Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–April 29
Apr 29, 2008
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Note: The Public School Funding Conference Report and Legislative Appropriations Conference Report have been issued. Please click here to access both reports.
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Florida budget set for final vote
The moving target that has been Florida’s $66.2 billion budget came in for a bumpier than usual landing Monday evening when it was delivered to lawmakers’ desks at 6:28 p.m., setting up a final up or down vote on Friday, the last day of the legislative session.
House and Senate budget chiefs agreed Sunday on a $65 billion-plus state budget deal, including a 5 percent reduction in the salaries of Florida lawmakers who have made painful spending tradeoffs in a second straight year of declining state revenues.
Final week of Florida Legislature’s session features controversial measures
Florida legislators starting their final workweek today still face the session’s major issues, including revamping public school assessment tests, finding health-care coverage for millions of uninsured Floridians and easing the rules for building nuclear power plants.
Fla. tax panel puts school voucher, spending items on ballot
A proposal critics say would not only allow school voucher programs but require them went on the November ballot Friday.
South Florida taxpayers give more, get less back
It’s just about enough money to buy a retractable-roof baseball stadium.
Miami Herald tracks allocation of taxes
Most state lawmakers don’t pay close attention to which regions kick in most of the state’s taxes — and no one closely tracks where all the money winds up.
What’s going on in the Florida Legislature
Here’s a scorecard of actions taken by Florida lawmakers Monday and a look ahead at what’s expected at the state Capitol today.
What they’re tussling over in Tallahassee
Download child porn, get sued by victim What: People who distribute or even download child pornography could face civil action on top of criminal charges under a bill that would allow victims of child pornography in the state to sue the people who download and transmit their images for no less than $150,000 per photograph.
EDITORIAL: Appealing amendments would not help Florida
The Florida finished its work last week after doing great potential damage to the state.
EDITORIAL: Tax commission does Bush’s bidding
In devoting two ballot questions to school vouchers, the constitutionally empaneled Taxation and Budget Reform Commission removed any doubt about its agenda.
Vouchers for Low Income OK’d by House
A voucher program financed by corporate income tax credits that now sends about 20,000 low-income students to private schools would be expanded by about 6,000 students under a bill the House passed.
COMMENTARY: Jeb’s vouchers worked – will their revival?
Much to the dismay of the public education bureaucracy, Jeb Bush is not spending his retirement reading 900-page biographies on South Beach.
House OKs bill to expand credits for corporations
Supporters say it offers choices to poor families. Opponents argue it siphons money from already-strapped public schools.
COLUMNIST: You call that tax reform? Seriously?
More tax breaks for a select few in Florida?
S. Florida lawmakers losing clout
South Florida lawmakers’ voices often go unheard or are at odds with one another, leaving the state’s largest school districts with little policy clout.
By the numbers, South Florida’s school districts — the two biggest in the state and among the largest in the country — should be entitled to significant influence over state education policy and financing.
Florida a step ahead in funds to faith schools
President Bush last week called on state lawmakers across the country to remove language in their constitutions that bans the flow of state money to religiously affiliated schools — and allies of the president’s brother already are trying to do just that in Florida.
23 states face budget gaps in ’09
Like a college student fishing for stray quarters in the sofa cushions, states are tightening their belts, dipping into their rainy day funds and hoping revenues will pick up.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Florida ranks near top of nation
Florida’s schools should be proud of their accomplishments. A series of national education reports and assessments have ranked Florida near the top of the nation in the performance of its students and the quality of their education.
The most recent of these successes is the announcement of a ninth-place ranking of our eighth-grade students writing at or above the proficient level on the 2007 National Assessment of Educational Progress writing assessment.
School budget cuts are coming – what might your district cast aside?
Smaller budgets are coming. What might your district cast aside?Layoffs loom, so he keeps options open
The economy is down, sales-tax collections have fallen and the state has reduced funding for education — and school districts across Central Florida are slashing budgets for next school year.
Dade schools plan districtwide cuts
Citing a growing financial crisis, members of the Miami-Dade School Board on Monday expressed support for postponing the salary increases promised to teachers, raising the price of school lunches and eliminating transportation for magnet- and vocational-school students.
Teacher a finalist for state’s top honor
Santa Rosa’s top teacher, Kevin Holland, earns finalist slot for state teacher of the year
Pace High School Principal Frank Lay pulled teacher Kevin Holland out of class Monday morning and into an administrative office.
Economic crunch seen in school lunch rooms
About 46 percent of students in Manatee County are taking advantage of the school district’s free or reduced lunch programs this school year.
Dueling bills on teaching of evolution may not survive
The Florida Legislature may not weigh in on the state’s new standards for teaching evolution after all.
House approves ‘simpler and more straightforward’ bill on teaching of evolution
In a move that could bring religious-based alternative theories such as creationism into the classroom, the House on Monday voted largely along party lines to require Florida’s public school teachers to challenge evolution.
State may pass anti-bullying law
Supporters of a bill that would force all Florida school districts to adopt policies prohibiting bullying and harassment are hopeful that it will finally become law this year.
Jeff Johnston would have been graduating from high school this year, making plans for college and contemplating a future full of possibilities.
Statewide testing system is due for change, most agree. Now, to the details.
The best known acronym in Florida’s public schools is about to become a little less important.
EDITORIAL: Florida, its legislators, students and educators must get over FCAT frenzy
Good politics don’t necessarily deliver quality education, but two bills moving through the Legislature reflect a happy confluence of thought.
Studies: SAT writing portion good predictor of grades
The controversial new writing portion of the SAT is actually a better predictor of grades for freshmen college students than the older, more-established, critical reading and mathematics portions, according to preliminary results of two new studies.
Standardized Formula For Graduation Rates May Soon Pair With Tests
A Bush administration proposal to require that all states use the same formula to calculate high school graduation rates is winning applause from education experts who say it will shed light on the nation’s dropout problem.
Database displays errant instructors
Most of them are cases parents never heard of.
When Young Teachers Go Wild on the Web
Public Profiles Raise Questions of Propriety and Privacy
It’s almost like Googling someone: Log on to Facebook. Join the Washington, D.C., network.
OMG: Teachers don’t LOL or 😉 at txt in skoolwrk
OMG, did u C the report about txting and skool?
EDITORIAL: Universities: No thanks, lawmakers
Looking for long-range plans?
Then don’t look to the Florida Legislature, where glitch bills are part of the culture.
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