Take Action Today: Urge Senate to vote down bad HB 5105 “Schools of Hope” Charter Turnaround Heist! Read Duval Superintendent Vitti’s stern letter imploring Senators to do the right thing & Reject HB 5105 during upcoming budget conference negotiations. Letter issued by Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti: April 17, 2017 Florida State Senators, I implore you to…
DetailsStatus: HB 5105 “Charter School Turnaround Heist/Schools of Hope” passed in the House along strict party lines. No companion in Senate except Sen. Bean’s SB796, which is scheduled to be heard for the first time in committee on Monday, 4/17/17. Please take the time to read and understand the dangerous lie behind HB 5105 and why…
Detailsby, Kristen M. Clark | MIami Herald April 13, 2017 …
DetailsOn Wednesday, April 12th, at 10:00am Representative Shevrin Jones and Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum will hold a press conference to discuss HB 5105/Charter School Turnaround Heist, the flawed “Schools of Hope” Legislation and its detrimental effects on Florida’s public schools outside the House Chamber, 4th Floor Rotunda, The Capitol. Take action now! Tell the House…
DetailsThe Charter School Turnaround Heist, HB 5105 by Rep Diaz, does exactly what Rep. Kionne McGhee said in the Tampa Bay Times, “This bill, in my humble opinion, creates a separate but unequal system” that “runs afoul” of the state and U.S. Constitutions” Charter school lobbyists, led by Rep. Diaz wrote HB 5105 to trigger the…
DetailsThank the Senate Education Committee now. They did a rare thing. Republicans and Democrats worked together and voted unanimously to pass the so-called “fewer, better tests,” SB 926, with the Montford-inspired amendments remarkably intact, transforming it into a bill that actually reduces testing. That’s a record turnaround. Just a few weeks ago Sen. Montford’s superior…
DetailsThis afternoon the Senate Education Committee votes on amendments to greatly improve SB926, the so-called “Fewer Better Tests.” by Sen. Flores which does not eliminate a single test. Without the proposed amendments, this is truly a very bad bill. Take action now! Our children need a YES vote on these Montford-inspired amendments to make…
DetailsRep. Manny Diaz and the House Education Committee launched HB 5105 codifying a longstanding resentment that for-profit charter developers feel toward district public schools. One of the chief complaints proponents have about charters is that they just aren’t replicating fast enough. Laws are passed every session to favor unmitigated charter growth. Right now districts have multiple statutory…
DetailsWords matter. And when it comes to the Florida Legislature terminology and acronyms may matter more. When the testing bill was recently TP’d (temporarily postponed) some weren’t sure what that meant. Check out this handy list of legislative terms and acronyms prepared by the Florida Senate and look at this glossary of education “reform”/privatization terms. Read up.…
DetailsFlorida is facing a well-documented teacher shortage due in no small part to some of the lowest wages in the nation. Florida legislators never face the obvious. Finding and keeping talented teachers takes money and respect. So the Florida House thinks that expanding the $10k Best and Brightest Bonus awarded to teachers who earned high…
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