longer days: Low-performing schools in Seminole and Volusia county districts will offer longer school days to help boost reading scores. Orlando Sentinel.
Learning goals: The Duval County School Board is set to approve student achievement targets set by Superintendent Nikolai Vitti. Florida Times-Union.
Parent link: Lee County school officials encourage parents to join the PTA or volunteer in the classroom and get more involved in their children’s education and schools. Fort Myers News-Press. More from the Naples Daily News.
Back to school: Manatee County school leaders talk mission and values before heading into a new school year. Bradenton Herald. First-year teachers take some pointers from veteran educators. Tallahassee Democrat. The Pinellas County school district reminds principals to restrict the use of vending machines because they compete with the district’s food service. Tampa Bay Times.
Conduct: Manatee schools Assistant Superintendent Bob Gagon and staff attorney Scott Martin are suspended with pay. Bradenton Herald.
New school: A private Christian school focusing on business, film and athletics opens in the former Bradenton Preparatory Academy building. Bradenton Herald.
NASA Ed: Wakulla County teachers return from the Johnson Space Center in Houston, where they took part in experiments designed to get students excited about science. Tallahassee Democrat.
