Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Melissa RossJuly 15, 2015

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With bold proposals out this week for improving student achievement in urban Duval County, Schools Superintendent Nikolai Vitti acknowledges: “It’s a tough job.” The challenge is one of scale,” Vitti said during an appearance on WJCT’s First Coast Connect. “It’s undeniable we have pockets of excellence even in very tough schools. We’re seeing improvement, the […]

Ryan RayMarch 30, 2015

The Florida Association of School Administrators — a major plaintiff and arguably the least overtly political — has pulled out of a lawsuit challenging the legality of Florida’s corporate tax credit scholarship program. “Following a full review of priorities, the Board made the decision to focus resources on FASA’s main objective – to ensure that […]

Julie DelegalJanuary 12, 2015

“Can’t we all just get along?” The immortal words of police brutality survivor Rodney King might make for great TV, but they’re a lousy statement on education policy. And yet, those words nearly jumped off the page as I read Trey Csar’s recent apologia for public school privatization. Csar is president of the Jacksonville Public […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 8, 2015

The Florida Education Association (FEA) now says they will not appeal a legal challenge to Senate Bill 850. Their announcement comes six months after they initially announced a legal challenge, claiming it violating a constitutional requirement that each law be limited to a single subject. FEA Vice President Joanne MCall said the union came to […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 8, 2015

The Florida Education Association (FEA) now says they will not appeal a legal challenge to Senate Bill 850. Their announcement comes six months after they initially announced a legal challenge, claiming it violating a constitutional requirement that each law be limited to a single subject. FEA Vice President Joanne MCall said the union came to […]

Jac VerSteegJanuary 7, 2015

The West Palm Beach City Commission has provided a perfect example of how government turns into The Nanny State. At its first meeting of 2015, The Palm Beach Post reports, the Commission voted 4-0 to require bars to post signs reminding customers that it is illegal for people under 21 to buy alcohol and illegal […]

Jac VerSteegJanuary 7, 2015

The West Palm Beach City Commission has provided a perfect example of how government turns into The Nanny State. At its first meeting of 2015, The Palm Beach Post reports, the Commission voted 4-0 to require bars to post signs reminding customers that it is illegal for people under 21 to buy alcohol and illegal […]

Daniel TilsonDecember 31, 2014

So you ask, how did Florida’s future fare in 2014? And you say your friend is wondering what our 2015 prospects look like? Glad you’re asking, because I was contemplating just such things while chasing my 9-year-old kid and her friend around the carnival at a local park today. They’re great pals, classmates at our […]

Daniel TilsonDecember 23, 2014

My 9-year-old now tells me Santa Clause is fictional. So, I’m sending my letter to someone real, or…well, someone who exists, anyway: Dear Gov. Scott (and please share with GOP colleagues), It’s that time of year. No, not time to instruct staff to delete leftover sensitive emails or texts from the past year. No, not […]

Julie DelegalJuly 17, 2014

Florida’s schools have been graded since FCAT began under Gov. Lawton Chiles in 1998. There weren’t any consequences for the first few years — no “turnaround” lists, no teacher bonuses — as schools were given the chance to adjust to the brand new test. Standards of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test have been ramped up […]

Tag: charter schools

Nikolai Vitti: Standardized testing “exacerbated problems in schools around the country”

Key plaintiff pulls out of charter schools lawsuit

Julie Delegal: Lousy education policy blurs line between public, private

FEA won't appeal ruling on SB 850 lawsuit

FEA won’t appeal ruling on SB 850 lawsuit

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: West Palm plants seeds of the Nanny State

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: West Palm plants seeds of the Nanny State

Daniel Tilson: Florida 2014 – Days of Future Past

Daniel Tilson: A Christmas letter to Gov. Rick Scott

Julie Delegal: Charter school grades should alarm every Floridian