Lawsuit dismissed: Florida has not failed to fulfill its constitutional mandate to provide a quality education for all public school students, a circuit court judge has ruled. Judge George Reynolds III dismissed the suit brought by Citizens for Strong Schools and others against the State Department of Education and legislative leaders. The[Read More…]
Tag: Kathryn LeRoy
Florida schools roundup: Book ban, bathroom fights, expulsions and more
Book banned: The Perks of Being a Wallflower, a coming of age novel by Stephen Chbosky, is being removed from the curriculum at Pasco Middle School. A school-based committee made up of parents, teachers and administrators decided the book was too sexually graphic. A district committee agrees, and recommends it be[Read More…]
Florida schools roundup: Test options, failing schools, flag, choice and more
Testing alternatives: A bill allowing school districts to use alternatives to the Florida Standards Assessments tests didn’t get through this year’s Legislature. But Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, says he’ll make another push for the bill in the 2017 legislative session. Politico Florida. Members of the Manatee Opt-Out movement plead with[Read More…]
Florida schools roundup: Legislature wrapup, failed bills, autonomy and more
Education legislation: A massive state education bill that widens school choice is awaiting Gov. Rick Scott’s signature. The bill changes the was charter school facilities funding is distributed, limits school districts’ spending on capital projects, allows open enrollment for all K-12 public school students, grants immediate eligibility for high school athletes[Read More…]
Florida schools roundup: Testing, charters, bullying, tax holiday and more
Testing routine: What is Florida Standards Assessments testing like for students? Here’s a typical day during testing season for a P.K. Yonge student. Gainesville Sun. Nearly a week into testing, Polk County officials say things are going smoothly. Lakeland Ledger. Charter problems: The latest problems at Windsor Prep Academy in[Read More…]
Florida schools roundup: Desegregation, choice, bonuses, grades and more
Desegregation case: The NAACP Legal Defense Fund says the Pinellas County School District is not complying with the 1964 court order governing the district’s anti-discrimination efforts. So the plaintiffs in Bradley vs. Pinellas County School Board are asking a federal court to intervene to force the district to give more help to struggling[Read More…]
Florida schools roundup: Budget, bills, testing, recess, workbook ban and more
K-12 spending: Legislators are touting the record spending on K-12 education in this year’s budget. But Orange County school officials and the Florida Education Association say the increase of about 1 percent doesn’t even cover inflation. Orlando Sentinel. News Service of Florida. House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, says there[Read More…]
Florida schools roundup: Coding, bonuses, testing, LGBT policy and more
Computer coding: A bill allowing Florida students to take computer coding to satisfy foreign language requirements has been weakened in the Florida Senate, which will vote on the measure today. The bill now says public schools may offer coding classes in place of foreign languages, but do not have to. Orlando Sentinel.[Read More…]