Florida schools roundup: FSA cut scores, No Child Left Behind and more

IMG_0001.JPGTest cut scores: Education Commissioner Pam Stewart is defending her plan for Florida Standards Assessment test cut score proficiency levels, arguing that raising the levels as some are calling for is inconsistent with state law and would be confusing to parents and students. The State Board of Education will discuss the issue Friday and decide in January. Orlando Sentinel. Tampa Bay Times.

No Child bill passes: The U.S. House of Representatives passes an update of the No Child Left Behind Act, which scales back federal involvement in education and leaves it to states to decide how student scores will be used to assess teachers and schools. Associated Press. New York Times.

Teacher bonuses: The Florida Department of Education estimates 5,200 teachers are eligible for bonuses under the Best and Brightest Scholarship Program. But the original estimate was 4,200 teachers qualifying for the $10,000 bonus, so the bonuses would be pared down to $8,400. Orlando Sentinel.

Charter schools bill: A bill that would add accountability standards for charter schools but also make it easier for those schools to open is approved by a House subcommittee. A similar bill died in the last session. Miami Herald.

Bill for disabled: A bill that widens educational opportunities for students with disabilities has cleared committee and is headed to the Florida Senate floor. Florida Politics.

Top superintendent: Broward County’s Robert Runcie is named the state’s school superintendent of the year by the Florida Association of District School Superintendents. Sun-Sentinel.

Superintendent’s pay: The Miami-Dade School Board votes to reopen contract negotiations with Superintendent Alberto Carvalho. Miami Herald.

Teacher pay: The Pinellas County teachers union faculty council approves a new contract between teachers and the school district, and teachers vote on it today. Gradebook.

School zoning: An advisory committee is recommending that the Broward County School Board not redraw the boundaries for two popular schools, a proposal that parents protested. Sun-Sentinel. Almost 3,000 students in the downtown Orlando area will have to change schools if the Orange County School Board approves zoning changes at Tuesday’s meeting. Orlando Sentinel.

School properties: The Bonita Springs City Council is narrowing the choices for a new high school in the city. Naples Daily News. Fort Myers News-Press. The Flagler County School Board votes to tear down a vacant 55,000-square-foot building. The move will save the district $70,000 a year. Daytona Beach News-Journal.

School resource officers: Thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services program, the Rockledge Police Department hires school resource officers for two Brevard County elementary schools. Florida Today.

A call for subs: Collier County school officials are offering financial incentives to boost their pool of substitute teachers. Naples Daily News.

Employee discipline: The Manatee County School Board is firing a behavior technician for not showing up for work. Steve Gulash, who has a previous history of being disciplined for misconduct, says he has documentation from a doctor. Bradenton Herald. Lakewood Ranch High School teacher Hollis Morantes is resigning after her arrest in November on drug charges. Bradenton Herald. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Streaming board meetings: A resident’s request for the Highland County School Board to stream its meetings to the public will be given consideration, according to board Chairwoman Donna Howerton. Highlands Today.

Opinions on schools: Cherrypicking a single good idea – higher pay for teachers – and assuming it alone can fix education in Florida is a fantasy. Tampa Bay Times.

Student enrichment: First Republic Bank is sponsoring a financial literacy program to inner city elementary schools in Florida and four other states. PR Newswire. Gavin Lambert, 10, isn’t letting his Friedreich’s ataxia, a degenerative and debilitating neuro-muscular disorder, get in the way of his philanthropic activities. Tampa Bay Times. Juniors at William T. Dwyer High School learn from an energy company official how to calculate the time value of money, risk and return on investments. Palm Beach Post. Band students at Haile Middle School donate 300 gifts to Toys for Tots. Bradenton Herald. Halfway into its plan to put digital devices into the hands of every student, Citrus County school officials say the program has been a big success. Citrus County Chronicle.


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BY NextSteps staff