Education
To parents: Is your child’s “A” school really excellent? And why are D and F schools so rare?
When the Florida Department of Education last month released A through F grades for public schools, 93 percent got As, Bs and Cs, with about a third of schools posting coveted A grades in 2017-18. Adding in the very few Ds and Fs, Florida’s picture of school performance appears lopsided — not like what parents […]
Conservative student group that hosted AG Jeff Sessions, chanting ‘Lock her up,’ has 23 Florida chapters
U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions addressed a crowd at a high school leadership summit Tuesday morning in Washington, D.C., when the audience began chanting the phrase “lock her up.” Sessions laughed and joined in once. He was there to speak to Turning Point USA, a national student-centric conservative group that’s growing in Florida. The group […]
Rush job on school safety law causes mental-health conundrum for families, no help from state
In the rushed, traumatic days following the February shootings at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, lawmakers scrambled to approve broad gun reforms and new laws to make schools safe. But quick legislation doesn’t always equate to good legislation, says Kenneth Trump, a well-known school security expert and consultant who has testified before Congress. Case […]
Even more charter schools in Florida? Fall ballot could be “game changer”
Some two decades ago, Florida introduced a new type of public school – the “charter” – designed to be free from bureaucracy and run by private groups. Today, that sprinkling of new schools has grown into one of the largest charter movements in the country, with tens of thousands of Florida students flocking to charters […]
Public schools are now a “brand.” When did that happen?
Parents and grandparents may remember when kids came home with backpacks stuffed with books, homework, notes from the teacher, field trip instructions and other info – all on pieces of paper. With the advent of the Internet, schools began posting newsletters, calendars and other paperless updates online. It was all about simple communication – until […]
Stigmatizing kids? New law forces families to disclose student’s mental health treatment
Registering a student for public school involves submitting everything from proof of immunizations, health exams and birth certificates to details about gender, race, emergency contacts and more. But the newest registration requirement this upcoming school year is a little-noticed provision that is now drawing concern, confusion and criticism as administrators grapple with Florida’s new school […]
Shooter Cruz’s mom was an “enabler,” Pinellas sheriff says
Accused Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school shooter Nikolas Cruz had a series of behavioral and anger issues dating back to preschool, and his mother was an “enabler,” Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, chairman of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission said today. Looking back at Cruz’s behavior, “It is death by a […]
Adjunct professors want respect – and unions
While organized labor in America may be on the ropes following a decision against unions in the U.S. Supreme Court last week, don’t tell that to adjunct professors up and down the Sunshine State, who have been pushing for and acquiring union representation in the past couple of years. Adjuncts are generally described as part-time […]
The new school culture in Florida: Armed officers at every elementary school
Gay Valimont’s son attended kindergarten at a Panhandle elementary school last year, and he’ll be in first grade at the same school this coming school year. But his school won’t be the same. Sooner or later, a “safe-school” officer, armed with a gun, will be stationed at the Santa Rosa county school, said Valimont, a […]
A “slap at teachers”
The Florida Education Association, local teacher unions and educators filed a lawsuit this week, hoping to block a new law that critics say violates the state Constitution and looks a lot like union busting. The lawsuit filed in Leon County Circuit Court stems from a July 1 law that could ultimately revoke a teacher union’s […]
Financial Help for South Florida School Shooting Survivors
The families of the 17 victims killed on Valentine’s Day at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland will soon receive $400,000 in contributions raised through a GoFundMe campaign by the Broward Education Foundation’s steering committee. The steering committee was led by former U.S. Senator George LeMieux. Nearly 450 students who were inside the building […]
What does it take to pass Florida’s Algebra 1 exam? A startlingly low score
For tens of thousands of public high school students, Florida’s crucial statewide Algebra 1 exam is a pathway – or a roadblock — to graduation. If they want to get their high school diplomas, kids have to pass the test. But the public may not realize that the threshold to pass is startlingly low, state […]