Common Core: National support for the Common Core State Standards has fallen to the lowest level in five years, according to a report in Education Next, a journal published by the Harvard Kennedy School’s Program on Education Policy and Governance. Only about 42 percent of those polled support the standards, down from 90 percent in 2012. The report also shows that support remains as high as ever for testing, charter schools, tax credits to support private school choice, merit pay for teachers and teacher tenure reform. Sunshine State News.
School threats: School officials struggle to stay ahead of rumors and social media when it comes to online threats made against schools. Tampa Bay Times. Parents of students at Coral Springs High School are questioning how a former student could get on campus with a loaded gun. District officials say the school does not have a limited access single point of entry, which they plan to address with proceeds from an $800 million bond referendum, but there are no guarantees that it can’t happen again. Sun-Sentinel.
Money for SACs cut: The Hillsborough County School District has cut funding for school advisory committees, saying it has run out of money for the programs. SACs help districts put together improvement plans and vote on how to spend school bonuses. Tampa Bay Times.
Opt-out and election: Members of the Opt-Out Florida Network create a voter guide outlining candidates’ positions on state testing, and are campaigning for those who also oppose the state’s use of the Florida Standards Assessments. WFSU.
New schools: Palm Bay Preparatory Academy, which has run a charter middle/high school for grades 6-12 for the last eight years in Bay County, is given the go-ahead to add an elementary school. After the school board approved, school officials said the elementary school would be open next fall. Panama City News Herald. Rocky Bayou Christian School is opening a kindergarten through fifth grade school next August at the Central Baptist Church in Crestview. Northwest Florida Daily News.
LGBTQ support: LGBTQ students in Collier County are finding support from the Naples chapter of the Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. Naples Daily News.
Superintendent search: More than 300 people turn out to ask questions of the three finalists to succeed retiring Manatee County School Superintendent Lori White. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
School bus routes: The Okaloosa County Public Works, Okaloosa School District and the sheriff’s office are jointly applying for a grant from the state to improve safety along students’ routes to schools. The Safe Routes to School grant would pay for new sidewalks, signage and lighting for pedestrians and bikers within a two-mile radius of the county’s most deserving schools. Northwest Florida Daily News.
School in mourning: Grief counselors are on hand at Hillsborough High School to help students deal with the death of Ashley Perdomo, a popular senior. She was struck Wednesday night by a hit-and-run driver who was later arrested. Tampa Bay Times. WFLA. WTSP.
Student enrichment: Jefferson County Middle School receives a $1,000 grant from the U.S. Tennis Association-Florida section. The money was given to help the school buy tennis equipment to use in physical education classes. ECB Publishing. In the corner of the cafeteria at Westwood Middle School in Gainesville is a play area called Standing Room Only. Students earn time in the game area with good behavior. Gainesville Sun.
