Charter schools. More could be closing in Broward. South Florida Sun Sentinel. Miami Herald.

Tax credit scholarships. Did top Step Up For Students officials need to register as lobbyists? Times/Herald. (Step Up co-hosts this blog.)

Testing. Florida Education Commissioner Pam Stewart picks AIR to develop the new wave of tests tied to Common Core. News Service of Florida. StateImpact Florida. Tampa Bay Times. Orlando Sentinel. Palm Beach Post. Associated Press. EdWeek. WFSU. Naples Daily News.

STEM. Manatee County schools focus on growing its science and math programs. Bradenton Herald.

Teacher unions. Allegations of inappropriate behavior with students dogs some candidates for union president in Pinellas. Tampa Bay Times.

Bullying. Polk Sheriff Grady Judd says parents need to be a bigger deterrent. The Ledger.

Budgets. Brevard parents hope to stave off school closures as money gets tight at the school district. Florida Today.

Textbooks. Lawmakers advance a bill that would remove the state from the textbook adoption process advances. Orlando Sentinel.

From the News Service of Florida:

Education Commissioner Pam Stewart faced tough questions from senators Wednesday as she outlined how the state would move forward on tweaks to its current schools standards and select a new test for students.

Speaking to the Senate Education Committee, Stewart tried to tamp down concerns that a quick timeline for having a new test in place for next school year could cause problems.

"We've put every precaution in place to ensure that we will have an assessment that is appropriate for Florida's students in the '14-'15 school year," Stewart said.

Gov. Rick Scott issued an executive order in September requiring the state to end its role in helping handle the financial affairs of the Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, or PARCC. The state is currently reviewing five applications by testing companies hoping to develop a new test for Florida.

Stewart is scheduled to select the winner in March.

Despite talk that the state might ultimately end up using PARCC, Stewart said the multi-state consortium did not participate in the state's "invitation to negotiate" for the new test.

"PARCC did not apply," she said in response to a question from Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, about whether the test might still be used. "I would suggest to you ... it will depend on the five applications. It cannot be considered as part of the ITN."

Pressed by Montford again about whether Florida could ultimately end up using PARCC, Stewart cited legal restrictions on what she could and couldn't say.

"You have probably stepped into the arena of questions I could not answer," she responded.

Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, was more blunt while talking to reporters after the meeting, which Gaetz attended. (more…)

Virtual schools. Florida Virtual School is developing an online course for teachers about online teaching. Getting Smart.

Magnet schools. Raising re-segregation concerns? ActionNewsJax.com.

Career academies. Alachua holds its annual forum. Gainesville Sun.

Charter schools. A charter school in Palm Beach County is starting a STEAM Academy. Palm Beach Post.

Common Core. So PARCC maybe sorta kinda isn't really out of the running after all. Education Week. Common Core critics continue to push. Gradebook. Some conservative groups aim to channel Common Core opposition into school choice support. Politico.

Turnaround schools. State officials see good and not-so-good in Pinellas. Gradebook.

School spending. Manatee puts together a comprehensive plan to address fiscal errors identified in audits. Sarasota Herald Tribune.

School facilities. Parents at a Sarasota elementary say something at the school is making their kids sick. Sarasota Herald Tribune.

Principals. A Florida TaxWatch analysis lists the six best in the state, based on math and reading gains. Five are in Miami-Dade. Miami Herald. The Buzz. The Florida Current. One's in Pasco. Gradebook. (more…)

From the News Service of Florida:

Gov. Rick Scott defended his decision to withdraw from tests linked to setting up a national set of educational standards, while a state lawmaker filed a bill addressing a common concern about the standards.

In his first public comments on the move, Scott on Tuesday explained why he ordered the Department of Education to stop managing the financial affairs of the Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, of PARCC, which is developing the tests.

It was seen as a first step toward Florida trying to develop its own tests to measure student learning gains under the "Common Core" standards that Florida and almost four dozen other states have agreed to use.

Scott maintained his stance that using PARCC would allow the federal government to meddle in the state's schools.

"If you look at it, it's their entry point into having more involvement in our education system. ... I want to continue that focus on high standards, but we don't need the federal government intruding in our lives," Scott told reporters.

When pressed, Scott did not say specifically how he thought tests developed through a state-led initiative could be an instrument of federal intrusion, or cite an example of federal intrusion through PARCC. The group has received a $186 million federal grant for its work on the tests, but the state Department of Education has issued statements dismissing as a myth the idea of PARCC being used for federal control of education.

"The federal government does not have a hand in development of the aligned assessments pertaining to CCSS," according to an undated document on the agency's website. "There are two state consortia responsible for developing Common Core aligned assessments as well as some states that have developed their own assessment programs, such as Kentucky and New York."

The document is entitled, "Demystifying the Movement: Answers to Common Myths about the Common Core State Standards."

During his press conference Tuesday, Scott also appeared to hedge when asked whether his logic could be used to get rid of the Common Core standards themselves. (more…)

Common Core is okay. But the new, multi-state tests aligned to them may have to go.

So suggests Florida Gov. Rick Scott in documents set for release today.

In a draft executive order, Scott says "Floridians will not accept Federal government intrusion into the academic standards that are taught to our students." The order then says the tests being put together by the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, better known as PARCC, "do not meet the needs of our students or the expectations of state leaders" in terms of cost, test length and testing requirements - and constitute "excessive involvement by the United States Department of Education." It says the state education commissioner shall recommend to the state Board of Education that the board terminate Florida's role as the fiscal agent for PARCC and establish a competitive bidding process for new tests.

In a draft letter to U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Scott also criticizes PARCC, saying it "has become a primary entry point for the involvement of the federal government" in many state and local education decisions.

But the letter also notes the state BOE adopted Common Core standards in 2010 after a process that began under former Gov. Jeb Bush and continued under former House Speaker Marco Rubio.

"This process resulted in the highest academic standards that could move our students and teachers away from 'teaching to the test' and toward a more independent, analytical approach to reading, writing and math," the letter says.

Here is a copy of the letter to Duncan. Here is a copy of the executive order. And here is a letter to BOE Chair Gary Chartrand.

Statement from Patricia Levesque at Foundation for Florida's Future here. Statements from six of seven BOE members here.

Other coverage: Tampa Bay Times, Tampa Bay Times (editorial), Education Week, Sunshine State News, South Florida Sun Sentinel, Palm Beach Post, Orlando Sentinel, Associated Press, Pensacola News Journal, Gradebook, The Buzz, StateImpact Florida, Daytona Beach News Journal, Fort Myers News Press, Sarasota Herald Tribune, John Romano, The Answer Sheet, Florida Current, NPR, Bridge to Tomorrow, Wall Street Journal.

School counselors: Palm Beach County elementary school counselors learn a new curriculum aimed at fourth- and fifth-graders called "Breaking The Silence: Teaching the Next Generation About Mental Illness." Sun Sentinel.

Teacher raises: The Orange County school district and its teachers union haven't reached an agreement on pay increases, so the district has declared an impasse that ends months of negotiations. Orlando Sentinel.

Common Core: Gov. Rick Scott is concerned about the costs of measuring the new standards with PARCC, but most analyses shows the assessment costs about the same or less than what the state currently spends on FCAT. StateImpact Florida.

Pam Stewart: "Stewart does not inherit an easy job, but the broad support she has won early on offers reason to be optimistic about the future of education in Florida,'' writes the Tallahassee Democrat.

Space project: Hillsborough County students are competing to see who gets to send their science project to the International Space Station, where it will be conducted by astronauts. Tampa Bay Times.

Summer reading: About half of Pinellas elementary school students improve their reading skills after attending a first-time summer program for struggling learners, while 47 percent stay at level or lose ground. Tampa Bay Times.

Bullying: Duval County Public Schools re-launches its anonymous tip hotline with a new feature to help encourage reporting of incidents: texting. Florida Times-Union. A Dallas-based motivational speaker tells Sarasota County high school students about being the target of bullies. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

(more…)

Jeb Bush on Tony Bennett: "Tony will be sorely missed in Florida at a time when we need his leadership the most,'' writes former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. Miami Herald.

School grades: The fall of Tony Bennett might bring a new level of scrutiny to grading systems across the country. Education Week. There must be total transparency in any school accountability process, writes Nina Rees, executive director of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, in U.S. News & World Report.

More fallout: Dale Chu, chief of staff to Tony Bennett, resigns. Associated Press.

PARCC: Top Florida lawmakers will continue their push to abandon the PARCC testing consortium. Tampa Bay Times.

Teen work: Lauderdale Middle School students have received more than $500,000 in grants to spruce up an overpass behind their school. Sun Sentinel.

Charter schools: Even as 11 new charters open this fall in Palm Beach County, the district has another 31 applications in the pipeline. Palm Beach Post.

Magnet schools: The Pinellas County school district looks to bolster career and technical education and help low-performing schools by offering new magnet programs at middle schools. The Tampa Tribune. (more…)

Common Core. Now the PR battle is on. StateImpact Florida.

School spending. Lee County finds it's tough to hire school therapists when they'd be on the same salary schedule as teachers and could make more elsewhere. Fort Myers News Press.

Teacher pay: The Volusia County School Board looks at pay raises and extra jobs for teachers while considering lower property taxes during tonight's board meeting. Daytona Beach News-Journal.

PARCC: In response to questions about the costs of testing students on the new Common Core standards, the PARCC consortium issued its estimate: $29.50 per student for the computerized version, with another $3-$4 per student for the paper and pencil test. Gradebook. If Florida backs away from PARCC, other states may follow. StateImpact.

Hiring: Hillsborough County Public Schools' extended search for a school board attorney results in seven applicants. Tampa Bay Times. The Manatee County School Board hires two new department directors and an investigator. Bradenton Herald. Manatee school officials also select internal auditors to help the embattled district with its bookkeeping. Bradenton Herald.

Grants: Pinellas County schools didn't get the $500,000 AmeriCorps grant the district sought to boost academics at low-performing schools. Tampa Bay Times.

New post: Former Warrington Middle School Assistant Principal Cassandra Smith will lead Escambia County schools' first “hybrid” turnaround school, Lincoln Park. Pensacola News Journal.

K12: The Broward County School Board considers renewing its virtual education contract with K12. Miami Herald.

Digital learning: Education videos are a growing cyber trend as students look for online learning opportunities. Sun-Sentinel.

School supplies: A community provider hands out more than 2,000 backpacks and other school necessities. News-Press. The Tampa Tribune lists events for Pinellas families to find free school supplies. Polk County parents join the throng of moms and dads across the nation in search of crayons, notebooks, pencils and other back-to-school supplies. Ledger.

New school: Livingstone Academy Autism Center opens this fall in Hillsborough County with room for 35 students. The Tampa Tribune.

On tape: A conversation between Hillsborough County schools Superintendent Maryellen Elias and board attorney Tom Gonzalez gets caught on tape during a school board meeting. Tampa Bay Times.

 

 

School grades. The Board of Education's decision "reeks," writes Beth Kassab. Sherman Dorn's take (which includes a pitch for grading private schools with large numbers of voucher students). "Politically manipulated scam," says Bob Schaeffer at FairTest. Diane Ravitch's blog.

School districts. Hillsborough, its superintendent MaryEllen Elia and its highly publicized teacher evaluation system all get a plug from Tom Vander Ark. Education Week.

Standardized testing. Drop the Common Core-linked PARCC, Senate President Don Gaetz and House Speaker Will Weatherford tell Tony Bennett. Miami Herald, Orlando Sentinel, Tallahasssee Democrat, Education Week, Associated Press, Gradebook. The costs, post-FCAT. StateImpact Florida

Common Core. Raising the bar worked in the Olympics. It'll work in classrooms too. EdFly Blog. Bay educators prepare. Panama City News Herald.

Superintendents. Liberty Superintendent Gloria Gay Uzzell is arrested "on charges she used a school board credit card for the purchase of lingerie, alcohol, hotel rooms, clothing and jewelry" and is suspended from her post by Gov. Rick Scott. Tallahassee Democrat, Gradebook, The Buzz. New Polk Superintendent Kathryn LeRoy says she plans to expand the district's pockets of excellence. Lakeland Ledger.

Charter schools. The Palm Beach County School Board votes to allow a charter with an Afro-centric curriculum to stay in a building badly in need of renovations. Palm Beach Post. The Sarasota Military Academy charter wants to open a middle school. Sarasota Herald Tribune.

Virtual schools. Clay Today writes up the Clay Virtual Academy.

Trayvon Martin. School discipline policies in the Miami-Dade School District contributed to Martin's death? American Spectator. (more…)

Rick Scott's proposed budget. Includes $1.2 billion more for public schools. Coverage from South Florida Sun Sentinel, Gainesville Sun, Fort Myers News Press, TCPalm.com, Associated Press, Pensacola News Journal. "A relief to educators," reports the Lakeland Ledger.

Digital education. Jeb Bush on CNN's Schools of Thought Blog: "Digital learning is just one important element of the overall school choice movement being celebrated during National School Choice week – and rightfully so. There is no silver bullet. There is no one-size-fits-all option. There can and must be only a proliferation of ever-growing options so that students and parents can embrace whatever educational scenario is best for them."

Exposed, day two! The Tampa Bay Times plugs the Jeb-Bush-corporate-connections-conspiracy "story" by offering a link from the front of its web site to The Buzz, which channels the "news" from, of all places, The Answer Sheet blog, which The Buzz curiously describes as merely "the Washington Post's education blog."

PTA activism award. The Florida chapter is honored for successfully defeating parent trigger legislation last year. Gradebook.

School spending. The Brevard school board considers a bus fee for students in choice programs. Florida Today.

Teacher pay raises. A constitutional amendment for that is a bad idea. Palm Beach Post.

ESE changes in Hillsborough. Latest from Tampa Bay Times and Tampa Tribune.

Concordant scores. They're out now. Tampa Bay Times.

PARCC. StateImpact Florida relays a DOE overview of the coming tests.

Superintendents. Manatee adds a sixth candidate, reports the Bradenton Herald and Sarasota Herald Tribune. Whoever he or she ultimately is "must have the skill set, character and strength to bring this district back from disaster," editorializes the Bradenton Herald.

Race to the Top. Florida is back on track a year after federal education officials warned it for falling behind on grant-funded projects. Associated Press.