Charter schools. In the first ruling of its kind, an administrative law judge rules the Miami-Dade school district unlawfully retaliated against administrators who backed a charter conversion. Miami Herald. A Gainesville charter school will close after learning it will likely receive another F. Gainesville Sun. A Palm Beach Post guest columnist questions a proposal to let charters share in tax revenue earmarked for arts programs.
Facilities. Leon County Schools spent more than the state average on recent additions to district schools, which, statewide, frequently exceed the statutory threshold for projects funded through the Public Education Capital Outlay. Tallahassee Democrat. An engineering report finds a Hernando middle school needs its roof fixed. Tampa Bay Times.
Tax Credit Scholarships. Catholic school principal Todd DeClemente explains the benefits of the program in a St. Augustine Record guest column. The author of a column to which he was responding is back with another item that flubs basic facts, confuses the First and Second Amendments, and makes false allegations about Step Up For Students, which helps administer the program and co-hosts this blog.
Growth. Pasco schools prepare for new construction to accommodate growing enrollment. Gradebook. Walton district officials expect to build two more schools. Northwest Florida Daily News.
Private schools. A Tampa private school listens to residents’ concerns as it looks to add a performing arts center. Tampa Bay Times. A Montessori school in the Keys faces opposition to a planned new location. Keynoter.
Homelessness. A Central Florida teacher pledges to live on the streets for a month. Orlando Sentinel.
Teacher conduct. A Broward teacher is set to be fired after 15 years of problems. Sun-Sentinel. A teacher is suspended for failing to report child abuse. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Nutrition. Some school districts offer free breakfast and lunch in schools with a high density of low-income students; others do not. Orlando Sentinel.
STEM. Brevard science teachers overcome budget cuts and other issues to connect with students. Florida Today.
Campaigns. Gov. Rick Scott and challenger Charlie Crist battle over education issues. Tampa Bay Times.
Administration. The Duval school district faces questions about a payment to a local nonprofit. Florida Times-Union. A principal develops a scheduling app. Northwest Florida Daily News. A Hernando principal is promoted to the district office. Tampa Bay Times. Manatee schools make principal hires, the Bradenton Herald reports here and here. A seasoned Flagler administrator retires. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Standards. Sarasota County teachers prepare for training on the state’s new learning benchmarks. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Internships. Hillsborough students get professional experience during the summer. Tampa Tribune.
Testing. Critics spot an error in the sample assessment questions released by the state. Orlando Sentinel. The Naples Daily News writes up the release of sample items. A Tampa Bay Times columnist criticizes the tests.
Staffing. The Flagler school district is scrambling to fill some 150 vacancies. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Security. Duval’s superintendent faces an online threat. Florida Times-Union.
Attendance. Hernando schools consider a stricter policy. Tampa Bay Times.
Parents. Parents rally around a local school in a fundraising effort. Palm Beach Post.
