School assignment query: The Florida Department of Education is investigating whether Duval County school officials followed the law in reassigning students from schools that were closed or revamped because of poor performance. The law requires districts to reassign students from failing schools to schools that have a grade of C or better, and the state says there are allegations that's not happening. Duval Superintendent Nikolai Vitti says he's confident the district has followed state guidelines. Florida Times-Union.
School choice: School choice advocates do well in Florida elections while the anti-choice teachers union, the Florida Education Association, has setbacks even after spending nearly $3 million on its preferred candidates. redefinED. Gradebook. Politico Florida. Experts say Donald Trump's educational policies are likely to include expanded parental choice, growth in voucher programs and more local control of schools, among other things. The Atlantic.
School elections: The Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections hopes to declare a winner today in the District 7 school board race between Lynn Gray and Cathy James. Gray leads by a quarter of a percent, but 1,400 provisional ballots remain to be counted. Any difference under a half percent triggers an automatic recount. Gradebook. The Polk County Supervisor of Elections will decide Friday if a recount is required in the District 4 school board race between Sara Beth Reynolds and Becky Troutman. Reynolds leads by less than a quarter of a percent. Lakeland Ledger. Marianne Arbulu is elected superintendent of schools for Jefferson County. WFSU.
House education leader: State Rep. Michael Bileca, R-Miami, is named to direct education policy in the Florida House in the upcoming legislative session. Incoming House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O'Lakes, made the appointment. Gradebook. (more…)
Sales tax holiday: Florida's back-to-school sales-tax break weekend begins today and ends Sunday. Buyers will not have to pay the sale tax for some clothes, footwear and accessories costing less than $60, and most school supplies up to $15. WFLA. Florida Today. Florida Department of Education. Orlando Sentinel. Palm Beach Post. Daytona Beach News-Journal. Gainesville Sun. Panama City News Herald. Keynoter. Highlands Today. Sunshine State News. WUSF.
Resource officers: The Marion County School District will begin looking for options on providing resource officers in schools in 2017-2018 and beyond. The school board approved a deal this year with the Ocala Police Department to share costs for officers. But next year the district would have to pay the full cost for officers in middle and high schools, which would increase the district's bill by almost 50 percent to $1.25 million. Ocala Star Banner.
Zika and schools: Miami-Dade school officials worry that the spread of the Zika virus is going to cause disruptions as about 400,000 students return to school Aug. 22. Health officials have advised people to wear long-sleeve shirts and use insect repellant. But long sleeves aren't popular in Florida in August, and districts regard insect repellant as a medication, and not to be brought to school. Miami Herald.
That extra hour: Only the highest-achieving students at the state's 312 lowest-performing schools will be exempt from the state-mandated daily extra hour of reading instruction. Students who scored at Level 5 on the Florida Standards Assessments are permitted to opt out. All other students are required to participate. Gradebook. Orlando's Carver Middle School is finalizing its turnaround plan even while those who work there don't accept the Florida Board of Education's assessment that the school is in crisis. Carver has received D's and F's in each of the past five years, and almost 80 percent of its students failed the Florida Standards Assessments math and language arts exams. Orlando Sentinel. (more…)
