In the Legislature: The Florida legislative session kicked off Tuesday with a host of issues to watch, from school vouchers to school board races. Fox 13. The Florida Senate Education PreK-12 Committee advanced the “Teachers’ Bill of Rights” legislation that Gov. Ron DeSantis proposed in January. SB 244 would create[Read More…]
Author: Camille Knox
Efforts to hire Black and Hispanic male teachers, character education, teacher turnover and more
Around the state: The school board in Sarasota is expected to discuss a state-mandated character education program today, a first of its kind job apprenticeship program helps find opportunities for the blind and visually impaired, and Spanish-speaking school officers are needed. Here are details about those stories and other developments[Read More…]
Filming fights prompts debate, graduation rates decline, Teachers Bill of Rights proposed and more
In the Legislature: Sen. Alexis Calatayud introduced legislation to create a Teachers Bill of Rights aimed at changing the rules around how teachers are certified, disciplined and investigated by state officials. SB 244 creates the Teacher Apprenticeship Program, introduces new eligibility criteria for the state’s Dual Enrollment Educator Scholarship and[Read More…]
Students decorate crosswalks, boundary vote ahead, teacher beats odds to win award and more
Around the state: A teacher in Hillsborough who fought for her life after a medical diagnosis won an Educator of the Year award, the Florida Department of Education told school districts to produce detailed information about the programs and materials they use to address subjects that have been hotly debated,[Read More…]
University students participate in walkouts, school voucher plan figures differ and more
In the Legislature: A new bill submitted to the state House of Representatives would allow districts to put cameras in classrooms. HB 985, would require video cameras to be placed in certain public and charter school classrooms. Teachers in the classrooms with cameras would have to wear microphones during the school day,[Read More…]
Banned book battle continues to brew, students take part in a teddy bear drive and more
Around the state: A group of parents are rallying behind an Orange County teacher, a principal was arrested in Brevard, a theater company created an independent library of banned books and students in Broward participated in a teddy bear drive for first responders to give to children. Here are details[Read More…]
School choice bill advances in state Senate, bus woes in Pinellas, student fundraisers and more
In the Legislature: During a hearing on Tuesday, freshman Sen. Corey Simon introduced a proposal to make private school vouchers available to all Florida students, and the Senate Education PreK-12 Committee voted 9-3 along party lines to approve SB 202. The bill would end current eligibility requirements for vouchers, such[Read More…]
Book donations, the parental power index, school lawsuits and more
Around the state: High school students in Lee donated thousands of books to an elementary school that lost everything during Hurricane Ian, parents in Brevard spoke out against proposed changes to the district’s disciplinary rules and an investigation revealed new information about Bright Futures scholarships. Here are details about those[Read More…]