‘Charter school district’ proposed – Superintendent wants greater flexibility to improve education

By Andrew Marra Palm Beach Post Staff Writer July 30, 2015| Palm Beach County’s schools chief wants permission from state lawmakers to convert the county’s public school system into a “charter school district,” a designation that could let him end-run state rules and drastically reorganize schools’ schedules, class sizes and instruction time. Superintendent Robert Avossa’s proposal…

Seven members of Florida House attending conservative ALEC conference in San Diego

Tampa Bay Times| July 21, 2015 By: Michael Auslen Conservative legislators from around the country are flocking to San Diego this week for an annual gathering focused on states’ rights, shrinking government and free-market policies. Among the attendees at the annual meeting of the American Legislative Exchange Council, more commonly called ALEC, are seven members…

Let schools use simpler alternatives to state tests

Orlando Sentinel |Opinion printed July 19, 2015 It’s a solution that would have pleased Henry David Thoreau, who urged, “Simplify, simplify.” Seminole County Public Schools had fits this spring administering Florida’s new standardized test. So Superintendent Walt Griffin wrote state Education Commissioner Pam Stewart on Monday to request her support for a simple, economical alternative…

Foundations use report cards to influence votes

  July 15, 2015 This is the season when the Foundation for Florida’s Future, the Florida Chamber and Associated Industries of Florida release their 2015 Legislative Report Cards.  In particular, the Foundation assigns grades to legislators’ based on their willingness to pass the Jeb Bush/ALEC-driveneducation reform/privatization policy agenda. These grades are a road map for voters.…