Graduation investigation: The Florida Department of Education launches an investigation to see if school districts are dumping struggling students in their senior years into alternative schools to improve the graduation rates at traditional high schools. Last month, the investigative news website ProPublica reported that alternative schools in the Orange County School District are used as “release valves” that take in students unlikely to graduate. State Board of Education member Gary Chartrand described the report as a “very serious allegation,” and Education Commissioner Pam Stewart said, “It’s critical that every decision is made with the best interest of the students in mind.” Associated Press. Orlando Sentinel. WFSU. Politico Florida.
Charter capital funding: The Florida Board of Education adopts rules that would deny construction funds to charter schools that received two consecutive grades below a C from the state, starting in the 2017-2018 school year. Board members say they are simply trying to follow state law, which requires charter schools to show “satisfactory student achievement” to be eligible for capital funding from the state. Members of the Florida Association of Independent Public Schools, who challenged the rules before with state’s administrative law court, don’t like these revisions either. “This seems like deja vu all over again,” said Mark Gotz, the president of School Development Group. “Charter schools are public schools and need to be treated equally and equitably.” redefinED. Gradebook. Politico Florida.
Charter district: The plan to turn over operations of the struggling Jefferson County School District to a charter company is approved by the Florida Board of Education. The Jefferson board and Somerset Academy are expected to finalize a contract in April, with the charter company opening the county’s elementary, middle and high schools at a single location in August. Jefferson will become the first all-charter district in the state. WFSU. Tallahassee Democrat. Politico Florida.
More from state board: Department of Education officials tell the Florida Board of Education that they are proposing several amendments to the state’s rules on English-language learners (ELL) to adjust to new federal standards. One of the changes would lower the proficiency levels required for ELL students, which some critics think could push those students out of the program before they are ready. The board will vote on the proposed changes at its next meeting. Gradebook. The state board also approves a pilot program that would give select principals in seven counties greater autonomy over the operations at their schools. Broward, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Duval, Jefferson, Madison and Seminole counties will participate. redefinED.
Union bill passes: The House Government Accountability Committee passes a bill that would require Florida’s public employee labor unions – such as those representing teachers – to have at least 50 percent of the workers they represent paying dues in order to retain their certification. The bill is not expected to become law. The Senate’s version of the bill has been assigned to four committees, one of which is chaired by a Democrat. Democrats largely are critical of the bill, calling it at attempt to bust up the unions. Miami Herald.
Vitti and Detroit: Duval County School Superintendent Nikolai Vitti interviews for the Detroit Public Schools superintendent job on April 3, and that school board is expected to make a hiring decision by April 5 or shortly thereafter. The Duval County School Board met Wednesday to discuss what it would do if Vitti leaves. Vitti was not invited to the meeting, but emailed board members a list of potential replacements. Florida Times-Union. Florida Politics. WJAX.
Win for disabled students: The U.S. Supreme Court rules that public schools are required to offer special education programs meeting higher than minimal standards that will let students make progress. The ruling came in a case from Colorado, in which the parents of an autistic student sued the public school district because it did not help their son. “When all is said and done,” said Chief Justice John Roberts, “a student offered an educational program providing merely more than de minimis progress from year to year can hardly be said to have been offered an education at all.” Associated Press. New York Times.
Traffic stop training: Miami-Dade police are holding training sessions to teach students from 17 high schools how to act if they are pulled over on a traffic stop. “There seems to be a growing concern and fear among citizens, especially young people, when they are engaged in encounters with the police,” said Maj. Hector Garcia of the Miami-Dade Schools Police Department. Officers say students should stay calm, pull slowly off the road, keep their hands on the steering wheel and be polite. Miami Herald.
Notable deaths: Brian Dassler, the Florida Department of Education’s deputy chancellor for educator quality, died in his sleep Tuesday morning at the age of 38. A cause of death was not announced, but a Tallahassee police official said Dassler died of natural causes. Tallahassee Democrat. Politico Florida.
Financial literacy training: About 40 middle- and high-school teachers in northeast Florida are being trained by Fidelity Investments to teach their students learn more about managing money. The financial literacy training, which is in partnership with the Florida Council on Economic Education, was launched in February. Florida Times-Union.
Appointing superintendent: Four times, Martin County voters have decided to keep the superintendent’s job as an elected one. But school board member Rebecca Negron wants the board to consider putting the issue before voters again in 2018. She thinks many voters have changed their minds since the last vote in 2010. TCPalm.
School calendar: After months of trying, the Flagler County School Board approves a school calendar for 2017-2018. While the calendar is being cut from 180 days to 179, the days will be slightly longer. Fifteen minutes are being added to the days in middle and high schools, and 10 minutes in elementary schools. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Union election: Donald Persson, a candidate for the presidency of the Palm Beach County teachers union, says the ballot sent to teachers incorrectly and deliberately places a middle initial of J in his name. Persson, whose middle name starts with an R, says the move was an attempt to link him to President Donald J. Trump. Union officials say it was a typo. Persson is one of four candidates who were initially ruled off the ballot by the union on procedural grounds. After the union was criticized, the four candidates were placed on the ballot. Then the union sent an email to all teachers about the election that left off the names of the same four candidates. Palm Beach Post.
Student struck, injured: A 17-year-old walking to school is struck by a van in Pompano Beach that drove away. Angel Garcia, a student at Dave Thomas Education Center, is in stable condition with head injuries. Miami Herald.
Student released: The second student accused of plotting a Columbine-like shooting at the Villages Charter Middle School is placed on house arrest and released in the custody of his grandparents. The boy, 13, is charged with conspiracy to commit premeditated murder after another student reported overhearing a plot. His trial date is set for March 30. The other student arrested, a 14-year-old, pleaded guilty to interfering with a school function and was placed on indefinite probation. Daily Commercial.
Gunfire at church school: A 3-year-old boy fires a gun in a Deltona church school parking lot, and the woman who was supposed to be watching him is arrested on a charge of felony child neglect. Abbie Maldonado, 30, left the boy in the car alone in the parking lot at Good Shepherd Academy. He found a handgun in the car door pocket and pulled the trigger, shattering a car window. Daytona Beach News-Journal. Orlando Sentinel.
Student reports assault: An Island Coast High School student says she was sexually assaulted this week at the school. The girl reported the assault to her mother when she got home. Deputies are investigating. Fort Myers News-Press.
Administrator reprimanded: A principal intern at Southwestern Middle School is reprimanded for not stopping students from making a video that used a rap song containing racially and sexually explicit lyrics. Cameron Robinson was given a verbal warning after the video, which was made in the school cafeteria, was posted to social media. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Opinions on schools: For educators, administrators, and policy-makers, it’s time to question the educational status quo and challenge what has been perceived as gospel. Assessment might not be the solution. Instead, what if an altruism-based education system is most effective? Tanner Jesso, Orlando Sentinel. Nikolai Vitti’s tenure as Duval County school superintendent hasn’t always been smooth, but on the whole he’s improved the district in important ways. Let’s hope Vitti stays instead of leaving for Detroit. Florida Times-Union. Fifty-five students at St. Edward’s School in Vero Beach give up their cell phones for a week to earn extra credit. Laurence Reisman, TCPalm.
Student enrichment: Siyona Mishra, a 13-year-old student at Orlando Science Middle School, wins the Orlando Sentinel-sponsored regional spelling bee and will compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C., in May. Orlando Sentinel. About 1,400 Miami-Dade students get information and counseling for teen health issues such as obesity, depression, anxiety, pregnancy, eating disorders, suicide, bullying and sexual assault through the Health Information Project. Miami Herald.
