Science: The next generation of scientists and inventors compete in the Thomas Alva Edison Kiwanis Science and Engineering and Inventors fairs, joining about 700 other Southwest Florida students. Fort Myers News-Press. The Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa helps teach students about science, engineering, art, technology and math through a new STEAMpunk program. Tampa Bay Times.
Conflict?: Rep. Manny Diaz, R-Hialeah, has been named dean of new private university run by the state’s largest for-profit charter school management firm – and, at the same time, leads the charge for a proposed bill that looks at streamlining the charter application process. Miami Herald. More from the Associated Press.
School choice: A Palm Beach County school board members wants the district to allow all students to apply to attend almost any school they want, regardless of where they live. Palm Beach Post. Education is no longer one size fits all, writes Florida Virtual School teacher Esilda Ross for the Pensacola News-Journal. 1.5 million students in Florida last year attended something other than their assigned neighborhood school. That’s 42 of every 100 students in PreK-12. redefinED. The best solution to our nation’s failing education system is empowering parents, writes former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush for the National Review.
Education budget: Florida Gov. Rick Scott asks state legislators to boost spending on public schools this fall by $542 million. Associated Press.
Common Core: Educators are wrong to pretend that Common Core State Standards are not coming to schools, writes the Palm Beach Post. We’re pretty much talking about the same standards, writes the Fort Myers News-Press.
Teaching: Those hoping to teach in Florida schools will face a tougher road to the classroom in March when increased passing certification scores go into effect. The Ledger. More from the Associated Press. Special needs teachers aides are among the lowest paid and have few requirements beyond a high school diploma and the passage of a math and reading assessment, finds a Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers investigation. TC Palm. Hernando teachers urge school board members to act on raises. Tampa Bay Times. Three Pasco teachers vie for educator of the year. The Tampa Tribune.
Creationism: According to Slate, 164 private schools that accept the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship teach creationism.
Standardized tests: Let’s hear some solutions from the anti-test crowd, writes Beth Kassab for the Orlando Sentinel.
Discipline: Some school districts reconsider zero tolerance over concerns about a rise in the number of children arrested on campus. StateImpact Florida.
Sales tax: The Brevard County School District is taking a different approach to the half-cent sales tax vote in 2014, compared to 2012. Florida Today. Hernando County school officials consider a new sales tax to replace the half-cent levy that expires later this year. Tampa Bay Times.
School suspensions: A program that keeps Duval kids who were suspended from school off city streets and focused on school work has fallen into a funding tug-of-war. Florida Times-Union.
School boards: The Tampa Tribune looks at candidates for Hillsborough County School Board.
Better schools: In a perfect world, there would be peace on Earth and no need to draft next year’s School Improvement Plan, writes parent and educator Terri Friedlander for Florida Today.
Recognition: Teachers at Treasure Coast “A” schools could be seeing a larger school recognition bonus this year. TC Palm.
Lawsuit: A mother sues the Broward County school district for discrimination, saying there were too many barriers for her disabled 6-year-old son to bring a service dog on campus. Sun Sentinel.
New name: It will cost Duval County Public Schools about $350,000 to resurface everything at Forrest High School to say Westside High. Florida Times-Union.
Mass transit: Pinellas County students envision the future of mass transit. The Tampa Tribune.
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