Education budget debate: Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, says he wants additional property tax money to provide two-thirds of the extra $215 million Gov. Rick Scott has proposed for K-12 schools. The proposal is opposed by the House, which has been adamantly against higher local property taxes for education. Negron has several[Read More…]
Tag: Senate President Joe Negron
Florida schools roundup: Budget deal, special session, vetoes and more
Budget deal, special session: Gov. Rick Scott and leaders of the Senate and House reach an agreement on the state budget, and legislators will return to Tallahassee Wednesday through Friday for a special session to vote on the deal. The agreement will boost spending on public education by about $200 million[Read More…]
Florida schools roundup: Reading tests, achievement plan, budgets and more
Reading test results: About 90 percent of the state’s high school seniors who had to retake the Florida Standards Assessments language arts test have failed, according to the Florida Department of Education. Last year the number was 84 percent. Students must pass the test to be eligible to receive a diploma. The[Read More…]
Florida schools roundup: Extended legislative session, Title I and more
Overtime for Legislature: Senate and House leaders can’t reach a budget agreement on time to avoid an extension of the legislative session. Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, says he doubts an agreement on the $83 billion budget will be reached before Friday, though House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’Lakes, was more[Read More…]
Florida schools roundup: Schools of hope, state budget, Title I and more
Education bills: House leaders are considering changing the so-called “schools of hope” legislation to allow school districts to compete with charter school companies for part of the $200 million fund created by the bill. Originally, the bill was conceived as a way to recruit highly regarded charter companies to open[Read More…]
Florida schools roundup: Construction funds, Bright Futures, testing and more
School construction funds: Florida will be $36 million short for school construction funding in the next year if legislators do not agree to borrow money. The latest revenue estimates suggest the Public Education Capital Outlay revenue for the 2017-2018 school year will be $337 million. But state education officials have requested[Read More…]
Florida schools roundup: Testing, Bright Futures, Vitti, budget and more
Testing bills: The Florida Senate Education Committee meets Tuesday to consider seven bills that could change Florida’s testing-based accounting system. Among the ideas being discussed: moving the testing to the final three weeks of the school year, ending the requirement to fail any third-grader who doesn’t pass the reading test and[Read More…]
Florida schools roundup: Bright Futures, budget cuts, guns, AP tests and more
Bright Futures: The Senate passes a higher education bill that would allocate $151 million to restore Bright Futures funding to 100 percent and allow recipients to use the scholarships for summer classes. Also in the bill are a scholarship program for migrant workers and their children and an expansion of benefits to[Read More…]