Bill for school buses: A bill that would make more Florida students eligible for transportation to school gets the approval of the Senate Education Committee. The proposal would allow students who live 1.5 miles from school – instead of the current standard of 2 miles – to be eligible for[Read More…]
Tag: Sen. Tom Lee
Florida schools roundup: Secret meeting, charters, top teacher and more
Secret budget meeting? A Democratic legislator says six senators hashed out a deal on the K-12 education budget last week in secret in a separate room at the back of the Senate chambers. Sen. Oscar Braynon, D-Miami Gardens, disclosed the meeting while speaking at a meeting of Democrats on Monday. Sen. David[Read More…]
Fla. lawmakers face conundrum on charter school facilities funding
Top Florida senators say they’re prepared to create a stable, predictable funding source for charter school facilities. But the road to get there remains uncertain, even after a second Senate panel voted today to advance a measure that would require school districts to share local property tax revenue with charters.[Read More…]
Florida schools roundup: Testing cutbacks, religion in schools and more
Testing cutbacks: A new plan to cut back on student testing is gaining bipartisan support. The identical bills (S.B. 964 and H.B. 1249), filed by Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, and Rep. Halsey Beshears, R-Monticello, would eliminate several high school end-of-course exams, give districts the option to offer paper-pencil state testing, allow[Read More…]
Florida schools roundup: Bright Futures, capital funding, testing and more
Bright Futures: The proposed expansion of Bright Futures scholarships is moving in two directions within the Florida Senate. Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, wants to expand the scholarships for high-achieving students to cover full tuition and fees, and to allow them to use the money for summer classes. S.B. 2,[Read More…]
Florida schools roundup: Capital deal, bonuses, recess, bills update and more
Education capital: Traditional public schools and charter schools would each get $75 million for construction and maintenance under a compromise worked out by the chairs of the Senate and House appropriations committees. There are about 650 charter schools in the state and about 3,600 public schools. Miami Herald. redefinED. Teacher bonuses:[Read More…]
Florida schools roundup: Coding, bonuses, testing, LGBT policy and more
Computer coding: A bill allowing Florida students to take computer coding to satisfy foreign language requirements has been weakened in the Florida Senate, which will vote on the measure today. The bill now says public schools may offer coding classes in place of foreign languages, but do not have to. Orlando Sentinel.[Read More…]
Florida schools roundup: Bonuses, budget, sales tax, schedules and more
Teacher bonuses: State Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, says the reason the Senate has allocated no money for teacher bonuses is that the program has not yet been fully vetted. Miami Herald. Budget dissent: Senate Appropriations Chairman Tom Lee, R-Brandon, adds his name to the list of legislators who oppose Gov. Rick[Read More…]