Education proposals get a look: This week, legislators will begin to consider Gov. Ron DeSantis' proposals to rework the educator bonuses program, launch an Equal Opportunity Scholarship to erase a waiting list for state scholarships for low-income students, improve career and vocational education programs, and make adjustments to the Schools of Hope program and to graduation requirements. Since announcing his ideas, DeSantis has followed up with specifics on each. State Rep. Chris Latvala, R-Clearwater, chairman of House PreK-12 Appropriations and vice chair of House Education, says legislators could approve, rewrite, or even kill the ideas. “The governor’s proposals certainly were bold. But just because he put it forth doesn’t mean it’s going to be something we automatically do.” Gradebook.
Search for standards: The Florida Department of Education is asking for input from educators, parents and others as it begins the process of rewriting Florida's version of the Common Core standards. Gov. DeSantis has given Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran a year to set new standards of what Florida K-12 students should learn in math and language arts courses. The state will use the new standards to rework the Florida Standards Assessments tests, and school districts will use the standards to determine their curricula and textbooks. Orlando Sentinel. WFTS. (more…)
Bergosh
Note: This post has been updated. See below.
The lawsuit challenging Florida's tax credit scholarship program stoked a debate at the Escambia County School Board last week, as members voted to pay membership dues for the state school boards association.
One board member, Jeff Bergosh, is a critic of the lawsuit and a member of a new association for school board members. He said he wanted to "opt out" of funding his share of Florida School Boards Association dues. Like dissident school board members who spoke up elsewhere, Bergosh prompted a discussion, but did not receive backing from fellow members, who eventually out-voted him 4-1.
Earlier in the meeting, several parents weighed in supporting the program that helps 70,000 low-income students attend private schools. The scholarships are administered by non-profit organizations like Step Up For Students, which co-hosts this blog and employs the author of this post.
"Allow us the opportunity to continue to keep out children in schools where they are flourishing," said Deaundrice Kitchen, a scholarship parent who has been recognized for her work as a teacher assistant in the school district and said she has "seen many success stories" in public schools. "If this scholarship is taken away, it will be stripping us of our right of freedom of choice."
Bergosh wanted the board to hold off on paying nearly $22,000 in dues, noting the issue is getting attention in the Legislature. Bills under consideration would bar membership organizations from using public funds to pay for lawsuits against the state.
Patty Hightower, the school board's chairman and president of the FSBA, said the board joined the association as a group, not as individuals. The association's main purpose, she said, is to provide training for its members.
