Students model middle school uniforms, which are now required in Osceola County public schools and backed by a new state funding initiative.
Student uniforms are common at Florida's more than 650 charter schools. Yet, when state lawmakers offered extra funding to school districts that required uniforms, most charters couldn't participate.
The reason: Participation in the new program needed to be district-wide. If a school district chose not to set a uniform policy, the charters it oversaw weren't able to apply for funding on their own.
The episode highlights the tensions that sometimes exist between charter schools, which can create their own policies on issues like uniforms, and districts, which oversee nearly all Florida charters and serve as gatekeepers for certain types of funding.
This year, state lawmakers created a Standard Student Attire Incentive Fund, which set aside $10 million for districts that created school uniform policies. The money would help offset the cost of student uniforms, which supporters saw as a way to improve student safety and morale. The budget fine print said charter schools would be eligible for the funding, but it also said the policies needed to be "district-wide." The State Department of Education said charter schools would be eligible to participate "through their school district."
Of the state's 67 traditional school districts, 10 chose to take part. In those districts, many charters are participating. Bay County, for example, told the department that all of its charters planned to receive the funding.
Tim Kitts founded the Bay Haven charter school network of charter schools, which require uniforms. He said his network applied through the district. "I work really hard to go over there and build relationships," he said. "The superintendent and I have known each other for 30 years."
Some charter school leaders in the remaining 57 districts, however, say they feel excluded. Craig Butz, the president of Charter School Leaders-Florida and principal of Pepin Academies, wrote to the Tampa Bay Times' Gradebook blog. (more…)
Charter schools. A charter school advocate rings the alarm on facilities funding. Gradebook. WFSU. redefinED.
Home schooling. The Alachua school district creates a task force to review its policies. Gainesville Sun.
Uniforms. Miami-Dade prepares a plan to take advantage of a new state incentive program. Miami Herald.
Back to school. Hillsborough's new superintendent fires up teachers during a pre-school-year rally. Gradebook. School supply drives help needy students prepare. Bradenton Herald.
Teacher quality. This is the last year of a Gates-backed grant program to provide teacher mentors in Hillsborough. Tampa Tribune. A teacher bonus plan is panned. Highlands Today. Incentive programs should be based on research, a state Board of Education member says. Gradebook.
Unions. Duval Head Start employees vote to unionize. Florida Times-Union.
Campaigns. A candidate enters the ring for Lee County School Board. Fort Myers News-Press.
Testing. The Florida Senate approves a testing and accountability overhaul. Associated Press. News Service of Florida. Scripps/Tribune. The state of the state's testing regime draws some choice words from lawmakers. Miami Herald. The testing bill would also allow districts to move up school start dates. Orlando Sentinel.
Charter schools. A provision aimed at luring out-of-state operators is stripped from Senate charters and choice legislation. Miami Herald. Hillsborough holds an orientation for charter school operators. Gradebook. A district probe of an Escambia charter school is more complex than mere grade tampering. Pensacola News-Journal.
Uniforms. Do they help student outcomes? PoltiFact.
Early learning. Duval's Head Start program makes improvements. Florida Times-Union.
Teacher pay. A new Polk teacher contract awaits ratification. Lakeland Ledger.
Security. North Florida school administrators oppose arming school employees. Panama City News Herald.
Kiera Wilmot. Prosecutors won't file criminal charges against Kiera Wilmot, the Polk County student who has become a cause celebre after igniting a small chemical explosion on school grounds, reports the Lakeland Ledger. Beth Kassab says the arrest took things way too far. In the aftermath, neighboring Orange will get clarification on its zero tolerance policies, reports SchoolZone. Huffington Post op-ed: "Five ways to stop a black scientist."
Online learning. Privatization, everywhere. Bradenton Herald.
School choice. A private transportation option - at $1,350 annually per student - has emerged for students in Brevard's district choice schools, reports Florida Today. The Palm Beach County school board is urged to move ahead with plans to create an all-boys middle school, reports the Palm Beach Post.
School administration. Pinellas Superintendent Mike Grego shuffles the team at the top. Gradebook.
School uniforms. The Volusia school board plans to again discuss the possibility - for students and teachers. Daytona Beach News Journal. (more…)
Charter schools. The exorbitant payouts to the principal of a failing Orange County charter school are behind legislative efforts to tighten charter laws. Orlando Sentinel.
Privatization. The Volusia County school district considers outsourcing 500 custodial and grounds maintenance jobs, reports the Daytona Beach News Journal. The Bay County school district considers bids for privatizing the district's transportation services, reports the Panama City News Herald.
School choice. Vouchers and tax credit scholarships can make private school more affordable. Panama City News Herald.
Forget the furloughs. The Pasco school district finds the $3 million it needs to keep from making employees take two unpaid days off, as originally planned. Tampa Bay Times.
Raising the bar. Don't set it too high with graduation requirements, a high school principal tells the House K-12 Subcommittee. WTXL.
Educator conduct. Prosecutors drop fraud charges against a band teacher who was accused of using nearly $15,000 in school funds to pay for relatives who accompanied the band on a trip to Paris, reports the South Florida Sun Sentinel. More from the Palm Beach Post. An assistant football coach in Manatee County is accused of improperly touching a student and asking her for naked photographs, reports the Sarasota Herald Tribune. More from the Bradenton Herald. A Hernando middle school teacher with a history of off-campus incidents - including three DUI arrests - returns to the classroom after his latest DUI, reports the Tampa Bay Times.
Substitutes. The Marion County teachers union is accusing the district of using "full time" subs to avoid paying benefits. Ocala Star Banner. (more…)
