Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Staff ReportsApril 4, 2016

Twenty legislators earned spots on the Jeb Bush-founded Foundation for Florida’s Future honor roll this year, according to a press release. The nonprofit organization, which supports initiatives such as school choice, issues a yearly report card on lawmakers “for their actions to improve the quality of education in the Sunshine State through support for student-centered policies,” […]

Drew WilsonMarch 12, 2016

The Foundation for Florida’s Future highlighted a bevy of bills and budget items passed by the Legislature in a celebratory email sent out by the education advocacy group Friday. “More Florida children will get a better education – that is the takeaway from this year’s Legislative Session,” said Patricia Levesque, executive director of the Foundation for […]

Staff ReportsJanuary 28, 2016

The state House on Wednesday rolled out a nearly $1 billion tax cut proposal. The proposal is similar to the proposal that Gov. Rick Scott pitched earlier this year. Among other things the proposal includes eliminating the tax on manufacturing equipment and credits for renewable energy investments. The House finance and tax committee has not […]

Staff ReportsJanuary 27, 2016

State lawmakers on Wednesday OK’d two bills aimed at improving literacy rates. Among other things, the House measure (HB 7021) requires teachers who teach retained third graders to hold a reading certificate and calls on the Department of Education to review certification. Included in the Senate proposal (SB 1068) are provisions that call on districts […]

Phil AmmannJune 19, 2015

Florida lawmakers capped the special session on the budget by passing a $78.8 billion spending plan, an agreement hammered out between the House and Senate after they failed to reach accord during the regular 60 day special session in the spring. The budget passed the House by a 96-17 shortly after 6 p.m. Frida, about […]

Julie DelegalApril 19, 2015

On April 9, the Florida Legislature quickly and quietly passed an educational testing reform bill that Gov. Rick Scott signed into law on Tuesday – a significant victory for advocates and educators. But – except for the Duval County PTA – advocates don’t appear to be taking credit for its passage. House Bill 7069 reduces […]

Julie DelegalApril 19, 2015

On April 9, the Florida Legislature quickly and quietly passed an educational testing reform bill that Gov. Rick Scott signed into law this past Tuesday, a significant victory for advocates and educators. However, except for the Duval County PTA, advocates don’t appear to be taking credit for its passage. House Bill 7069 reduces duplicative testing, […]

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 […]

Julie DelegalSeptember 3, 2014

Synecdoche means using one part of something to speak for the whole. When it comes to school-privatization rhetoric, voucher proponents have mastered the art of synecdoche. They find an individual — a successful, accomplished voucher student — and tell a glowing story that is meant to represent all private school voucher students, indeed, the entire […]

Tag: Patricia Levesque
Mike Johnson. Image via AP.

Foundation for Florida’s Future’s report card grades lawmakers for 2016 Session

Foundation for Florida’s Future highlights expanded education options passed by lawmakers

Capitol reax: Renewable energy credits, public school choice, predatory public records requests, funding for sick children

Capitol reax: Literacy initiatives, the Pastor Protection Act, Uber

Foundation for Florida’s Future celebrates educational highlights of newly passed budget

Julie Delegal: Silent victory for Florida's education activists

Julie Delegal: Silent victory for Florida’s education advocates

Julie Delegal: Tweaking the tests – Common Core pushback

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

Julie Delegal: The simple cure for voucher-school lawsuits