Florida roundup: Campaigns, lawsuits, special needs and more

Charter schools. A proposed charter school at Tampa’s MacDill Air Force Base is expected not to be considered Tuesday as originally planned. Tampa Bay Times. Tampa Tribune. Some Lee charter applicants have ties to schools that failed in the past. Naples Daily News. Lawmakers say changes to charter laws will be on the table in the spring legislative session. Daily News.

Campaigns. Education Week looks at the education policy implications of Florida’s governor’s race, including Charlie Crist’s shifting position on tax credit scholarships. The Tampa Bay Times lambastes Gov. Rick Scott’s education record in an editorial. Floridians, including teachers and students, receive official messages from the governor that are criticized as “politicking.” Miami Herald.

Digital learning. It’s on the rise in Flagler and Volusia. Daytona Beach News-Journal. A Catholic school switches to electronic textbooks. Ocala Star-Banner.

Lawsuits. FEA’s legal setback prompts the Tampa Bay Times to dub the union “loser of the week” in Florida politics.

Special needs. When other methods fail, parents sometimes resort to social media to demand services for their special needs children. Tampa Bay Times. A Miami-Dade family sues in the wake of the death of a child with autism. Miami Herald. A student with Down Syndrome is crowned homecoming king. Palm Beach Post.

Testing. Political scientists offer differing views on what impact anti-testing fervor will have on policy. Florida Today. Senate Education Chairman John Legg says duplicative assessments should be “put out to pasture.” Miami Herald. Miami-Dade Superintendent Alberto Carvalho talks testing on PBS Newshour.

School choice. Palm Beach school officials consider converting some campuses to K-8 to draw more students. Palm Beach Post.

Middle schools. Duval plans efforts to boost achievement at low-performing middle schools. Florida Times-Union.

Mental health. Thousands of children receive involuntary mental health exams under the Florida’s Baker Act. Tampa Tribune.

Reading. PBS Newshour looks at the required extra hour of reading for struggling Florida schools.

Recess. Parents are concerned their children aren’t being given time to play. Tampa Tribune.

Arts. A dance teacher who grew up poor find purpose helping students in a high-poverty school. Tampa Bay Times.

Teacher conduct. A Central Florida teacher is under investigation for “Favoriting” racy images on Twitter. Orlando Sentinel. A Franklin County teacher is accused of molesting a female student. Panama City News Herald. A middle school social studies teacher is suspended following accusations he touched students inappropriately. Lakeland Ledger.

Migrants. Florida schools grapple with a wave of migrant children. PBS Newshour.

Facilities. A report on Leon County’s practices for issuing construction contracts is due next month. Tallahassee Democrat.