Education budget plans: The Senate appropriations subcommittee approves a plan to increase preK-12 education spending by $535 million. The panel chairman, Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, says retaining current property tax rates would let localities collect hundreds of millions of dollars more as property values increase. “We don’t consider the additional amount of taxes they pay to be a tax increase. We consider it incidental to the increase in value in the property,” Simmons said, as a response to the House's insistence that it is a tax increase. The Senate and House education budgets are now almost $540 million apart. The Senate budget also includes no money for the teacher bonuses program. Simmons implied the program would become part of negotiations between the Senate and House, which has $214 million set aside for the bonus program. News Service of Florida. Politico Florida. Miami Herald. Naples Daily News. WFSU.

School improvement: The House Education Committee takes up a school improvement bill today that would set aggressive requirements for districts to turn around academically struggling schools. Turnaround plans would be required for schools receiving D or F grades from the state just a few months after the grades are issued. If the plans do not raise the school grade to a C within three years, the schools would be labeled "persistently low-performing" and districts would have to close them, convert them to a charter, or bring in an outside operator. Districts would no longer have the option of carrying out their own turnaround plans. redefinED. Gradebook.

School HQ evacuated: An infestation of vermin and blow flies has forced the evacuation of the Okaloosa County School District Administrative Complex  in Fort Walton Beach. The administration and school board members will work from the Niceville Central Complex until further notice. "I'm not going to have them stay some place that I'm not going to stay in," says Superintendent Mary Beth Jackson. "We've tried to put Band-Aids on and fix it, but I'm afraid we may be a bit past that now." Northwest Florida Daily News.

Charter school laws: Florida ranks eighth in the nation in a recent analysis of states' charter school laws, according to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. Indiana was rated No. 1. Florida ranks highly on autonomy and accountability, for not having caps on the number of charter schools allowed, and for providing a strong appeals process for applicants that are denied. The report notes that state still provides inequitable funding to charter schools. redefinED. (more…)

Teacher bonuses: An analysis shows that teachers in affluent areas around the state are twice as likely to receive bonuses through the state's Best and Brightest Teacher Scholarship Program than teachers working in high-poverty schools. The findings mirror a study the Florida Department of Education did last year, and national research. Orlando Sentinel. Calling his bonus from the state "the dumbest money I have ever received," Orange County teacher Josh Katz says he is giving his $8,256.27 to political candidates who can "fix education and stop stupid policies." Orlando Sentinel. Sun-Sentinel.

Open enrollment effects: Volusia County school officials say the scope of the bill allowing open enrollment worries them. "We are still processing it," said spokeswoman Nancy Wait. "It is huge, has a lot of tentacles and involves a lot of staff. We are still trying to wrap our arms around it." Daytona Beach News-Journal. Palm Beach County school officials say they're waiting for the state's technical information on open enrollment before they can understand how the law might affect the district. Thirty-four schools in Palm Beach County now are at capacity or beyond, and another nine are 95 percent or more filled, school officials say. Palm Beach Post. In south Florida and the Tampa Bay area, the new law isn't causing any panic, school officials say. Districts in those areas have been permitting students to move into schools out of their attendance areas for years. Miami Herald. Gradebook.

Construction rules: Rural school districts in Florida will have to raise money for new construction projects before they can apply for state assistance, according to the education bill signed into law last week by Gov. Rick Scott. Politico Florida.

Teacher evaluations: Just 11.3 percent of Lake County teachers are judged by the state to be highly effective, less than one-third of the state's average. Some Lake County School Board members say that's an example of what's wrong with the state's teacher evaluation system, and they will discuss the problem at a meeting today. Orlando Sentinel. (more…)

Education on trial: Openings arguments are heard in the civil trial accusing Florida of not fulfilling its constitutional mandate to provide a quality education for all public school students. Attorneys for Citizens for Strong Schools argue that the state's racial achievement gap, emphasis on testing and lack of adequate funding keep it from fulfilling a 1998 constitutional amendment. Attorneys for the Department of Education and the Legislature say the state is a national leader in education and still improving. The nonjury trial in Tallahassee is expected to last five weeks. Miami Herald. Politico Florida. Orlando Sentinel. Associated Press. WFSU.

Teacher bonuses: The teacher bonuses program was passed by the Legislature, but it continues to be a subject for debate. Some speculate that a legal challenge could be made if Gov. Rick Scott approves the $49 million program, which was extended for a year. Gradebook. Scott says he's listening to legislative leaders as he decides whether to approve or veto items in the budget. Tampa Bay Times.

FEA targets: Joanne McCall, president of the Florida Education Association, says this year's legislative elections are an opportunity to change education politics in Tallahassee. Gradebook.

Opting out: While the state says the only excuse acceptable for opting out of the Florida Standards Assessments testing is a medical one, anti-test advocates say there are loopholes. Broward Palm Beach New Times.

Charter schools issues: Florida Virtual Academy at Borward is closing when the school year ends after an audit revealed poor academic performance and allegations of ethical breaches. Also expected to close is the affiliated Florida Virtual Academy at Palm Beach. They are not part of the Florida Virtual School, the longtime state-run online education program. Also recommended for termination is a Lauderdale Lakes charter school, Pathways Academy, which allegedly falsified documents, inflated student enrollment and used state money for personal travel and expenses. Sun-Sentinel. The Ocoee City Commission is expected to decide tonight whether to approve an application from the Renaissance Charter School at Westyn Bay. The Orange County School Board has already approved. Orlando Sentinel. (more…)