Digital learning: Two Florida lawmakers introduce a draft bill to expand school technology. StateImpact Florida. If passed, the proposal would target $100 million a year for digital learning in public schools. redefinED.
Charter schools: Pasco County School Board members will consider allowing charter school applicants time to respond to district questions and concerns before the superintendent makes a final recommendation. Tampa Bay Times.
IB: Juniors in Largo High School’s first class of International Baccalaureate receive gold pins symbolizing the halfway point of their rigorous academic coursework. The Tampa Tribune.
Jeb Bush: The former Florida governor talks to StateImpact Florida about Common Core and state testing.
Legislation: Florida lawmakers propose a bill to stop students from getting in trouble at school because they pretended their finger or another harmless item was a gun. Orlando Sentinel.
Common Core: A promise by 35 state education commissioners including Florida’s to keep identifiable student data out of the federal government’s hands receives poor marks from anti-Common Core organizations. Tampa Bay Times.
School boards: The Palm Beach Post looks at candidates for the district school board.
College apps: Miami-Dade County high schools host free workshops to help students and their parents with college applications and financial aid forms. Miami Herald.
Teachers: A six-year veteran of Brevard Public Schools who is a former professional wrestler and a poet, too, is the district’s Teacher of the Year. Florida Today. A new report finds English-language learners in Orange County perform better and graduate at higher rates than their peers in other large Florida districts, but the district could improve teacher training and parent outreach. Orlando Sentinel.
Superintendents: Lee County School District’s superintendent receives good performance marks. Fort Myers News-Press.
New schools: The south side of Tallahassee will get a new high school – eventually. Tallahassee Democrat.
Hiring: the Pinellas County School District needs bus drivers. Tampa Bay Times.
