Measuring progress: Lee County School Superintendent Greg Adkins says the district will create its own scorecard for measuring school progress. "The state has changed its accountability system over 60 times. If you keep changing the system, how will we really know how well we are doing when we are being measured against a moving target?" Adkins asked at a public forum this week. Naples Daily News.

Special needs scholarships: Gov. Rick Scott signs the bill that widens educational and scholarship options for developmentally disabled students. The bill increases funding for the Personal Learning Scholarship Account program by 33 percent, to $73 million a year. Step Up For Students, which hosts this blog, helps administer the accounts. Sunshine State News.

City school districts: A constitutional amendment that would allow cities to form their own school districts is still under consideration, says its sponsor. But Rep. Matt Caldwell, R-North Fort Myers, says he is still getting feedback and it may take more than one legislative session to get it going. The Florida Constitution now requires districts to be drawn on county lines. News Service of Florida.

Charter schools: Two virtual charter schools in Broward and Palm Beach counties could be closed after an audit discloses poor student performance, allegations of ethical breaches and hostility between the schools' governing board and management company. Florida Virtual Academy at Broward's governing board oversees both schools. Sun-Sentinel. The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools files a brief to Florida's Fourth District Appeals Court supporting the Department of Educations's contention that it can review appeals when charter school applications are rejected by local school boards. National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. The Pasco Charter Academy, which was initially rejected but later approved by the Pasco County School Board, won't open until the 2017-2018 school year. The school will be run by Charter Schools USA. Gradebook.

School recess: A bill moving through the Florida Legislature would require recess for elementary students. The playtime would be supervised and unstructured, and could not be withheld as punishment. The biggest issue appears to be finding 20 minutes in the day for recess. Bradenton Herald. (more…)