Cost of a tax break: Preliminary calculations estimate that Florida school districts would lose millions of dollars in tax revenue if the Legislature approves a bill capping education property taxes for Floridians over 65 who have owned and lived in their homes for at least 25 years, and voters approve it as a constitutional amendment. In Pasco County, for instance, the district would lose about $744,567 if the law eliminates school taxes for anyone 65 or older who qualifies, as originally proposed in the bill, and $201,760 if education taxes are capped at the current level. The bill is sponsored by state Sen. Manny Diaz, R-Hialeah. Gradebook. Florida Phoenix.

Fund for Parkland victims: If the Legislature approves a $160 million fund to compensate families of the 34 people killed or injured in the Parkland school shooting, it would be be sidestepping the usual state process and give the victims preferential treatment over other people hurt by government negligence. The state already has a process in place for compensating such victims, but the state's liability is capped at $200,000 for one victim and $300,000 for all victims in the same incident. Payments above that require legislative approval, which can take years. Sun Sentinel. (more…)

Hope Scholarship delays: While the new state scholarship for bullied students technically begins when school resumes in August, funds for the Hope Scholarships won't be available until after Oct. 1 and possibly not until later in November. The scholarships will be funded through voluntary donations of the $105 from the sales tax that drivers pay for vehicle transactions. The collections do not begin until Oct. 1 and car dealers have 20 days to report their previous month's tax collections, which could delay the money being available until Nov. 20 or later. The scholarships are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and state analysts project a demand of about $27 million in the first year. Step Up For Students, which hosts this blog, will help administer the program. News Service of Florida.

Kavanaugh and education: U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh has defended then-Gov. Jeb Bush's Florida school vouchers program against a constitutional challenge in 2000, publicly praised attempts to break down the barriers between religious schools participating in programs financed with public funds, and supported the use of public address systems for student-led prayers at public school events in Texas. The 74. Miami Herald. Politico. Sun-Sentinel. Education Week. (more…)