Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Julie DelegalAugust 24, 2015

Former State Board of Education Chairman Gary Chartrand has issued an impassioned plea on behalf of Florida’s 78,000 voucher students. He wants the plaintiffs, namely the Florida Education Association, which represents teachers, to drop its lawsuit opposing the diversion of tax dollars to the voucher program. The FEA lawsuit is now at the appeal stage. […]

Guest AuthorJuly 22, 2015

When I first began my teaching career it was in an inner city school where extreme poverty permeated nearly every child’s life. It hung in the air outside the chain-link fence surrounding the school like an oppressive fog, waiting to engulf my students as soon as the school day ended. Knowing what they were headed toward […]

Phil AmmannJuly 7, 2015

Florida’s teachers union expressed frustration with another legal loss in the attempt to overturn a 2011 law setting guidelines for teacher evaluations. In a prepared statement, Florida Education Association (FEA) President Andy Ford addressed Tuesday’s decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Atlanta. The court upheld the dismissal of a […]

Guest AuthorJuly 2, 2015

The teacher who taught state Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami, his ABCs, if he or she were around, should certainly regret it. Because — astonishingly, or maybe not — Fresen believes that the insights gleaned from a casual reading during a long airplane flight (Amanda Ripley’s “The Smartest Kids in the World,” according to Fresen) entitles […]

Phil AmmannJune 19, 2015

Florida Education Association President Andy Ford hailed the newly passed $78.8 billion budget as a “step forward” in properly funding the state’s public education. But more work is needed, he cautioned. Florida lawmakers finished the overtime marathon session after 6 p.m. Passed unanimously by the Senate and by a 96-17 vote in the House, the […]

Bob SparksJune 18, 2015

Recently, New York Times columnist David Brooks described the group of Democrats blocking President Obama’s expanded trade authority as the “Democrats’ Tea Party.” By their rigid stance in obstructing the president from negotiating a fast-track trade agreement with Asian countries, Democrats are violating their own principles. By taking Big Labor’s lead in opposing such agreements, […]

Phil AmmannMay 22, 2015

When Florida’s Legislative Session began in March, there were high expectations, especially for education and healthcare. But by session’s end, that optimism was long gone, says Florida Education Association President Andy Ford. Now that budget talks are set to resume, and lawmakers prepare for a June 1 Special Session, there’s still one last chance for […]

Gary FineoutMay 18, 2015

Backers of Florida’s largest private-school voucher program scored a significant victory Monday in an increasingly bitter legal battle. Circuit Judge George Reynolds tossed out a lawsuit that contended that the program that serves nearly 70,000 students across the state by placing them in private and mostly religious schools is unconstitutional. Reynolds ruled that the groups […]

Guest AuthorApril 16, 2015

Florida has successfully operated tax credit education scholarships for 13 years. More than 70,000 underprivileged students throughout Florida currently benefit from these scholarships, which provide important school choice options. These students, whose household incomes are only 5 percent above the poverty level, two-thirds of whom are black or Hispanic, and the majority of whom live […]

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 […]

Tag: Florida Education Association
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Julie Delegal: Other ideas follow defense of school vouchers

Andy Ford: Free public schools to help break shackles of poverty

Appeals court dismisses Florida teachers evaluation law challenge, union frustrated

Chris Timmons: Legislator misunderstands teaching and teachers

FEA president praises budget as ‘step forward’ for public schools, says further work needed

Bob Sparks: Progressive extremism, Florida style

Email insights: When budget money flows again, FEA will be first in line

Florida judge throws out lawsuit against voucher program

John Legg: Don't let vulnerable kids get mired in politics of education

Key plaintiff pulls out of charter schools lawsuit