Teacher evaluations: The Florida Department of Education has told superintendents it intends to give greater weight to teachers with multiple years of success in the value-added model evaluation system. It also sent a list of 32 elementary teachers who meet the highly effective criteria in reading and math, and those from five districts who scored unsatisfactory in both. Gradebook.
Testing scores: The Florida Board of Education votes Wednesday on how to score the new Florida Standards Assessments tests. This Q&A touches on the controversy and the potential impact of the decision. Orlando Sentinel.
Legislative agenda: State Sen. John Legg, R-Lutz and chairman of the education committee, says class sizes and teacher bonuses are the most pressing education matters for the Legislature to tackle in the session that starts Jan. 12. WUSF.
Private investors: Two Florida legislators want the state to allow private investment “to solve social issues.” Utah has adopted such a model to pay preschool costs for children who had been expected to need special-education services. Gradebook. New York Times.
Charter grant cut: The Francis Marion Charter School will not receive $175,000 in grant money it had expected this month from the Florida Department of Education. The state cut off funding after the school’s principal, Mary Pinson, was arrested Dec. 18 and accused of stealing almost $46,000 from the school. Ocala Star Banner.
No home work: More than 3,000 of Volusia County’s 4,500 teachers are expected to refuse to work beyond school hours. They’re protesting the district’s decision to use an additional $2 million funding from the state for cutting a budget deficit instead of giving raises. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Lottery and education: The Florida Lottery celebrates its 28th year of operation on Jan. 12, and officials say it has contributed more than $29 billion to education in the state. Florida Politics.
Growth concept: Florida teacher of the year Diane McKee tells Manatee County teachers that they must promote a growth concept in their students; that is, the idea that they can do anything if they work hard enough. McKee, who spoke at a training day, says too many students have a fixed mindset. Bradenton Herald.
Health care glitch: Almost 10 percent of Manatee County teachers are mistakenly informed that their health care was canceled over winter break. School officials say the error was a vendor’s. Bradenton Herald.
Pre-K research: Two studies come to opposing conclusions on the benefit of pre-kindergarten. In Tennessee, researchers find that students from low-income families who attended pre-K did worse academically as third graders than those who did not. But a University of Chicago study says that runs counter to most pre-K research. fivethirtyeight.com.
Opinions on schools: Did Godby High School’s strategy of pushing students into AP classes benefit students, or was it simply a way to avoid accountability tests and improve the school’s grade, which in turns rewards teachers and administrators? Tallahassee Democrat. Career academies lead to higher graduation rates and better job prospects, research suggests. Shannon Nickinson, Pensacola News Journal. The Marion County School District’s on-time graduation rate has jumped from 58 percent in 2008 to 77.9 percent in 2014, thanks largely to a program that helped students who were missing one or two classes. Ocala Star Banner.
