Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

James CallMarch 9, 2015

It was a day of testing at the state Capitol. The House Education Committee took about an hour to dispose of an overhaul of Florida’s school accountability system. The measure reducing testing and allowing an earlier start date of the school year sailed through with a few concerns expressed and a unanimous vote. While the […]

Associated PressMarch 4, 2015

Several school districts on Tuesday suspended Florida’s new standardized tests for a second day, despite assurances that the problems had been fixed. Education Commissioner Pam Stewart asked districts early in the morning to resume using the online portal that middle-school and high-school students must use in order to log on and take the state’s annual […]

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 […]

Gary FineoutJanuary 8, 2015

For several years, Florida’s political leaders, including Gov. Rick Scott, have touted across the state that their public schools were among the nation’s best. But one set of rankings – which just two years ago put Florida in the top 10 – has come out with a revamped formula that saw Florida tumble to the […]

Jac VerSteegJanuary 4, 2015

Candidates mouthed the words “education” a lot in 2014, but it was not a decisive election issue. Still, against the odds, 2015 might be the year the Florida Department of Education makes a sincere effort to make its testing policies reasonable. There has been legitimate concern that Rick Scott, safe in his second term and […]

Jac VerSteegJanuary 4, 2015

Candidates mouthed the words “education” a lot in 2014, but it was not a decisive election issue. Still, against the odds, 2015 might be the year the Florida Department of Education makes a sincere effort to make its testing policies reasonable. There has been legitimate concern that Rick Scott, safe in his second term and […]

Julie DelegalOctober 15, 2013

This is part three of a multi-part series on Florida’s Future with the Common Core State Standards, presented in partnership with Folio Weekly. A complete version of this series will appear in Folio on Oct. 16. Are PARCC and Common Core the same thing? No, the 18-state Partnership for the Assessment of College and Career […]

Julie DelegalOctober 13, 2013

This is part one of a six-part series on Florida’s Future with the Common Core State Standards, presented in partnership with Folio Weekly. A complete version of this series will appear in Folio on Oct. 16. Few issues draw as much scrutiny from citizens — or as much controversy — as public education. Parents and […]

Tag: Pam Stewart

The day that was in Florida Politics — March 9

Senators ask Gov. Rick Scott to suspend testing after glitches

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

Florida schools ranking from Education Week drops to 28th

2015 might bring high-stakes testing reform to Florida

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: 2015 might bring high-stakes testing reform to Florida

Julie Delegal: Florida and the Common Core: Gov. Rick Scott’s half-step

Julie Delegal: Florida and the Common Core: Why all the talk?