School class-size rules may be relaxed

Source: Sun-Sentinel

Florida's popular class-size law may be put on ice, thanks to a weakening economy and a statewide budget crisis.

Despite strong public support, a broad consensus is forming that the goal of limiting class size is simply too expensive during the current economic crunch.

School superintendents, grappling with budget cuts, would welcome the move. And the Florida Education Association, the state's teachers' union, said it would not object but only if the changes were temporary.


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State board OK's troubled-schools pilot program.

TALLAHASSEE -- (AP) -- Florida's education board approved a federal pilot program Tuesday to give the state more flexibility dealing with troubled schools.

Under the federal Differential Accountability Program, schools that fail to meet standards under the federal No Child Left Behind program will receive targeted help from education experts.

In the past, schools were required to take specific, federally mandated steps at specific times if they failed to make adequate yearly progress under the law.

Now, state education leaders can assess each failing school and design programs that best fit the school. Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Maryland and Ohio were accepted to the pilot program earlier this year.

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Texas School District Will Let Teachers Carry Guns

Source: Fox News

A tiny Texas school district may be the first in the nation to pass a law specifically allowing teachers and staff to pack heat when classes begin later this month.

Trustees at the Harrold Independent School District approved a district policy change last October so employees can carry concealed firearms to deter and protect against school shootings, provided the gun-toting teachers follow certain requirements.

Superintendent David Thweatt told FOXNews.com the policy was initiated because of safety concerns.

See full article here.

School Board Agenda

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Special School Board Meeting

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Special School Board Meeting Agenda

School Board Agenda

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School Board Agenda

Gov. Crist Signs New Tougher P.E. Bill

Gov. Charlie Crist has signed a bill requiring Florida elementary schools provide 30 minutes of continuous exercise daily for their students.

http://cbs4.com/local/Mandatory.PE.pe.2.738476.html

School Board Agenda

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http://www2.dadeschools.net/schoolboard/agenda.asp

Teacher ethics bill headed to governor

Source: Sarasota Herald Tribune

The state Legislature just passed the Ethics in Education Act, which gives Florida the toughest law in the nation against abusive teachers.

If Gov. Charlie Crist signs the bill, it would:

* Ban settlements that keep accusations against teachers secret if they quietly leave a school district.

* Withhold the retirement benefits of educators who commit certain felonies against children.

* Require the state to help public and private schools develop educator ethics policies.

* Put more parents and law enforcement officials on the state committee that helps determine the punishment for teachers who commit violations.

Governor Expected To Pass Fla. Anti-Bullying Law

School districts would have to adopt policies against bullying and harassment under a bill that the governor says he anticipates signing.

See full article:

http://cbs4.com/local/Florida.Passes.Anti.2.712950.html

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Florida Schools Grades Under Review

The first substantive overhaul of Florida's high-stakes test in nine years was overwhelmingly approved by a House panel Monday, a move Democrats hailed as long overdue.

See Full Article:

http://www.miamiherald.com/295/story/504571.html

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Legislature poised to reform dreaded FCAT

Source: Sun-Sentinel

In hopes of damping " FCAT frenzy," the Legislature is expected this spring to approve a major revamp of Florida's public school testing program.

Rallies and motivational speakers meant to boost scores would be banned during class time. Schools could not buy new textbooks that mention the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

Under House and Senate bills, the writing exam would be given March 1, and testing on other subjects delayed until April 15 at the earliest.

School Board Agenda

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Teacher cheating penalties few but harsh, can end careers

Source: Associated Press

Teacher Heidi Sweet says she put pencil marks next to questions some fifth-graders had skipped or gotten wrong while taking Floridas high-stakes standardized test to encourage them to try again. It was a career-ending mistake.

http://www.miamiherald.com/775/story/485076.html

ESOL bill clears first hurdle

Source: Tampa Bay Tribune

3/13/2008

ESOL bill clears first hurdle


A bill to reduce the amount of ESOL training for reading specialists from 300 hours to 60 hours won near unanimous support in the Florida Senate today. Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed the concept last year; he has not indicated his position this session.

http://blogs.tampabay.com/schools/2008/03/esol-bill-clear.html

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Bill cutting ESOL teacher training advances

Posted on Fri, Mar. 07, 2008

Source: Miami Herald

Some state lawmakers are trying for a second time to slash training requirements for reading teachers who work with students learning English, although scarcely a third of those students read at grade level and only half graduate from high school.

North Florida legislators sponsoring the bill say the required training -- equivalent to 15 college credits or 300 hours -- is cumbersome and unnecessary. In some North Florida counties, only a tiny fraction of the students in public schools are learning English, but in Miami-Dade and Broward combined, about 80,000 students are getting help to learn English.

Class Size Extension?

Source: Miami Herald

8:25p

Schools would get two more years to fully comply with class-size limits and then could exceed them by up to five students per class in extreme circumstances under a proposal presented Tuesday in the Legislature.

http://www.miamiherald.com/775/story/444050.html

Excessive absences put Port St. Lucie mom in jail

Source: Sun Sentinel

PORT ST. LUCIE, FL. - Police arrested a 48-year-old mother after investigators determined three of her children each racked up dozens of unexcused absences from school, according to reports released Tuesday.

A St. Lucie County School Board official contacted police Feb. 6 and said he was investigating the "ongoing truancy" of three children, a 12-year-old boy, a 14-year-old girl and a 16-year-old girl.

The mother was held Tuesday in the St. Lucie County Jail in lieu of $60,000 bail, a jail official said.

Dade scraps plan to close 10 schools

Source: Miami Herald

The Miami-Dade County Public Schools District has scrapped a plan to close 10 underenrolled elementary and middle schools and use them for other academic purposes, Superintendent Rudy Crew said Thursday.

''In some revenue discussions, we found that there are adequate resources to be able to cover the $9.2 million to keep the schools open,'' Crew told the School Board. ``Knowing that it has been as contentious as it's been, we've removed [the proposal from the budget] so the discussion doesn't have to take place.''

A lab demonstration goes bad

Source: The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, OH)

Two girls were burned in a science lab accident at a school in Ohio. The victims received a $18.9 million settlement from the school for injuries sustained when a the teacher improperly poured chemicals causing a flame during a classroom demonstration. Click the title bar above if you would like to read more about this story.