Several school-choice related proposals before the Florida Constitution Revision Commission could be in line for revisions. The full commission has scheduled a marathon of meetings at the state capitol next week. All four of its school choice-related proposals could appear on the agenda. Three of them could see substantial changes. Blaine Amendment[Read More…]
Tag: Roberto Martinez
Florida schools roundup: Bullying and literacy bills, hero teachers and more
Bills advance: A bill that would offer bullied students a state scholarship to attend private schools is approved by a Senate subcommittee. The bill for the Hope Scholarship program, filed by state Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Naples, was approved on a party-line vote by the Senate Pre-K-12 Education Appropriations Subcommittee. It would become the[Read More…]
Florida schools roundup: Testing reform, funding, incentives and more
Testing reforms: Under the proposed “Fewer, Better Tests” bills filed Wednesday in the Legislature, all K-12 assessment testing would take place in the final three weeks of the school year, starting in the 2017-2018. S.B. 926 and H.B. 773 would also require results be returned to teachers within a week of testing,[Read More…]
BOE member: Florida school funding lawsuit is “exercise in madness”
Having a judge determine how much money to spend on Florida schools and where to spend it is “an exercise in futility, and madness, and a waste of funds,” Florida Board of Education member Roberto Martinez said today. Martinez’s comments came after a Department of Education attorney updated the board on[Read More…]
Florida education official suggests ending textbook adoption
A Florida Board of Education member proposed today that the state end its textbook adoption process, saying teachers and principals are best equipped to decide which materials are needed to help students. Roberto Martinez of Miami said the time is right for that step, given Florida’s education reforms – tough[Read More…]
Search for a new Florida education commissioner extended two months
Two more months. As expected, the Florida Board of Education decided this morning to extend the search for a new education commissioner. The board discussed the issue for about three minutes before voting unanimously in favor of a new timeline. The original deadline for applications, Sept. 27, had drawn 16[Read More…]
FBOE member: Next Florida education commissioner needs “a lot of autonomy”
As the Florida Board of Education ramped up its search this morning for a new state education commissioner, one of its board members offered a polite suggestion to Gov. Rick Scott and Florida lawmakers: Give the next commish some space. “I think all of us, the board and the political establishment, needs[Read More…]
Eric J. Smith, another Floridian worthy of being Romney’s education chief
EdWeek’s Politics K-12 blog offers an intriguing list of possible education secretaries in a Romney administration, including one prominent Floridian: Jeb Bush. But the otherwise great list overlooked another Floridian: Eric J. Smith, the state’s former ed commissioner. Smith, nudged out last year by Gov. Rick Scott, was hired by the state[Read More…]