Sparking the evolution of education choice
TALLAHASSEE – Florida state Sen. Manny Diaz Jr. on Thursday said Senate leaders hope to implement a “Family Empowerment Scholarship” to eliminate a waiting list for the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship for lower-income families. Gov. Ron DeSantis made a similar pledge last week, saying he wanted to create an “Equal[Read More…]
A Florida Senate panel advanced a proposal to create a new educational choice scholarship for victims of violence, harassment or bullying. The sponsor, Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, made changes to SB 1172 that would address some concerns opponents raised when the House advanced its Hope Scholarship legislation in November. Public-school principals[Read More…]
The Florida Senate this morning has teed up debate on an overhaul of the school funding plan lawmakers approved last month. Proposals on the agenda would strip all the funding out of House Bill 7069 — the wide-ranging, $419 million education measure that’s been the center of controversy — except for one item:[Read More…]
Nearly 200 of Florida’s lowest-performing public schools would have to make dramatic changes, or could soon see more of their students leaving for “Schools of Hope” run by national charter school operators, under a bill headed to Gov. Rick Scott’s desk. The wide-ranging education policy overhaul would affect everything from[Read More…]
The Florida Senate had a guest in the chamber to celebrate legislation that would expand an educational choice program for children with special needs. Jimbo Fisher, Florida State University’s football coach, brought his son, Ethan, to the capitol. The 12-year-old, who’s celebrating his birthday, has been diagnosed Fanconi anemia, a[Read More…]
A pair of bills that would strengthen Florida private school choice programs advanced through the Senate’s full appropriations committee this morning with bipartisan support. The committee approved SB 1314 by Sen. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring. It would increase the amount of funding students can receive through the state’s tax credit scholarship*[Read More…]
Key members of the Florida Senate hinted they could get on board with the state House’s ambitious “Schools of Hope” plan to bring more top charter schools into areas where existing public schools struggle. But they also hinted they’d want changes to the concept. They said they’d like to steer[Read More…]
Florida lawmakers are moving closer to an agreement that would create more stable, predictable funding for charter school facilities. The state House is pushing ahead with a plan, included in its budget package, that would require school districts to steer some of their local property taxes to charters. A similar[Read More…]
