Personalized learning. With the help of technology and funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Pinellas County schools plan to transform their classrooms and course structures to better tailor them to individual students. Tampa Bay Times.
Tax credit scholarships. A public school teacher describes the benefits of Florida’s scholarship program in a Miami Herald guest column opposing the lawsuit challenging its constitutionality. In the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, a school administrator criticizes a column by a local school board member that cited the wrong study when describing scholarship students’ learning gains. The program is administered by Step Up For Students, which co-hosts this blog.
Charter schools. Recently shuttered charter schools owe the Palm Beach County school district thousands of dollars. WPEC. A network of Southwest Florida municipal charter schools gets a new leader. North Fort Myers Neighbor, via Gradebook.
School choice. Lee County’s schools superintendent talks open enrollment with local business leaders. Fort Myers News-Press. Students in a Polk County choice program called Rock and Roll Academy learn to play pop songs in music classes. Lakeland Ledger. A new collegiate high school program in Walton County sees encouraging results. Northwest Florida Daily News. Students in that district may soon have access to a new engineering academy. Northwest Florida Daily News.
Early learning. Duval early learning advocates celebrate the anniversary of a school rating and information system. Florida Times-Union.
Special needs. A private college’s new program helps special needs students prepare for life on their own. Bradenton Herald.
Transportation. The Hillsborough school district is making transportation improvements but some observers want them to happen more quickly. Tampa Bay Times.
School boards. A Broward school board member convicted of official misconduct is freed from jail after getting sentenced to probation. South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Entrepreneurship. A student-run shopping mall teachers children basics about business. Bradenton Herald.
Foster children. A foster child beats the odds and earns a college degree. Palm Beach Post.
Teachers. The Lee County school district tries to reduce turnover in its teaching ranks. Fort Myers News-Press.
Student safety. Schools struggle to keep track of student athletes’ concussion records. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
School grades. Pasco principals discuss their schools’ improvements with Gradebook.
