Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jac VerSteegApril 15, 2015

The Florida Legislature has passed, and Gov. Rick Scott has signed, an education reform bill that is dishonest – and politically cowardly – at its core. The measure tries to appease parents and others sick of over-testing. It scales back the number of tests. That’s fine. It also reduces the weight given to tests when […]

Julie DelegalMarch 3, 2015

And you thought the Obamacare web rollout had problems. Computer malfunctions, brand new curriculum standards and unparalleled stress have characterized the debut of the new Florida Standards Assessments. But could Florida’s testing debacle be alleviated by a stroke of the governor’s pen? On Monday, 36 of Florida’s 67 counties – more than half – experienced […]

Guest AuthorJuly 24, 2014

It’s a sobering thought: Florida’s students are graduating from high school without a good understanding of how to manage money. Whether going off to college or entering the workforce, these young minds should have at least the basics of money matters down, right? The unfortunate truth is, nearly half of Florida’s graduating seniors lack comprehension […]

Julie DelegalJune 22, 2014

Jacksonville is ground zero for the public education budget disaster that is the result of 15 years of misguided “reform” in Florida. Three months ago, Duval Superintendent of Schools Nikolai Vitti introduced an innovative, if short-lived, proposal to allow open enrollment district-wide to keep more students in the public system. His reason? The public school […]

Guest AuthorApril 8, 2014

I am against bullying. Everyone is. Even bullies are against bullies when they are the ones being bullied. The Florida Department of Education defines bullying as, “Systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one or more students or employees that is severe or pervasive enough to create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 29, 2014

Is anyone in Tallahassee smarter than a fifth-grader? Anyone? It sure doesn’t seem so and the Florida Department of Education announcement last week about the Florida version of Common Core doesn’t help. Common Core is unpopular with many conservatives — Gov. Rick Scott’s base — who view it as federal intrusion into the state education […]

Tag: Florida Department of Education
Gabrielle Russon

Jac VerSteeg: Fewer tests in school-grade formula is like less spit in milk

Julie Delegal: Gov. Scott, give kids a break from computer-plagued tests

Michael L. Bell: For Florida’s students, money matters

Julie Delegal: Florida’s school-budget chickens come home to roost

Jamie Miller: Do we need to legislate bullying?

Shannon Nickinson: Lurching from one benchmark to another hurts schools