For its first hearing of the year, the Florida House’s Education Committee heard from leaders of several out-of-state charter school networks. The theme, according to Mike Bileca, R-Miami and chair of the committee, was “schools that have taken excellence and scaled.” Florida education officials have pushed for years to bring[Read More…]
Tag: Michael Bileca
Florida bill would let McKay scholarships support job training
Older students with special needs could use Florida’s McKay Scholarships to pay for transition programs intended to prepare them for jobs, under legislation backed unanimously by a state House panel on Tuesday. HB 837, by Rep. Michael Bileca, R-Miami, would allow children between the ages of 17 and 22 to use the[Read More…]
Bill expanding Florida special needs choice accounts passes unanimously
The Florida House this morning unanimously approved legislation that would expand access to the state’s newest parental choice program for children with special needs. The legislation would allow children with muscular dystrophy and a broader range of students with autism to use Personal Learning Scholarship Accounts, a cutting-edge program created last year.[Read More…]
Leveling the playing field between charter schools and school districts
After rejecting a handful of proposed amendments, the Florida House is now ready to take a final vote on its charter school legislation. But one of the most interesting proposals on the floor today was one that was not adopted. Rep. Michael Bileca, R-Miami, proposed an amendment that would have[Read More…]
Florida school choice expansion could be headed for House floor
A bill that would accelerate the growth of Florida’s tax-credit scholarship program could be headed for a vote on the House floor. The House Choice and Innovation Subcommittee approved the measure on a party-line vote Tuesday, after approving changes that would raise limits on the program’s growth and voting down[Read More…]
Florida lawmakers consider a whole new twist on school choice
Florida lawmakers are working on proposals that would allow parents of children with developmental disabilities to put state education funding to use beyond the traditional public school system – and even beyond private, virtual or other school choice options. The proposals being considered in the House and Senate resemble the[Read More…]
New parent trigger bill clears first hurdle in Florida House
The parent trigger bill is back in the Florida Legislature this year and, judging by the spirited 8-5 party line vote it got in its first committee stop Thursday, perhaps as contentious as ever. But unlike last year, some Florida parents and child advocates not only voiced support, but drove to[Read More…]
Florida lawmakers to consider a stack of school choice bills
Editor’s note: Another year, another legislative session, another stack of school-choice bills in Florida. Here’s a roundup of choice legislation that lawmakers will consider in the annual session that begins today. Career Academies: SB 1076 by Sen. John Legg, R-Lutz. Expands the “Career and Professional Education Act (CAPE),” revising requirements[Read More…]