Education bill: The Florida Senate passes a broad education bill that eliminates one test, the Algebra 2 end-of-course exam, pushes standardized testing toward the end of the school year, requires the Department of Education to study whether national tests like the SAT and ACT can be used as alternatives to the Florida Standards Assessments and other statewide tests, and requires 20 minutes of daily recess for all elementary school students. The measure now goes to the House. Today is the last day such a standalone bill can be approved. Miami Herald. Associated Press. Orlando Sentinel. Politico Florida. The bill also gives charter schools a path to quicker replication. redefinED.

Budget complaints: The Florida Association of District School Superintendents says the funding for K-12 public schools next year is "not sufficient to meet the basic funding needs of Florida's 2.8 million public school students." "Considering the overall economic strength of our state, it is alarming that the basic funding needs of Florida public school students could go unaddressed," said Malcolm Thomas, Escambia County superintendent and president of the FADSS. “This is just not acceptable,” added Palm County School Superintendent Robert Avossa. “It’s just disheartening to see the lack of investment.” Miami Herald. Pensacola News Journal. Sun-Sentinel. Palm Beach Post. Politico Florida. Orlando Sentinel. Citrus County Chronicle. Senate and House negotiators finalize an agreement on the $83 million state budget. The vote is Monday. News Service of Florida.

Interim superintendent: The Duval County School Board agrees to conduct a national search for a superintendent to replace the outgoing Nikolai Vitti, who is taking the superintendent's job with the Detrout schools. Until a replacement is found, an interim superintendent will be appointed with the stipulation that she or he will not be a candidate for the permanent job. Florida Times-Union. (more…)