Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jac VerSteegMarch 10, 2015

When I was in the seventh grade I cheated on an English pop quiz. The multiple-choice test was on a short story I had not read. My buddy, Will, put his hand by his cheek if the answer was A, on the desk if the answer was B, on his knee if the answer was […]

Julie DelegalMarch 4, 2015

Rep. Debbie Mayfield, R-Vero Beach, has been listening to parent complaints about high-stakes testing. Mayfield, like most parents and educators, is so frustrated with the entire standards-based accountability system that she wants to give entire school districts the ability to “opt out” of standards-based tests altogether. Judging from an action alert obtained from a Tea […]

Julie DelegalMarch 2, 2015

Part one of this two-part series examines one senator’s move to lower the stakes in Florida’s high-stakes education accountability system, and how the stakes got so high in the first place. For several years, parents and teachers have bristled against the centerpiece of education reform in Florida. “Teacher accountability” is the political term for it, but what […]

Guest AuthorMarch 1, 2015

Here is the State of the State that Governor Rick Scott ought to deliver and, more importantly, that Floridians deserve to hear. Thank you Mr. Speaker. It is traditional for the governor to begin this speech with an unequivocal declaration that the state of our state is strong. The state of our state is strong, […]

Dan GelberMarch 1, 2015

Here is the State of the State that Governor Rick Scott ought to deliver and, more importantly, that Floridians deserve to hear. Thank you Mr. Speaker. It is traditional for the governor to begin this speech with an unequivocal declaration that the state of our state is strong. The state of our state is strong, […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorFebruary 27, 2015

In anticipation of the 2015 Legislative Session, FloridaPolitics.com is asking state lawmakers about their goals and priorities – and whether they support some controversial issues in the state.. Here are the responses from Brandon Representative Ross Spano: In one word, how would you describe your expectations for the Session? “Optimistic.” What’s a local issue you are making […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 25, 2015

As the 2015 Florida legislative session prepares to commence, we have reached out to legislators in the House and Senate to get their responses to a series of questions. Today’s installment from Northeast Florida features Republican power broker Sen. Aaron Bean. He represents Nassau County and parts of Duval as well, and serves on myriad […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 22, 2015

When I met Edith for the first time and heard her stories about her kindergarten class, I realized that she is the poster child for what is happening in Florida education at the grass roots level. She is a slight woman in her early 30s, originally from Venezuela, an immigrant like most her students, who […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorFebruary 22, 2015

In anticipation of the 2015 Legislative Session, FloridaPolitics.com is asking state lawmakers about their goals and priorities – and whether they support some controversial issues in the state.. Here are the responses from House Majority Leader Dana Young of Tampa: In one word, how would you describe your expectations for the Session, i.e. “Excited.” “Successful!” What’s a […]

Shannon NickinsonFebruary 16, 2015

Judy Bense was the one who brought it home. On Thursday, the business and educational communities got together to announce a new collaborative program called Greater Pensacola Career Pathways. The initiative is a partnership that looks at economic development through the lens of the education system with an eye toward building a strong, educated workforce […]

Tag: education

Jac VerSteeg: High-tech tests open doors to cheating

Julie Delegal: Tweaking the tests – Common Core pushback

Julie Delegal: Tweaking the tests – what to watch in education legislation

Dan Gelber: The State of the State Floridians should hear

Dan Gelber: The State of the State Floridians should hear

Previewing the Legislative Session with Rep. Ross Spano

Previewing the 2015 legislative session with Aaron Bean

Catherine Martinez: Welcome to the Common Core kindergarten

Previewing the 2015 Legislative Session with Rep. Dana Young

Shannon Nickinson: Career planning starts at 13, not 23