Scholarship reforms: School choice advocates recommend a series of reforms at a House education subcommittee hearing Wednesday called to discuss concerns about oversight of private K-12 schools that receive money from one of the state's scholarship programs. Doug Tuthill, president of Step Up For Students, which helps administer two of the programs and hosts this blog, says the state should eliminate the cap on inspections of those private schools, have fire and inspection reports submitted directly to the state, and demand those schools adopt stronger financial reporting requirements. Orlando Sentinel. redefinED.
Bright Futures: The Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously approves a bill that would permanently expand Bright Futures scholarships. S.B. 4 would fully fund Bright Futures scholarships for about 41,000 students who have a grade point average of at least a 3.5 as well as a score of 1,290 on the SAT or a 29 on the ACT, and provide 75 percent funding to Medallion scholars. It now goes to the Senate floor. Sunshine State News. Meanwhile, a House committee approves a "Sunshine scholarship" proposal that would cover tuition and fees for students entering the Florida College System whose family income is less than $50,000. Politico Florida.
Virtual teachers' union: Administrators of the Florida Virtual School are fighting back against a drive to unionize the school's teachers. "We believe that a union is not needed here at FLVS and that bringing a union into our school can drastically affect our relationship with you," CEO Jodi Marshall wrote in an email to the staff. "That is why we intend to oppose the union by every legal means available to us." Gradebook.
