Education in Tallahassee: It's not all about the budget

JANUARY 09, 2009

While Florida lawmakers continue to stew over the state's financial mess, and how public education will share in the pain, we thought we'd take a look at some of the other education issues that they're filing bills about.

Once the regular session rolls around, we'll get to hear debate on such topics as:

Requiring children to take swimming lessons before enrolling in school (SB 146, Bullard)
Eliminating the requirement to teach children about abstinence in sex education (HB 19/SB 268, Jenne/Ring)
Establishing a social studies FCAT (HB 13, McBurney)
Mandating traffic control speed zones outside schools (HB 87, Scionti)
Getting rid of school grades (SB 78, Wilson)
Tightening accountability rules for charter schools (SB 278, Gaetz)

See, we don't have to talk about how many millions the districts will likely cut. We can talk about swimming lessons and sex ed. Something to look forward to. Now go find a red pen and get back to your budget workshops.

(Times photo)

Posted by Times Editor at 9:24:00 am on January 09, 2009 in

Legislation

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About the blog

Gradebook features education articles and insights on schools in Florida, focusing on Tampa Bay area schools. What's the latest from the Florida Department of Education? How is the FCAT being used to compare Florida schools? What's going in on in Tampa Bay schools? Get an insider's view from the Times education reporting team.

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THE TEAM

Rebecca Catalanello covers Pinellas County schools. E-mail her: rcatalanello@tampabay.com.

Tony Marrero covers Hernando County schools. E-mail him: tmarrero@tampabay.com.

Marlene Sokol covers Hillsborough County schools. E-mail her: sokol@tampabay.com.

Ron Matus covers Pinellas County schools. E-mail him: matus@tampabay.com.

Jeffrey S. Solochek covers Pasco County schools. E-mail him: solochek@tampabay.com.

Kim Wilmath covers the University of South Florida. E-mail her: kwilmath@tampabay.com.

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