Speaker attacks union: In his opening address, new Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O'Lakes, condemns the state's largest teachers union for "destroying the lives" of children by fighting school choice expansion. He said the Florida Education Association's actions to have the state's tax credit scholarship program declared unconstitutional are "evil, disgusting and repugnant," and called on union leaders to drop the lawsuit. House Democratic leader Janet Cruz of Tampa said she didn't expect Corcoran to "villainize" teachers on the day he was sworn in. Corcoran's wife Anne is the founder of a charter school in Pasco County. Florida Politics. Tampa Bay Times. Sunshine State News. Politico Florida. WFSU. Florida Times-Union. Miami Herald. News Service of Florida.

ESOL assistance: The Duval County School District will benefit from a $2.2 million federal grant that will help the University of North Florida train 160 more English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) teachers and paraprofessionals over the next five years. The need has exploded in the county. In 1990 there were 600 ESOL students. By 2010 that had grown to 6,000 students representing 130 countries and 100 languages. Florida Times-Union.

New school officials: Two new members and one re-elected one are sworn in as Pinellas County School Board members. All seven members of the board are women. Gradebook. The Pasco County School Board reorganizes, chooses new leadership and immediately hears from parents who are angry about proposed school boundary charges. Gradebook. The now seven-member Lee County School Board is sworn in, elects new leadership and votes to name a new high school Bonita Springs High School. It opens next fall. Fort Myers News-Press. New school board members are sworn in and new leaders chosen in several other school districts. Lakeland Ledger. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Bradenton Herald. Ocala Star Banner. Citrus County Chronicle. Daily Commercial. Orlando Sentinel. Palm Beach Post. Florida Times-Union. Florida Times-Union. Florida Today. Tallahassee Democrat. WFSU. (more…)