Failure Factories: The Tampa Bay Times has won a Pulitzer Prize for local reporting for its stories on five failing St. Petersburg elementary schools. The series, labeled Failure Factories, detailed how the Pinellas County School District abandoned integration efforts in 2007 and then failed to provide adequate resources for the schools, which became predominantly poor, black and failing. Tampa Bay Times. Florida Politics.
Civil rights query: The Escambia County School District is being investigated by the Office of Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education for allegations related to a hazing incident on a school bus involving the West Florida High School junior varsity football team. The parent of one of the students punished alleges her son was treated differently because he's black; that he and his mother, a teacher, were retaliated against after complaining; and that the district treats black students differently than nonblacks in the administration of discipline. Pensacola News Journal.
Science testing change: Next year, the state's annual state science test for fifth- and eighth-graders is tentatively scheduled for late March, a full month earlier than this year. But science teachers oppose the change, saying their students need the extra month to prepare. The Department of Education says it will consider those concerns before making a final decision. Gradebook.
Budget shortfall: Broward County school officials are projecting a $4 million budget deficit for the 2016-2017 school year. They cite inflation, a change in school schedules and an increase in the cost of fringe benefits. Sun-Sentinel. (more…)
Florida school districts would no longer be defined exclusively by county lines, under a constitutional amendment proposed by two state lawmakers.
If passed by the Legislature and approved by voters, the amendments would allow the state or local governments to create new school districts — a concept analogous, in some ways, to the Recovery School District that helped transform the school system in New Orleans, or the Achievement School District in Tennessee.
Cities would be able to run their own school districts under the proposal. Local governments, like city or county commissions, could take the place of existing school boards. And the Legislature would have the power to abolish school districts by law.
The amendment, proposed in resolutions filed Tuesday by state Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg and Rep. Matt Caldwell, R-Fort Myers, would shake up Florida's current constitutional regime, which states that "each county shall constitute a school district" with the power to "operate, control and supervise all free public schools" within its boundaries. (more…)
Diaz
As attention swirls around efforts to turn around persistently struggling schools, Florida lawmakers want to give some principals more money, extra training and more operational freedom to improve their schools' performance.
Rep. Manny Diaz, R-Hialeah, a former school administrator, has repeatedly pushed legislation that would give principals in traditional public schools some of the same autonomy enjoyed by charter schools.
This year, he's morphed the proposal into a new approach for turning around low-performing schools, especially in large urban districts.
Under the principal-autonomy pilot program in HB 287, school districts could select highly rated principals to take over schools with a string of "D" or "F" ratings.
The principals could receive special training from the University of Virginia, and up to $10,000 in extra money. Districts would need to give them "increased fiscal and administrative autonomy" and more freedom under state regulations. In return, the schools would need to set performance targets. (more…)
Failure Factories. U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan calls his visit to South Pinellas County schools "the beginning, not the end." Tampa Bay Times.
Testing. The New York Times covers Florida's testing controversy. Parents will soon get the results from last spring's round of testing. Orlando Sentinel. A Miami Beach parent-teacher organization weighs in. Gradebook. An outmoded testing rule will be taken off the books. Gradebook.
Parental choice. The EdFly recaps parents' discussion of the impact of reform.
Philanthropy. The Tampa Bay Times looks at the hidden costs of a Gates Foundation grant in Hillsborough.
Class size. The Sun-Sentinel explores the complications of Florida's constitutional requirement.
Digital learning. The Palm Beach Post talks to an award-winning librarian. Collier parents get tech training. Naples Daily News.
STEM. A student's project to combat toxic algae wins awards. Stuart News. Students visit an agriculture extension to learn about science and farming. Ocala Star-Banner. (more…)
Failure factories. The latest Tampa Bay Times investigation installment looks at teacher quality in segregated schools.
Teachers unions. The Florida Education Association taps new leadership. Gradebook. Miami Herald. Politico Florida looks at the legacy of the statewide teachers union's outgoing president, the long-serving Andy Ford.
Discipline. Suspensions are down in Hillsborough. Tampa Tribune.
STEM. Should computer coding be treated like a foreign language? Tampa Bay Times. Sentinel School Zone.
Budgets. Districts deal with dwindling money for repairs. Sun-Sentinel. Volusia schools seek donations. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Dual enrollment. Should for-profit colleges have access to the program? Gradebook.
Gifted. Broward programs become more diverse. Sun-Sentinel.
Testing. Districts follow different paths on end-of-course assessments. Orlando Sentinel. Thousands of state tests went un-graded. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. (more…)
Catholic schools. A South Florida Catholic school revitalizes itself. Sun-Sentinel.
Testing. Escambia schools pare back local testing. Pensacola News-Journal. Scoring on new state assessments may be tougher than FCAT. School Zone. Gradebook. The Senate's education chairman says testing changes will be up for discussion this year. Gradebook.
Charter schools. Longhorn Steakhouse hosts a fundraiser for a Viera charter school. Florida Today. Answer Sheet blogger Valerie Strauss bashes Jeb Bush and Florida charters.
Failure factories. State education officials are investigating Pinellas schools' spending on their most disadvantaged students. Tampa Bay Times.
Graduation. Duval school board members debate limiting graduation ceremonies to students in line for diplomas. Florida Times-Union. (more…)
Testing. Florida's testing system is deemed valid, but questions remain. Politico Florida. StateImpact. Associated Press. News Service of Florida. Tampa Bay Times. Miami Herald. Sun-Sentinel. Sentinel School Zone. Palm Beach Post. Fort Myers News-Press. Bradenton Herald. Naples Daily News. Lakeland Ledger. Ocala Star-Banner. Gainesville Sun. Tallahassee Democrat. Sunshine State News.
Failure factories. The Tampa Bay Times tells the story of dozens of students in resegregated schools.
Jeb Bush. The presidential candidate bashes teachers unions for opposing school choice policies in a Townhall column. The former Florida governor visits a South Florida school. WPLG. WTVJ. WSVN. WFOR.
Growth. Sarasota schools plan to present their growth plans. Sarastota Herald-Tribune.
Social media. Hillsborough sets a new social media policy for student-teacher interaction. Tampa Tribune.
Dual enrollment. Miami-Dade students flock to dual enrollment programs. WTVJ.
Facilities. The official in charge of a Broward school construction bond quits. Sun-Sentinel. An A/C failure leaves Merritt Island students uncomfortable. Florida Today. The Volusia school board looks for ways to finance a new school. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Magnet schools. A Pasco magnet school principal tells students it's OK to fail, as long as they learn from it. Tampa Bay Times. A Palm Beach magnet school celebrates its 25th anniversary. Sun-Sentinel.
Charter schools. A successful conversion charter elementary may grow into the middle grades. Bradenton Herald.
School choice. Tax credit scholarship recipient-turned-grad-student Denisha Merriweather writes in the Tampa Tribune that she's living proof school choice can work. Step Up For Students, which co-hosts this blog and employs the author of this post, helps administer the program.
Failure factories. Pinellas schools officials are working to address problems in South St. Petersburg, and parental choice may be part of the answer, Superintendent Mike Grego writes in the Tampa Bay Times.
Weather. Hendry County closes schools Monday amid flooding concerns; other districts remain open. Fort Myers News-Press.
Testing. A testing validity study is expected this week, after a delay. Sentinel School Zone. Gradebook. Orlando Sentinel columnist Beth Kassab weighs in on lawmakers considering changes.
TFA. The organization's new Orange County operation brings 18 recruits to schools. Orlando Sentinel.
Back to school. A school with lots of low-income students gets help with supplies. Bay News 9. A Methodist church extends a helping hand in Brevard. Florida Today.
STEM. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune profiles a teenage science whiz.
Safety. A Tallahassee high school student works to improve relations between students and police. Tallahassee Democrat. A woman under the influence tries to pick children up from school. WKMG.
Testing. The cyberattack on state testing systems remains under investigation. Associated Press. Florida's ACT scores rise but still trail the rest of the country. School Zone. Mother Jones profiles an Orlando teen who opted out of state testing.
Charter schools. State Rep. Erik Fresen talks reform with the Broward County School Board. Sun-Sentinel. A troubled Brevard charter school faces a 90-day ultimatum. Florida Today. Bay schools reach transportation agreements with a local charter school network. Panama City News Herald.
Rankings. Miami-Dade magnet and charter schools earn top marks from Newsweek. Miami Herald.
Failure factories. The community addresses a recent Tampa Bay Times investigation during a school board meeting.
Growth. Pasco public school enrollment jumps, surprising officials in some areas. Gradebook.
Back to school. Hillsborough, Lee and Manatee students return. Tampa Bay Times. Naples Daily News. Bradenton Herald.
Discipline. A Hillsborough middle school cuts back on out-of-school suspensions. Tampa Tribune. Black students face disproportionate punishment. School Zone. (more…)
Tax credit scholarships. Convert the program to a private charity with no tax-credit support, a Florida Times-Union guest column argues.
Growth. Orange County gets new public schools for the new year. Orlando Sentinel.
Failure factories. Black lawmakers in South Pinellas County say promises to their community were broken. Tampa Bay Times.
Magnet schools. Magnet schools will absorb some East Tampa students who otherwise would have been bused to the suburbs. Tampa Bay Times.
Charter schools. Brevard considers closing a financially troubled charter. Florida Today.
Testing. Top lawmakers consider national tests. Politico Florida. Pasco's superintendent backs Seminole County's testing proposal. Gradebook. A poll finds the public may have testing fatigue. Orlando Sentinel School Zone. More here. A Tampa Bay Times columnist bashes former Gov. Jeb Bush on choice and testing.
Back to school. So far, it seems to be going smoothly around the state. Miami Herald. Tampa Bay Times. Tampa Tribune (more here). Daytona Beach News-Journal. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Bradenton Herald. A Polk high school expands its career academy and Cambridge offerings. Lakeland Ledger. Some Pasco students started preparing over the summer. Tampa Bay Times.
