Capital funding for schools: A bill that would allow school districts to raise local tax rates for construction and maintenance also would require those districts to share the money with charter schools. Now, Senate PreK-12 Appropriations chairman David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, says if the bill passes, "there won't be a need" for the state to provide money for capital funding. This year, that amount was $150 million. Miami Herald. Politico Florida. redefinED. WFSU.

Education budget cuts: Senate PreK-12 Appropriations chairman David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, releases a list of $46.3 million in cuts to education as "a starting point for our budget discussions." The largest cuts are $14 million from the program for school uniforms, $13.95 million from teacher bonuses and $7 million from administrator professional development. Meanwhile, the Florida House identifies $485 million in education budget cuts in an exercise to meet Speaker Richard Corcoran's call to trim $2 billion from the state budget.  Gradebook. Naples Daily News.

Testing bill: A bipartisan group of Florida state senators are urging the state to make a "common sense" decision to cut back on testing. Their bill would eliminate some tests, move the testing dates to the end of the school year and allow districts to give paper-and-pencil exams instead of online, among other things. Orlando Sentinel. Politico Florida. (more…)