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Two testing bills are central to Florida’s downward spiral defense of its crumbling A-F School Accountability scheme. No discussion of these bills is complete without first acknowledging that the Florida’s high stakes testing experiment should be replaced. Despite this, legislators and lobbyists strive mightily to “fix” what clearly should be abandoned. HB1249 /SB964 by Sen. Bill Montford…
HB15/SB906 is moving through the 2017 Legislature in the form of a $206 million dollar voucher expansion featuring little accountability. This latest figure means at least $6 million in new fees for Step Up for Students who, as the official Scholarship Funding Organization, are entitled to 3% of the gross. Voter alert: Bill HB15/SB906 sponsors –…
by: Diane Ravitch | March 7, 2017 A nonprofit parent-led group called Fund Education Now created a fact sheet about Florida’s Corporate Tax Credit plan, which was designed to evade the state constitution’s explicit ban on using public money to fund religious or private education. In 2006, as governor, Jeb Bush pushed through a universal…
What happens when a district for-profit charter school is shut down “following a damning audit and troubling site visits?” No problem. The charter management company can just “convert” to a private school, avoid all accountability and start taking voucher cash from the state. Florida charter schools have less oversight than traditional district schools and private…
by Scott Maxwell | The Orlando Sentinel | February 28, 2017 Last month, the Sentinel reported revolting accusations aimed at a local school for special-needs students. Administrators of the private school — funded largely through Florida’s school-voucher programs and Medicaid reimbursements — were accused of defrauding taxpayers out of more than $4 million. Parents said the…
By: Caitlin R. McGlade | Sun Sentinel | 2.18.17 The concrete courtyard at Boca Raton Community High stretches the length of a football field. When the bell rings for lunch, a flurry of students pack it from every direction. Almost 3,400 students go to school here. Students say the place is so populated they can go years…
Florida ranks solidly among the nation’s worst in per pupil public education funding. No way around it, Florida politicians refuse to invest in our kids. Each year everyone from Gov. Rick Scott to House and Senate leadership brags about miserly “increases” of mere dollars. In 2015, Politifact rated Scott’s claim as “mostly false.” The fact is…
by: Leslie Postal | Orlando Sentinel | February 13, 2017 Six years after Florida adopted a teacher merit-pay law, there is little evidence the sweeping measure has met its key goal of boosting student achievement, the Orange County school district has concluded. In Orange, and across the state, student performance on standardized tests has not…
Grass roots public education advocates, you are magnificent! Although Betsy DeVos was confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Education by 51-50, she walks into her new job wearing a giant red flag. The fight that lies ahead is huge. Fund Education Now needs your help. Please donate to help fund our web platform and messaging tool.…
Your voices are making a difference! Keep writing, calling & Tweeting! Betsy DeVos, U.S. Ed Secretary nominee was barely voted out of the H.E.L.P. Committee 12-11 after Chair Lamar Alexander bent the rules, silenced debate, and forced the committee to vote twice on Tuesday (1.31.17) to secure a favorable outcome for DeVos. It was an…