By Lloyd Dunkelberger / News Service of Florida

TALLAHASSEE --- The Florida Board of Education on Monday unanimously approved the appointment of former House Speaker Richard Corcoran as the next state education commissioner.

Corcoran, a Land O’Lakes attorney who served as a Republican House speaker from 2016 until last month, will succeed Pam Stewart, a veteran educator who has led the Department of Education since 2013. Stewart will step down on Jan. 8.

The appointment of Corcoran, who has scant education experience but a lengthy political resume, was all but assured when Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis announced his support for the former lawmaker. As speaker, Corcoran made a top priority of expanding charter schools and using voucher-like programs to send students to private schools.

“Richard will be a bold leader committed to the success of students, parents, and teachers,” DeSantis said in a congratulatory tweet on Monday.

Corcoran has clashed with the Florida Education Association, a statewide teachers union. In part, he backed a law that will force local teachers’ unions to disband if their membership falls below 50 percent of the employees they represent in the collective-bargaining process.

Fedrick Ingram, president of the Florida Education Association, said he was “disappointed” in the state board’s decision but is hoping for a more “collaborative” relationship with Corcoran. The union has invited Corcoran to visit schools to see successful programs, which Corcoran said he would like to do.

“If you don’t bring all stakeholders to the table, then our children are in the balance,” Ingram said.

Ingram said teachers want Corcoran to address issues like the amount of testing students face, class sizes and the need to recruit and retain teachers.

“The fact that he is not an educator doesn’t mean he can’t do the job. But he’s got some learning to do,” Ingram said.

Corcoran said he is a strong supporter of traditional public schools as well as being an advocate for “choice” programs like charter schools and vouchers.

He said his initial agenda as commissioner would mirror policies outlined by DeSantis in this year’s gubernatorial campaign. The priorities include the expansion of vocational and technical programs, curriculum improvements, revising education standards and making sure 80 percent of education funding is spent in classrooms.

“Those are bold, optimistic visions on (the governor’s) part. I share it,” Corcoran said.

He said the expansion of alternative education programs, such as charter schools and vouchers, would also be part of his and the new governor’s agenda.

“I think that wherever we can expand choice, as Gov. DeSantis has said, and it’s forensically proven to be an uplifting, tremendous outcome for the children, we’ll say it today. We’ll say it tomorrow. We’ll say it forever,” Corcoran said. “The whole focus is on giving every single child the opportunity at a world-class education. They deserve no less.”

Under questioning from board members, Corcoran explained his relationship to the charter school movement.

His six children attend a charter school in Pasco County that focuses on a “classical” education, including Latin, Greek, rhetoric and logic classes. His wife, Anne, who is an attorney, helped found the school. But he said neither he nor his wife have any financial interest in the school.

His brother, Michael, is a lobbyist for the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools.

Most of the testimony during Monday’s meeting at the Capitol was in support of Corcoran’s appointment.

But Catherine Baer of Common Ground, an education advocacy group, urged the board to conduct a national search before making a decision on the new commissioner.

She also said the expansion of charter schools, which serve about 10 percent of Florida’s 2.8 million K-12 students, has created “a parallel” education system that is not helping the neediest students.

Mark Wilson, president of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, which endorsed Corcoran’s appointment, said a national search was not necessary, noting similar searches resulted in hiring two commissioners who each lasted a year or less before Stewart was hired in 2013.

Wilson said outgoing Gov. Rick Scott was “right” about hiring Stewart, and DeSantis is “absolutely right” in recommending Corcoran’s appointment.

The details of Corcoran’s start date and his salary will be worked out in negotiations with Marva Johnson, chairwoman of the Board of Education. Stewart is being paid $276,000 a year.

---- News Service Assignment Manager Tom Urban contributed to this report.

Charter schools: A report from the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools shows that the massive growth in charter school enrollment experienced by Palm Beach County schools this year is not an isolated incident. Palm Beach Post. More from the Tampa Bay Times. The Leon County School Board on Wednesday unanimously approved a charter application that would create a new charter middle school. Tallahassee Democrat.

Private schools: After a nationwide search, St. John’s Episcopal Parish Day School in Tampa announces the appointment of Robert S. Stephens Jr. as head of school, effective July 1. The Tampa Tribune.  More from Tampa Bay Times.

Jeb Bush: The former Florida governor has reformed the public education system successfully and achieved impressive results, writes Diane Francis for the National Post.

Pay raises: Miami-Dade County school police and bus drivers will see raises under tentative agreements. Miami Herald.

School construction: Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam is building support for a plan that would cut some sales taxes paid by businesses and pump money into public school construction. The Buzz.

School grades: StateImpact Florida explains Florida's revamped school grading model. More from The Florida Current. Local school officials say a state proposal to fix the school grade formula falls short. Tampa Bay Times.

Legislation: The Florida affiliate of the National Rifle Association is supporting a proposal that would prevent children from being disciplined for playing with simulated weapons in school. Miami Herald.

Principals: Polk County approves appointments  for three new principals. The Ledger.

(more…)

Charter schools: Pivot Charter Schools backs away from its application after Volusia County school officials prepare to reject the charter because it doesn't fill a unique niche, among other concerns. Daytona Beach News-Journal.

Common Core: Palm Beach County parents sound off during a public meeting about the new standards. Palm Beach Post. Florida superintendents want to move forward with implementing the Common Core. Tampa Bay Times.

Pam Stewart: The career educator has proven to be the “go-to” person in Florida education leadership. Florida Times-Union.

New bills: State Sen. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, files two bills to prevent some of students' personal information from being gathered. Tampa Bay Times.

High-tech: A Lee County technical high school turns around its rough image with a diverse STEM program. Fort Myers News-Press.

Teacher pay: The Palm Beach County Classroom Teachers Association proposes raises that reward experienced teachers. Palm Beach Post.

FCAT: An Orange County third-grader held back because she failed the FCAT by one point may be the impetus for a legislative push to change the state's decade-old retention law. Bay News 9. (more…)

Education Commissioner: Florida Board of Education leaders appoint interim Commissioner Pam Stewart to the permanent post. The Buzz.  Outgoing board member Kathleen Shanahan blasts department leaders for not giving clear direction on the new Common Core State Standards, and delaying a decision on which exams will replace FCATs. The Buzz. More from the Sun Sentinel, Palm Beach Post, StateImpact Florida, Associated Press, Florida Times-Union.

Rick Scott: Two State Board of Education members criticize Gov. Rick Scott’s leadership on education issues, highlighting a rift between Scott and former Gov. Jeb Bush. StateImpact Florida.

Teacher raises: More than four months after Gov. Rick Scott and the Legislature approved $480 million in raises for educators, teachers in South Florida have yet to see a dime. Sun Sentinel.

Charter schools: The Board of Education closes a Broward County charter school that received two F grades in a row, leaving parents of 249 children scrambling to find a new school. Sun Sentinel. More than 250 Broward charter school students are roaming the palatial halls of the chandelier-laden Signature Grand - the school's new home. Sun Sentinel. After years of watching students opt for private or charter schools, the  superintendent of Duval County Public Schools says it’s time to fight and  recapture those children. Florida Times-Union. Sarasota County School Board members criticize some applications for new charter schools, calling them "bizarre" and "disrespectful" and accusing one of plagiarism. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Only months after its elementary school was closed due to poor performance, Imagine Charter School's middle school  in St. Petersburg may face a similar fate. The Tampa Tribune.

Dual enrollment: The Martin County School Board reluctantly approves the first local dual enrollment agreement with Indian River State College. TC Palm.

School spending: Months after cutting educators and tightening spending in the name of financial stability, the Manatee County School Board approves a final spending plan that calls for more teachers because of enrollment increases. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. The district is in the midst of hiring the teachers and moving students into new classrooms after the final count of students came in at 46,008. Bradenton Herald.

(more…)

Florida has a new education commissioner: Pam Stewart, a career educator widely viewed as capable and accomplished but not a crusader.

The state Board of Education voted 7-0 Tuesday to hire Stewart to replace Tony Bennett, the nationally known former commissioner who resigned abruptly last month after media reports suggested he rigged school grades in Indiana to benefit a politically connected charter school.

For a full decade, Florida education leaders flexed their ed reform muscles when it came to landing commissioners, choosing either big names or politically potent ones or both. But with Stewart, they opted for a more low-key leader - one they hope will offer a steady hand during a turbulent time.

"We're at a pivotal time in Florida education, and so we're going to look to you to work diligently to lead us through," said BOE Chairman Gary Chartrand.

"I'm cognizant of the times that we're in and the critical nature of the work that we're doing," Stewart said immediately after the vote. "We've got to get it right. I am committed to getting that right."

Stewart, who was appointed interim after Bennett’s departure, is the fourth permanent commissioner under first-term Republican Gov. Rick Scott. She is arguably the least polarizing schools chief since Florida went to appointed commissioners in 2003; the one with the deepest ties to what reformers sometimes call the “education establishment"; and the one with the least direct connections to former Gov. Jeb Bush. In Florida, commissioners are technically appointed by the BOE but none have been hired without the blessing of the sitting governor.

Unlike with the last three commissioners, the board opted Tuesday not to do a national search. The past two searches yielded fields that many education observers considered weak, and a third sub-par pool would have put a deeper stain on Florida’s ed reform rep. Over the past 15 years, Florida students have netted some of the sharpest gains in the country with NAEP scores, AP results and grad rates. But in recent years, their often-overlooked rise has been further overshadowed by high turnover in the commissioner’s office and highly publicized problems with the state’s accountability system.

"This is a critical year. We've had our changes and some people might want to call it turmoil," said board member Barbara Feingold. "I think you can get us with stability and with clarity to the right place."

Stewart faces serious challenges. (more…)

Tony Bennett: A new report finds the school grading formula changes that former Florida Education Commissioner Tony Bennett made in Indiana in 2012 were “plausible” and “consistently applied” to all schools. StateImpact Florida. More from Tampa Bay Times. More from the Associated Press. The report showcases the problems with implementing a radically new school-rating system. Education Week. "We finally have a resolution,'' writes Rick Hess for Education Week. "The headline: Bennett exonerated.'' What if Tony Bennett was right and the Associated Press got it wrong? writes a guest columnist for Journal & Courier.

School discipline: A Broward County student's expulsion for bringing a taser to school to stay safe sparks discussion about the district's discipline policy. Sun Sentinel.

Charter schools: Proponents of the nontraditional public schools in Palm Beach County say their growth may be easing crowding in district-run schools. Palm Beach Post. The Palm Beach County School Board votes this week on a charter school application from the City of West Palm Beach. Palm Beach Post. Central Florida school boards will consider nearly three dozen charter school applications in the coming weeks. Orlando Sentinel.

Teacher raises: St. Lucie and Martin county school teachers may see less of a pay raise than expected.  TC Palm. Brevard Public Schools and its teachers union will go before a special magistrate later this month to decide teacher salaries. Florida Today.

Tutoring: Changes at the state level have given the Lee County school district and others across Florida more control over tutoring services, also known as supplemental education services or SES. Fort Myers News-Press.

Superintendents: Hillsborough County Superintendent MaryEllen Elia receives high praise and highly critical marks in her annual eval. Tampa Bay Times.

(more…)

Ed summit: Education leaders from across the state convene for a three-day conference that could shape the future of teaching, testing and a school-grading system. Palm Beach Post. More from the Orlando Sentinel, Associated Press, Tampa Bay Times. Long before the summit, former Education Commissioner Tony Bennett had made it clear he might recommend Florida shift gears and pick a new replacement for FCAT other than PARCC. School Zone. Interim Education Commissioner Pam Stewart tells reporters her goal for the summit is to listen. StateImpact Florida.

Common Core: Tampa Bay Times' columnist Dan DeWitt confirms that Common Core State Standards will not allow the federal government to mine the DNA of unsuspecting students among other criticisms of the new measures.

PTA: A Weston parent-teacher association is reinstated after it was shut down for paying members $10 an hour to volunteer and for keeping shoddy financial records. Sun Sentinel.

Charter schools: The Coalition of Boynton West Residential Associations is not supporting Broward County's proposed construction of Trails charter school because there are too many schools in the area, the group says. Sun Sentinel. Lake Wales Charter Schools grapples with a good thing: an increase in enrollment. The Ledger.

Class size: Duval County has a plan that includes giving teachers extra pay if they choose to teach another  class and moving teachers from under-enrolled schools to schools that enrolled  more students than anticipated. Florida Times-Union.

(more…)

Charter schools. Brooksville's first charter school, one with a STEM focus, will open this fall, reports the Tampa Bay Times. Competition from charter schools is forcing the Palm Beach County school district to think harder about its needs and priorities, reports the Palm Beach Post. Charters are also sparking debate among Palm Beach school board members about how much help they should give struggling charters, the Post also reports. An op-ed in the Miami Herald raises concerns about charter schools' diversity and financial incentives. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune profiles the principal of the Imagine charter school that is trying to break free from the parent company.

Magnet schools. The Tampa Tribune applauds the Hillsborough school district for creating a magnet tied to the maritime industry.

Alternative schools. Troubled girls get a fresh start at a sheriffs' youth  ranch in Polk County. Orlando Sentinel.

Tax credit scholarships. Great back-and-forth between scholars Kevin Welner at NEPC and Jason Bedrick at Cato, with Florida's program a big part of their debate. Cato at Liberty.

School choice. It's often partisan. Sunshine State News.

Parent trigger. Education Commissioner Tony Bennett raises a constitutional question. The Florida Current. (more…)

Florida business leaders put a spotlight Wednesday on the promise and potential pitfalls of Common Core - the tough, new academic standards that are rolling into Florida schools and will help re-shape teaching, learning and testing.

At a wide-ranging, day-long education summit in Orlando, several participants suggested a public awareness campaign to inform parents about the changes – which may be initially painful when they're implemented in the 2014-15 school year - and to rally broad support in a way that has eluded many of the state’s other, recent education reforms.

“These tend to be Tallahassee conversations. But if we don’t do this right, it becomes a Miami conversation or a Jacksonville conversation” and not in a positive way, Marshall Criser III, president of AT&T Florida and chairman of the Florida Council of 100, told redefinED during a break. “We have an opportunity and responsibility to take this back to our communities ... Because if not us, then who?”

“The state should own this initiative,” Education Commissioner Tony Bennett told attendees, reminding them of the marketing effort a decade ago for Just Read, Florida. “It shouldn’t be teachers against people. It shouldn’t be the state against schools, state against districts. This should be a statewide rollout that says this is important to our children and this is important to the future of our state.”

The Council of 100 sponsored the summit with the Florida Chamber Foundation, the National Chamber Foundation and the Institute for a Competitive Workforce. About 100 people attended, including three lawmakers, two superintendents, Board of Education Chairman Gary Chartrand and Florida Education Association President Andy Ford.

Spurred by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers, the Common Core standards in math and language arts have been adopted by 44 states. They’re well-thought-out and well-vetted. They’re benchmarked against international standards. They’re designed to instill a deeper knowledge than state standards do now. In the long term, supporters say, the higher bar will better prepare students for college and careers and an ever-more-competitive world. In the short term, though, ouch: They’re expected to result in a steep drop in test scores – and all the angst that comes with it.

“That’s a pain point,” Criser said. “But people have to understand that’s good,” he continued, because it’s the first step on a better path.

The discussion around Common Core has centered almost exclusively on public schools. But its gravitational pull is expected to be so strong that the impact will be felt at the private schools, too, to varying degrees. (more…)

For the second time this week, a credible, independent analysis shows Florida students leading the pack in progress.

Between 1992 and 2011, Florida students made bigger gains than students in four other “mega states” in fourth- and eighth-grade reading and fourth-grade math, according to a report released Thursday by an arm of the U.S. Department of Education. In each case, they moved from below the national average to meeting or exceeding it. Low-income and minority students in particular showed traction.

“There is something real going on there,” said Jack Buckley, commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, according to Education Week.

The center’s comparison followed Wednesday’s College Board report that showed Florida continues to climb the charts on Advanced Placement exams. The Sunshine State now ranks fourth in the percentage of high school graduates passing AP exams. Over the past decade, it ranks second in progress.

Broken-record alert No. 1: Florida’s trend lines shouldn’t be a surprise, given reports like this, this, this, this and this in the past year alone. Yet there remains a lingering perception, cultivated by critics, that Florida’s public schools are sub par and stagnant.

For Thursday’s report, the center for the first time compared scores from Florida, California, Texas, New York and Illinois – the states with the biggest student populations and arguably the biggest challenges. It used results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, a battery of tests better known as “The Nation’s Report Card” and considered the gold standard among standardized assessments.

In eighth-grade math, Florida students made gains but remain below the national average. Elsewhere in the report, they were singled out often. (more…)