Advertisement

Florida education news: Teachers with guns, certification tests, charter school growth and more

A roundup of stories from around the state.
 
MONICA HERNDON   |   Times
Students and supporters of March For Our Lives held a rally opposing HB 7093 on the Old State Capitol steps on April 3, 2019 at the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida. HB 7093 proposes arming teachers.
MONICA HERNDON | Times Students and supporters of March For Our Lives held a rally opposing HB 7093 on the Old State Capitol steps on April 3, 2019 at the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida. HB 7093 proposes arming teachers.
Published April 4, 2019

ARMING TEACHERS: The Florida House postpones debate on a bill that would allow teachers to carry guns at school as guardians. Students from around the state had gathered in the Capitol to rally against the proposal. Lawmakers say the delay had more to do with a technical disagreement with the Senate than the presence of the protesters. More from GateHouse.

TEACHER TESTS: Legislation to ease the certification testing requirement for Florida teachers again advances in the state House without amendments or much debate, despite concerns raised about the possible lowering of standards.

CHARTER SCHOOLS: Pasco County’s oldest charter school receives a land gift that will allow it to expand. • The Hillsborough County Commission cancels a bond deal that would have helped three charter schools.

SEEKING SAVINGS: An outside consultant details the ways the Hillsborough County school district has cut expenses.

STATE FUNDING: Florida’s complicated education funding formula confuses even some professional financial experts, the Ledger reports. • The state Senate approves its budget, including an education funding plan that differs from the House, Florida Politics reports. • Senate Democrats raise red flags over the $110 million price tag of a proposed new school voucher program, Florida Phoenix reports. • A Florida House member pushes to revamp the state’s school readiness early education funding formula, the Herald-Tribune reports.

SHOOTING NEAR SCHOOL: Bullets shatter the classroom window of Duval County students who had just completed their state testing, WTLV reports. No one was injured.

SECURITY: The Clay County school district hires a new safety director, Clay Today reports.

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES: About 200 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High students walk out of classes to protest a dearth of mental health resources, the Miami Herald reports.

DRINKING WATER: The Leon County school district begins replacing all school water fountains installed before 2014, WCTV reports.

MORE SPORTS: Girls wrestling could soon become Florida’s next sanctioned high school sport, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

DUAL ENROLLMENT: The Flagler County school district considers a new dual enrollment agreement with the University of North Florida to focus on training future teachers, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reports.

TURNAROUNDS: The Marion County School Board might hire a nationally respected retired local principal to oversee a struggling elementary school if it doesn’t improve its school grade, the Ocala Star-Banner reports.

TERM LIMITS: Central Florida school board members say they don’t understand why Florida lawmakers are pushing so hard to limit board terms, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

GETTING THERE: A Manatee County commissioner suggests creating a new, possibly mandatory, busing system for school students as a way to reduce traffic congestion, the Bradenton Herald reports.

R.I.P.: The Gulf County School Board remembers its most veteran member, who passed away after an illness, the Port St. Joe Star reports.

BAD ACTS: A Duval County teacher is arrested on allegations he impregnated a minor student, the Florida Times-Union reports.

TODAY: Senate Education Appropriations, 10 a.m. • House session, 1:30 p.m. (On third reading: HB 5001 general appropriations. On second reading: HJR 229 school board term limits, HB 741 anti-Semitism, HB 807 civics education, HB 1027 early learning. Note above, the House postponed action on several high profile education bills, which remain available for consideration.) • Senate session, 2:30 p.m. (On second reading: SB 2502 budget implementing)

ICYMI: Yesterday’s Florida education news roundup