Athlete transfers: State Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, and Jerri Kelly, the athletic director at Lake Brantley High School in Altamonte Springs, talk about the new transfer rules for high school student-athletes. WUSF.
Spring break ‘homework’: Parents of students in Broward and Palm Beach counties complain that teachers assigned practice tests over spring break. Teachers say the tests are necessary to prepare students for Florida Standards Assessments testing. Sun-Sentinel.
Awaiting a signature: Several significant bills from the Legislature are still awaiting a signature from Gov. Rick Scott. Among them is HB 7029, the massive education bill that, among other things, allows open enrollment and allots capital funding for charter schools. Sunshine State News.
Computer coding: The Duval County School District has plans to widen student exposure to computer coding. The school board will vote next month on changing Andrew Jackson High into a technology magnet, which would offer computer coding and gaming among other career options. And Superintendent Nikolai Vitti wants computer coding incorporated into the elementary school curriculum. Florida Times-Union.
Progress reports: The Pasco County School District is researching the value of issuing standards-based report cards. Students could be judged by performance codes, such as Exemplary, Proficient, Approaching and Needs Development, instead of the traditional A-through-F grades. Gradebook.
Budget turkeys: Florida TaxWatch releases its annual list of “turkeys” in this year’s state budget. The policy group finds 143 projects totaling about $105 million that were approved “without proper review.” Gov. Rick Scott has already vetoed $256.1 million from the $82.3 billion budget. One of the projects on the TaxWatch list that Scott approved was $4 million for Osceola County schools construction. Tampa Bay Times. Florida Politics.
Sales tax hike: Members of the Economic Council are asking Palm Beach County commissioners to delay a decision on a planned penny sales tax increase. The county and school district are partnering in requesting the sales tax hike. The Economic Council, a group of influential business leaders, wants a share of the money. Palm Beach Post.
Teachers protest: Clay County teachers are targeting Superintendent Charlie Van Zant Jr. and School Board Chairwoman Johnna McKinnon for defeat in the Aug. 30 primary election. The teachers union says many teachers feel Van Zant and McKinnon don’t respect them as professionals and don’t value their expertise. Florida Times-Union.
After-school programs: Organizations that provide after-school care at Collier County elementary schools are submitting renewal bids and will make their pitches to principals next week. Some schools hire the organizations, while others provide their own programs. Naples Daily News.
Student arrested: An 18-year-old Mount Dora High School student is arrested and accused of shooting metal BBs at other students through a straw in the school’s kitchen area. One student was injured. Daily Commercial. Orlando Sentinel.
Student shot at: Shots are fired Monday at a Dunbar High School student who had just stepped off a school bus in Fort Myers. Fort Myers News-Press.
Opinions on schools: Florida’s experience with curtailing social promotion for third graders who are not not proficient readers provides a good example for Michigan lawmakers to follow. Mackinac Center for Public Policy. With new programs, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties are making progress in improving graduation rates. Jeff Eakins and Michael Grego, Tampa Bay Times and Tampa Tribune. Here are some proposed new “rules” for schools in the wake of the fire-breathing incident. Frank Cerabino, Palm Beach Post. Education Commissioner Pam Stewart’s decision to not grant an exemption from standardized testing for a profoundly disabled student deserves a hearing. Tom Lyons, Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Student enrichment: Ocala’s Shady Hill Elementary School is one of six schools to win a grant and a private concert in a project hosted by Radio Disney and the Give a Note Foundation. Students created a music video for the song Count on Me, by Bruno Mars. Ocala Star Banner. A drawing by Sydney Walters, an 11-year-old at Longwood Elementary School in Shalimar, is made into a custom license plate in Okaloosa County as part of a fund-raising drive. Northwest Florida Daily News.
