A bill that would streamline the approval process for K-12 state school choice scholarships got the green light on Wednesday in House Appropriations Committee. House Bill 5101 passed with little debate, with Democrats Anika Omphroy of Sunrise, Nicholas X. Duran of Miami, and Patricia Williams of Fort Lauderdale joining the[Read More…]
2022 Florida Legislature
Word for Word: Florida House Speaker Chris Sprowls on New Worlds Reading Initiative and state’s drive to improve early literacy
Editor’s note: Throughout the week, the Florida Department of Education is recognizing the 14th annual Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! Florida House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, joined Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran at a news conference at a Wakulla County elementary school to highlight the New[Read More…]
Florida legislators give nod to bill that would streamline school choice scholarship approval process
Members of Florida’s Senate education committee today approved a bill that would simplify the approval process for Florida families who are applying for K-12 education choice scholarships. The 6-3 vote along party lines saw all Republicans in favor. Senate Bill 1348, which the committee amended, would make technical fixes to[Read More…]
Florida legislative roundtable: What to expect this session
In the first in a series of conversations about education-related outcomes of the 2022 Florida legislative session, reimaginED senior writer Lisa Buie hosted Step Up For Students president Doug Tuthill and chief operating officer Gina Lynch in a discussion about the surge in applications since the passage of last year’s[Read More…]
Senate president praises Florida as ‘the promised land for education-minded families’
Editor’s note: The Florida Legislature began its 60-day session today with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ state of the state address and opening speeches from the Senate president and the speaker of the House of Representatives. Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Spring Hill, cited passage of the nation’s largest education choice expansion in[Read More…]
Florida lawmakers set to convene 124th regular legislative session
The Florida Legislature’s annual session begins today and runs through March 11. Unlike last year, when state lawmakers passed the nation’s largest expansion of education choice, this year is expected to be marked by more modest changes aimed mainly at improving efficiency for schools and families. Here is an overview[Read More…]
Senate Bill 1348 would make it easier for scholarship families in Florida to receive scholarship funds for their children
The following bill has been filed for the 2022 Florida legislative session, which begins Jan. 11 and runs through March 11. BILL NO: SB 1348 TITLE: Educational Choice Scholarships SPONSOR: Sen. Manny Diaz – Hialeah Gardens WHAT IT WOULD DO: Eliminate program caps, and because the increase in income threshold[Read More…]
Senate Bill 1294 would allow parents of public school students to record meetings with IEP team
The following bill has been filed for the 2022 Florida legislative session, which begins Jan. 11 and runs through March 11. BILL NO: SB 1294 TITLE: Individual Education Plan Meetings SPONSOR: Sen. Joe Gruters, R – Sarasota WHAT IT WOULD DO: It would add to ss. 1002.20 and 1014.04, F.S.[Read More…]