Testing. The Orlando Sentinel has a primer on the state’s new assessments. Some parents say they plan to pull their children out of state standardized testing even though the law doesn’t provide an avenue to do so. Sun-Sentinel. Lake County-area lawmakers talk standards and testing with the Leesburg Daily Commercial. Lawmakers seem poised to respond to the recent testing outcry, an Orlando Sentinel columnist writes. Pasco schools add up the cost of standardized testing. Gradebook.
Lawsuits. A Super Bowl ad takes aim at the lawsuit challenging Florida’s tax credit scholarship program. Saint Petersblog. The lawsuit is misguided because the program doesn’t hurt public school funding, Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart writes in the Palm Beach Post. The namesake for Florida’s McKay scholarships criticizes the suit in the Bradenton Herald. The program is administered by scholarship funding organizations like Step Up For Students, which co-hosts this blog and employs the author of the post.
Private schools. A new private high school is coming to Collier. Naples Daily News.
Charter schools. The Hillsborough County School district releases data on the zoned schools of students who attend charter schools. Tampa Bay Times. A Lake Wales charter school is set to get a new freezer. Winter Haven News Chief.
School choice. Southwest Florida school districts open choice applications. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Teacher pay. Broward’s teachers union deadlocks with its school district while trying to negotiate raises under the state’s new performance pay law. Sun-Sentinel. Brevard teachers protest a lack of pay raises after the passage of a tax referendum. Florida Today.
Teachers unions. The national American Federation of Teachers organization intervenes in the management of Orange County’s local union. Orlando Sentinel.
District leadership. The Tampa Tribune dissects the Hillsborough School Board’s recent vote to oust Superintendent MaryEllen Elia. Finding a replacement could be tough, with so many districts in the market for new leadership. Tampa Bay Times. St. Lucie County has picked five finalists for its top district leadership post. St. Lucie News-Tribune. The ouster of Volusia’s superintendent took an ugly turn, a Daytona Beach News-Journal columnist writes.
School boards. An ethics complaint against a former Hernando school board member is dropped. Tampa Bay Times.
Discipline. Parents call for changes to the Okaloosa school district’s discipline policies. Northwest Florida Daily News. The Hillsborough school district plans a series of community meetings on discipline issues. Tampa Tribune.
Safety. Two girls were stabbed and two were arrested in a knife fight at a Hillsborough high school. Tampa Tribune.
Awards. The Pasco school district names its teacher of the year. Tampa Bay Times.
College. Black enrollment declines at the University of Florida. Gainesville Sun.
Guidance. A new software system helps Hillsborough students plan their academic pathways. Tampa Bay Times.
Student health. Alachua County schools face an increase in the number of students with lice. Gainesville Sun.
Teacher prep. UCF shuts down a Daytona teacher education program, citing low enrollment and similar programs offered at Daytona State College. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
