Charter schools. Two shuttered charter schools leave the Broward school district on the hook for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Sun-Sentinel. A parent says she was almost barred from enrolling her child in an embattled charter school after she criticized it. Palm Beach Post. A Sun-Sentinel guest column praises lawmakers for considering new charter school regulations. WFSU looks at Florida charter school policies through the lens of Georgia’s.
Special needs. A move to a new location with a state-of-the-art facility makes a charter school for students with autism harder for some families to reach. Palm Beach Post.
Back to School. Districts around the state start classes today. Palm Beach Post. Ocala Star-Banner. Bradenton Herald. A Catholic high school holds its first mass of the new year. Tampa Tribune. Police plan to visible during the first week of school. Palm Beach Post. Shoppers hit stores as a sales tax holiday comes to an end. Palm Beach Post. Miami Herald. Daytona Beach News-Journal. Teachers take advantage of a district supply closet. Florida Times-Union. Marion upgrades its tech. Ocala Star-Banner. Former kindergartners dispense advice. Florida Today.
Hiring. Central Florida districts bring on more teachers for the new year, as enrollment grows. Orlando Sentinel. Duval and other North Florida districts fill teaching slots. Florida Times-Union.
Philanthropy. The Hillsborough school district prepares for the end of its Gates Foundation grants. Tampa Tribune. The Elks donate money to a Brevard high school. Florida Today.
Testing. Some districts consider joining Seminole County’s stand for national tests; others do not. Orlando Sentinel.
Facilities. City officials press the school board for action on neglected school repairs. South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Desegregation. The Tampa Bay Times editorializes on the historical roots of the academic neglect its reporters uncovered. WTSP hosts one of the reporters on air. Voucher supporters shouldn’t claim they offer a solution for all children, a Times columnist writes.
Summer. The break from classes gives some students a chance to catch up academically. Naples Daily News.
Uniforms. More districts consider participating in a new state reimbursement program. Gradebook.
Testing. A Florida Courier columnist calls on black parents to opt their children out of state assessments.
Leadership. Palm Beach’s superintedent is also a parent. Palm Beach Post. The Hillsborough school board should stop squabbling, a Tampa Bay Times columnist writes. Manatee’s chief speaks to the business community. Bradenton Herald.
Security. Palm Beach schools trot out drug- and gun-sniffing dogs. Palm Beach Post.
Bullying. Pasco students speak out against it. Gradebook.
Teacher quality. Some teachers reject controversial bonuses. Tampa Bay Times.
Censorship. Pulling a controversial book from a summer reading list was the wrong move, the Tallahassee Democrat editorializes.
Nutrition. Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam promotes an app that reveals lunch options. Florida Today.
