Turnarounds. An elementary school fell from A to F over a period of several years. Now teachers and new administrators are determined to turn it around. Pensacola News-Journal. The Lakeland Ledger goes inside a turnaround school. The Polk County School Board has scheduled an update on school turnaround plans. Ledger.
Teacher certification. State lawmakers eye certification requirements as school districts grapple with teacher shortages. WUSF.
Crowding. District officials say Alachua County public schools are “bursting at the seems.” A new elementary school may be in the works, but construction funds are scarce and a tax referendum is on the ballot. Gainesville Sun.
Campaigns. “Islamic charter schools” become a talking point in a Panhandle state House race. Panama City News Herald. In a contested bid for re-election, Rep. Manny Diaz, R-Hialeah, faces attacks over his charter school connections. Sun-Sentinel. State Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, pledges to file a “couple of bills” related to standardized testing as he campaigns for re-election. Panama City News Herald. Bay County’s superintendent faces a rematch with the candidate he unseated to win the post. Panama City News Herald. Both candidates go negative in a Manatee County school board race. Bradenton Herald. A Boy Scout leader squares off with an educator for a Palm Beach County School Board seat. Palm Beach Post.
STEM. Girls talk science and engineering at a weekend conference hosted by the University of Central Florida. Orlando Sentinel. Students at a Flagler aeronautics academy enter the “done zone.” Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Captial. A typo on a tax referendum to fund capital expenditures for Manatee County schools won’t derail the ballot initiative. Bradenton Herald.
Advanced Placement. Participation is up in Hillsborough County, but the district stumbles while communicating its results for black students. Tampa Bay Times.
Foreign exchange. French students will visit Crestview High in future years as part of a cultural exchange program. Northwest Florida Daily News.
Superintendents. Sexual harassment allegations that dog Sarasota’s next superintendent trouble a Sarasota Herald-Tribune columnist.
Facilities. High school renovations are in the works in Pasco County. Gradebook.
Calendars. Districts contemplate schedules for the 2017-18 school year. Gradebook.
Mayor for a day. Elementary students try their hand running a small town. Panama City News Herald.
It’s back. Brevard’s Astronaut High revives its homecoming parade. Florida Today.
