Special session: A last-minute deal was struck on increasing per-pupil K-12 spending and providing more money for economic development and tourism, and the Legislature adjourned as scheduled Friday after a three-day special session. Per-pupil spending will go up about $100. Gov. Rick Scott says he’s still deciding whether to sign two other education measures: H.B. 7069, a bill that broadens school choice and funding for charter schools, and a higher education bill that would expand Bright Futures scholarships. Tampa Bay Times and Miami Herald. News Service of Florida. Associated Press. Sun Sentinel. Palm Beach Post. Naples Daily News. Tallahassee Democrat. WFSU. Politico Florida. When the Legislature couldn’t agree on key legislation, Gov. Scott swooped in to take advantage. Mary Ellen Klas, Miami Herald. Was the education budget agreement a hollow victory? Many education advocates say the increased spending still isn’t enough. Miami Herald.
Bills signed: Gov. Scott signs 16 bills into law, including one that strengthens the right to religious expression for students and staff in K-12 schools. Miami Herald. Gradebook.
Testing results: Here are more reports on the results of Florida Standards Assessments testing from districts around the state. Miami Herald. Northwest Florida Daily News. TCPalm. Space Coast Daily. Daytona Beach News-Journal. Daytona Beach News-Journal. Bridge to Tomorrow. Sarasota school officials are encouraged by improvements made by students in testing, and hope they’re enough to maintain the A grade the district has received every year since grades were first given in 2004. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Raises are coming: Volusia County school officials say the budget outlook may be bleak, but average raises of 2.5 percent for employees will arrive in July as promised. The raises will cost $8 million, and the district is facing a $7 million shortfall in funding. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
School board seat: An employee of a homebuilding company applies to Gov. Rick Scott for appointment to an empty seat on the Manatee County School Board, raising concerns from public school advocates who contend builders don’t want to pay their fair share to handle the growth they bring. Bradenton Herald.
Teacher honored: Brittany Montano, who teaches teaches deaf education and American Sign Language at Fort Myers High School, is nominated for the national LifeChanger of the Year award from the National Life Group and the National Life Group Foundation. Fort Myers News-Press.
Speech fallout: An off-the-cuff “campaign” speech in an AP history class a day before the school election for class president got a Vero Beach High School junior disqualified. In the speech, J.P. Krause said he jokingly accused his rival of Communist ideas and of representing another school, and proposed building a wall between the schools. Krause won but was disqualified after a video of the speech was posted on social media. After his story was broadcast, the Pacific Legal Foundation said it would provide him free legal counsel, and has written the school asking he be declared class president. WPTV.
Stadium delay: The $9.5 million renovation of the Tommy Oliver Stadium in Panama City is not likely to be completed in time for the fall football season, according to Bay County School District officials. Panama City News Herald.
A.D. couple retires: Two Pinellas County schools lose veteran athletic coordinators when a couple retires. Donna Blumer was the coordinator at Dixie Hollins High; Steve Blumer at Countryside. Tampa Bay Times.
Opinions on schools: Per-pupil spending is a little higher after the special session, but it’s still a disgrace for the third-largest state in the nation, especially since Republican lawmakers and the governor are intent on hobbling public schools, which must take all comers, in favor of for-profit charter schools, which don’t. Miami Herald. The problem is not that Florida is providing a smaller pot of money for education. It’s that the state has come up with so many unwelcome mandates that many local districts must spend more money to fund them all. John Romano, Tampa Bay Times. Gov. Rick Scott should veto this bad education bill and force the Legislature to craft a new one for the next session with input that does not discriminate against public schools. Florida Times-Union. I’ve come to believe that a community-based education model is essential to the success of children in poverty. Schools should be hubs for low-income communities, providing physical, social, and emotional support for parents and students. Denisha Merriweather, Education Week. A few days ago Gov. Scott line-item vetoed the funds for civics instruction, diverting the money to one of his own projects. Scott’s veto will kneecap former Gov. Bob Graham’s fight against civics illiteracy. Don Gaetz, Pensacola News Journal. The Polk County School District should encourage more students to use the county bus system, but it still should require parental permission. Lakeland Ledger. Too little research is driving vast changes to public education policy, such as school choice. Stances are backed by instinct and ideology rather than unbiased data. Eve Samples, TCPalm. Martin County school officials, like those in most Florida districts, are struggling to fund basic maintenance for aging schools. Martin has projected it has $288 million in capital needs, but expects having only $189 million to meet them. Gil Smart, TCPalm. Okaloosa County School Superintendent Mary Beth Jackson erred in her decision not to adjust school starting times. Dr. Lynn Keefe, Northwest Florida Daily News. Alachua County public school officials deserve credit for beginning a conversation on hidden biases at their annual education summit for school administrators and teachers. Gainesville Sun. Grant programs targeting at-risk students in high-poverty areas should not restrict eligibility because, overall, a school is doing well. Citrus County Chronicle.
Student enrichment: Saul Tejada, a senior at G. Holmes Braddock Senior High School, is one of 20 student-athletes awarded $20,000 from the Foot Locker Scholar Athletes program. Miami Herald. Twenty-one Jewish students from Palm Beach County help struggling families in New Orleans by packing food for the Second Harvest Food Bank, donating Mardi Gras beads to benefit programs for people with intellectual disabilities, and helping build a house. Paul Beach Post.
