Tax-credit scholarships. The Ocala Star-Banner looks at what an expansion of the program would mean for local private schools. The Scripps/Tribune Tallahassee bureau takes an in-depth look at the debate over the expansion, and separately reports that supporters are still holding out hope after a measure that would have expanded the program was withdrawn in the Senate. The bill’s likely fate inspires both the “winner” and “loser” of the week for the Tampa Bay Times, while Jason Bedrick of the Cato Institute finds a “silver lining.” Meanwhile, Joanne McCall of the Florida Education Association argues against the program in the Pensacola News-Journal. A Florida Today editor offers his take on the bill, and what he deems a case of strange bedfellows. The bill was withdrawn due to a dispute over how the state should test children who receive scholarships, Doug Tuthill writes. He is the president of Step Up for Students, which helps administer the program and co-hosts this blog.
Open enrollment. Critics raise concerns about a district-wide school choice proposal in Duval County. Florida Times-Union.
Career Academies. Students try to cope as they await the results of an animal-welfare investigation into a veterinary medicine program in Okaloosa County. Northwest Florida Daily News.
Turnarounds. A Tampa elementary school battles to shake its F grade under close watch from state officials. Tampa Bay Times.
Testing. The Florida Times-Union looks at whether the state’s new standardized tests will allow comparisons between Florida students and their peers in other states. Computers will grade the new state writing assessments. StateImpact.
Capital funding. It’s a priority for school district officials this legislative session. St. Augustine Record. Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam outlines a plan to address the structural problems with school construction and maintenance funding in the Tampa Bay Times.
Funding. Sarasota voters will have to decide whether to renew a schools tax. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Technology. Florida International University students teach South Florida school children how to code. Miami Herald.
Teacher evaluations. Manatee County teachers reach an agreement with the school district. Bradenton Times.
Textbooks. A controversy in Volusia County inspires legislation. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Dropout prevention. Miami-Dade schools use the data-driven program Diplomas Now to push ire students toward graduation. StateImpact.
Student health. In a policy change, Broward officials allow students with lice to attend class. Sun-Sentinel.
Growth. St. Johns County officials prepare to open a pair of new K-8 academies. St. Augustine Record.
Improvement. StateImpact scrutinizes a new campaign by the Foundation for Excellence in Education touting Florida’s education improvements.
