Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Gary FineoutOctober 16, 2015

A tussle over the website used by the Florida Department of Education has resulted in the ouster of an agency employee and an animal rights group’s questioning whether state education officials are buckling under pressure from one of the state’s theme park operators. The department this month pushed out its deputy communications director after Jennifer […]

Drew WilsonOctober 12, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott said Monday he’ll ask the Legislature to add $20 million in funding for the state’s technical centers in his 2016-17 budget recommendation. Technical centers are run by Florida’s school districts and colleges and train workers for various jobs based on the workforce needs of the area. Scott said the $20 million would […]

Frank TorresSeptember 9, 2015

In spite of a tough upbringing in a poor family, education helped Gov. Rick Scott get ahead, he told state leaders Wednesday morning at an Orlando education summit hosted by Education Commissioner Pam Stewart. The governor next reviewed his educational platform for the audience at the Omni Orlando Resort, connecting it to Florida’s job growth. “If we […]

Phil AmmannJuly 9, 2015

First lady Ann Scott read aloud to a group of summer camp students this week for the second stop of Florida’s 2015 Summer Literacy Adventure. Surrounded by sparkling waters and native wildlife of Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Scott recited John Lithgow’s I’m a Manatee to a group of students from area summer […]

Staff ReportsJune 23, 2015

In the wake of Tuesday morning’s budgetary blood bath that left $431 million in state spending on the Rotunda floor, state senators have had a thing or two to say about Gov. Rick Scott‘s line-item veto spree. So have the governor’s many boosters within state governmental agencies, who worked up prepared statements and sent them out into […]

Ryan RayJune 17, 2015

In an upbeat conference call that included statewide education officials, including Department of Education Secretary Pam Stewart, and Wendy Spencer of the federal Corporation for National and Community Service said Wednesday that Florida will be the recipient of $15.4 million for AmericCorps-led education projects. The officials said that figure will be matched by local money bringing the […]

Phil AmmannMarch 31, 2015

High school robotics students, Motorola representatives, and state leaders gathered in Tallahassee on Tuesday to celebrate the significance of science, technology, engineering and math education. Co-sponsored by the Motorola Solutions Foundation and Florida FIRST Robotics, “STEM Day at the Florida Capitol” featured robotics teams from across the state, each a participant in national competitions. Motorola Solutions […]

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 […]

Shannon NickinsonMarch 25, 2015

It’s almost time to let the tilt-a-whirl of state standardized testing spin anew. Next week, Escambia County students will begin Florida Standards Assessment testing in reading and mathematics. Santa Rosa students will start their testing in April. Third- and fourth-graders will take the tests on paper. For fifth-graders on up, the tests will be online. […]

James CallMarch 10, 2015

The House Education Committee spent about an hour Monday discussing and approving an overhaul of Florida’s testing-focused school accountability program. The measure was approved on a unanimous vote. Read a staff analysis here. Chairwoman Marlene O’Toole said this past week she wanted to get the measure to the floor as quickly as possible, and Monday […]

Tag: Pam Stewart

State fires employee for scrubbing SeaWorld from website at PETA’s request

Gov. Rick Scott requests $20M in tech center funding for 2016 budget

Rick Scott talks education at DOE summit in Orlando

Ann Scott reads about manatees, wildlife to kids for Summer Literacy Adventure

“It’s working!”: Executive agency veto statement round-up

Florida receives $15 million in AmeriCorps education projects aid

Students, leaders celebrate robotics at Capitol STEM Day

Key plaintiff pulls out of charter schools lawsuit

Shannon Nickinson: High-stakes testing thrill ride ready to resume

House Education panel talks school accountability reform