Accountability concerns: While the Florida Board of Education decided how to judge student testing and grade schools last week, educators already are suggesting the entire process of assessing accountability should get another look after the next round of tests. Tampa Bay Times. Business groups such as the Florida Chamber of Commerce and the Council of 100 are disappointed that the State Board of Education did not toughen standards for student proficiency. They think a level 3 grade, which is now considered passing, is too low and won’t prepare students for college or work. Florida Times-Union.
Legislative issues: A bill has been filed by State Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, that would require a 60 percent voter approval on any sales tax increases. School officials are concerned that would make it more difficult to pass tax hikes for school improvements. Gradebook. Among the issues before the Florida Legislature, which begins its session Tuesday, are charter school regulation, school accountability, high school sports, teacher bonuses and the complex funding formula for schools. But generally, we should expect tweaks instead of tranformation. WFSU. Tampa Bay Times. Daily Commercial.
School health care: Endeavour Community School opens in Cocoa and will provide health-care, dental care, mental health care, after-school programming and parental outreach efforts on campus. Florida Today.
Online graduation: Orange and Lake counties are participating in a test program that gives dropouts a chance at a high school degree by taking classes online at public libraries. Orlando Sentinel.
Religion and schools: Several groups are asking Hillsborough School Superintendent Jeff Eakins to review the district’s relationship with several area church. Gradebook.
Rezonings considered: Santa Rosa County School Superintendent Tim Wyrosdick is meeting with county commissioners Jan. 21 to discuss rezoning schools in the fast-growing areas of Navarre and Pace. Wyrosdick’s earlier plan was rejected by the school board. Pensacola News Journal.
Opinions on schools: Loose regulation allows incompetent and even crooked operators open charter schools in the state. Fred Grimm, Miami Herald. Agenda-driven education reform is spawning distrust, suspicion and confusion. John Romano, Tampa Bay Times. The state’s new model charter school application will help weed out those schools that aren’t ready to succeed. Greg Richmond and Nina Rees, Sun-Sentinel. Better and simpler testing will produce high school seniors who are better prepared for the world. Beth Kassab, Orlando Sentinel. The formula for school funding discriminates against counties such as Volusia and Flagler. Mark Lane, Daytona Beach News-Journal. The state is slowly improving graduation rates, but much still needs to be done. Tampa Bay Times. Alachua County schools are making progress in graduation rates. Gainesville Sun. C.A. Weis Elementary has become a community school, and now it needs the community’s help. Pensacola News Journal. While the graduation rate at Manatee County high schools is up, the new testing standards could affect future rates. Bradenton Herald. The state education commissioner’s job is a difficult one, whether the person is elected or appointed. Bill Cotterell, Tallahassee Democrat. Three good educators who handled an uncooperative student are being treated unfairly by the St. Johns County School Board. Betty King, St. Augustine Record. For the safety of students at Bay High School in Panama City, 13th Street should be partially closed. Bill Husfelt, Panama City News Herald.
Asthma warnings: The death of a 16-year-old student soccer player from asthma last week is a tragic reminder that families need to understand the severity of the condition and have a plan when symptoms worsen, according to health officials. Daytona Beach News-Journal. Meanwhile, Taylor-Middle High School officials say they are accepting donations to help the family of Rosio Delao with funeral expenses. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Slain driver honored: The drivers’ lounge at the Palm Beach County School District’s bus compound is named after Gloria Riley, who was murdered at her home in November in an apparent domestic dispute. Palm Beach Post.
Principal honored: Carl Burnside, principal at Fort Myers’ Dunbar High School, receives a Patriot award. It honors employers who help staff members who are active in the National Guard or Reserves. Fort Myers News-Press.
Guns at school: Law enforcement officials find a gun, knife and drug paraphernalia Friday in a student’s car at Timber Creek High School. Orlando Sentinel.
Employees in trouble: An Omni Middle School teacher has been removed from the classroom and reassigned after an investigation. The Palm Beach County School District has not named the teacher or what caused the removal. Palm Beach Post. A Sebastian River High School teacher is expected to be suspended Tuesday after allegedly fighting with a student. TCPalm.
Substitute’s threat: A 61-year-old substitute teacher at Turie T. Small Elementary in Daytona Beach tells a class of misbehaving third-graders that if a gunman were on campus, she’d let him in the room to shoot them. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Student enrichment: Students from 10 Central Florida teams will have about six weeks to build robots for the 2016 worldwide FIRST Robotics Competition. Tampa Tribune. 3D technology is being weaved into the curriculum for students throughout South Florida. Miami Herald. Virgil Marshall Jr., a sixth-grader at Andersen Elementary School in Rockledge, is teaching other students the importance of a sharp appearance and a positive attitude. Florida Today. Bethune Academy students get to see where food comes from with their hydroponic garden. Lakeland Ledger. A friend of Anne Frank tells Montford Middle School students his story of escaping the Holocaust. Tallahassee Democrat.
