School choice: In a speech Monday night, U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos says President Trump will offer the “most ambitious expansion of education choice in our nation’s history.” DeVos did not offer details, other than saying states would not be forced to participate. “Our cause is both right and just,”[Read More…]
Tag: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
Florida schools roundup: Construction funds, Title I, vouchers’ costs and more
Construction funds: Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet approve issuing up to $233 million in education construction bonds. Now legislators have to reconcile their differences on the amount they’ll commit to the Public Education Capital Outlay (PECO) program. The Senate bill uses bonding and calls for $617 million for PECO, including[Read More…]
Florida schools roundup: Turnaround schools, recess, unions and more
‘Schools of hope’: The House Education Committee approves a bill that would tighten the timetable for districts to turn around low-performing public schools, and start a new program to bring well-regarded charter schools – called “schools of hope” – that have a history of success with large numbers of low-income students into[Read More…]
Florida schools roundup: Capital funds, ESSA answer, learning gap and more
Capital spending: A reduction of the state’s school capital tax and the near evaporation of the state’s Public Education Capital Outlay fund has put many school districts dangerously behind on school repairs. Since 2008, the state’s 67 school districts have lost about $6 billion in capital revenue. Twenty-six of those[Read More…]
Charter schools and RTI could better benefit special education students
by Allison Hertog Last spring the U.S. Government Accountability Office issued a study concluding that charter schools enroll a lower percentage of special education students than traditional public schools. Some commentators have questioned this study’s methodology and conclusions, while others believe it confirms what they have seen in practice. Regardless of where[Read More…]