Charter schools. Legislation intended to ease contract negotiations heads to the House floor. RedefinED. Extra Credit. Florida Current. Three Pasco charter schools are on thin ice with their school district. Tampa Bay Times. A black charter school in Palm Beach County faces potential closure. South Florida Times. Another school gets a green light to grow. Palm Beach Post. WLRN in Miami produces a Q&A with Charter Schools USA CEO Jon Hage.
Virtual school. The Walton Sun reports on one family’s experience with Florida Virtual School.
Tax credit scholarships. One of Florida’s oldest companies contributes $2 million to the scholarship program for low-income students. Pensacola News-Journal. Step Up for Students Vice President Jon East responds to a column criticizing the program in the Tallahassee Democrat. The organization helps administer the program and co-hosts this blog.
Common Core. Law enforcement groups support the standards. StateImpact. Republicans shouldn’t dismiss a Jeb Bush presidential run based on his support for the standards, a Washington Post columnist writes.
Prayer. An Orlando Sentinel columnist throws cold water on the story of a 5-year-old who was reportedly prevented from praying at school.
Reading instruction. Florida educators discuss the impact of an extra hour of reading in struggling schools. Education Week. Boys often struggle more with reading. Tampa Bay Times.
Budgets. Spending plans pass the Legislature amid debate over charter school capital funds. Times/Herald. With money tight, Hernando schools implement a hiring freeze. Tampa Bay Times. State class-size rules crimp budgets in Marion County. Ocala Star-Banner.
Accountability. An overhaul keeps moving through the Legislature, drawing concerns about its potential impact on Florida’s No Child Left Behind waiver. Gradebook.
Parents. South Florida schools ponder dress codes for adults. Sun-Sentinel.
Teacher pay. Orange County teachers reject their latest contract proposal, delaying their pay raises. Sentinel School Zone.
College prep. International baccalaureate students from predominantly low-income North Miami High are heading to top-flight universities. Miami Herald.
Administration. Manatee County Schools Superintendent Rick Mills is up for evaluation. Bradenton Herald.
Student activities. A gardening program takes root at a Dade City elementary school. Tampa Bay Times. Manatee students prepare to celebrate their gardening program. Bradenton Herald.
