Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersAugust 9, 2018

Three Democratic Orange County lawmakers joined with the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association Thursday to bash Republican Gov. Rick Scott‘s record on public education. Outside the offices of the Orange County Public Schools headequarters in Orlando, State Sen. Victor Torres and state Reps. Carlos Guillermo Smith and Amy Mercado all went after the governor for […]

Jim RosicaJuly 12, 2018

Calling it “affirmatively misleading,” the League of Women Voters of Florida is seeking to have a proposed constitutional amendment on education tossed off the ballot. At issue is a section that would let organizers of charter schools avoid having to get an OK from local school boards to open. The League itself, President Patricia M. […]

Drew WilsonJune 25, 2018

A Tampa man says a campaign consultant working with School Board member Susan Valdes, now a candidate for House District 62, threatened to get him fired and booted out of the Democratic Party for posting a video of Valdes on Facebook. The 5-minute video, recorded during a Saturday meeting of the Hillsborough Hispanic Democratic Caucus, […]

Guest AuthorJune 22, 2018

As an educator who has taught in both district-run and charter public schools, I am astounded when I read articles or hear claims from school board members around the state charter schools take away funding from the local public-school system. That is not the case. Charter schools provide options for families who can’t afford to […]

Drew WilsonMay 4, 2018

Public education will only improve when people buy in, Step Up for Students President Doug Tuthill said Thursday at the Florida Chamber of Commerce Summit on Prosperity & Economic Opportunity. “I’m going to start with the good news: public education today is in the best shape that it’s ever been in,” Tuthill said, citing the […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 4, 2018

This week I asked to join litigation against the Palm Beach County School Board. As a working mother of two young sons, this is not a battle I wanted to fight. But I have little choice. The school board is mistreating charter school students, including my younger son. Board members have filed a lawsuit against […]

Jim RosicaDecember 26, 2017

Spoiler alert: If you’re a regular of this site, and reading this story, you can guess what the #1 pick is. Otherwise, 2017 still offered a bounty of material to Tallahassee’s reporting ranks. We still chuckle at the uninitiated who ask, “What do you write about when the Legislature isn’t in session?” Without further ado, […]

Mitch PerryOctober 20, 2017

A debate on traditional public schools vs. charter schools took front and center Friday at the Tampa Tiger Bay Club. For 68 minutes, a group of education leaders of various backgrounds discussed the issue at the Ferguson Law Center. Speaking out most prominently for charters was Doug Tuthill, the president of Step Up For Students, the nonprofit group […]

Guest AuthorOctober 18, 2017

Science, psychology, and innovative research have proven that children possess different learning abilities, skills and interests. To make the most of these unique ways of learning, students need educational options that meet their particular scholastic needs and broaden their interest in education. The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program, administered by Step Up for Students, provides […]

Scott PowersAugust 10, 2017

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gwen Graham pledged Thursday to a number of educators and parents concerned about public education that she would make public education her top priority. While meeting with a roundtable of teachers, former teachers, public education advocates, and parents in an Orlando restaurant Thursday, Graham blasted Republican efforts to promote charter schools, which […]

Tag: charter schools
TALLAHASSEE, FLA. 3/4/25-Gov. Ron DeSantis talks with the media after giving the State of the State speech on the opening day of the 2025 Legislative Session, Tuesday at the Capitol in Tallahassee. COLIN HACKLEY PHOTO

Victor Torres, Carlos Smith, Amy Mercado rip Rick Scott on education

League of Women Voters sues over education amendment

Susan Valdes campaign threatens man for posting video

Marsha Edwards: District, charter teachers all in this together

Doug Tuthill: Education improves with a sense of ownership

Marleny Olivo: Palm Beach School Board should stop attacking charter school students

Jim Rosica’s review of top state government stories of 2017

Tampa Tiger Bay Club debates charter schools

Robert McClure: Support the Tax Credit Scholarship to protect Florida’s families

Gwen Graham pledges public education as her priority, blasts Richard Corcoran