Charter schools expansion: A bill that could expand the number of charter schools in low-income neighborhoods in Florida is passed by the PreK-12 Innovation Subcommittee. The bill would allow “Schools of Hope” charters to open in 427 financially struggling neighborhoods with persistently low-performing schools that are designated as “opportunity zones” by President Trump’s tax bill of 2017. The bill also would allow the schools to open near traditional public schools that received grades from the state lower than C in three of the past five years. The current law does not mention “opportunity zones,” and requires those traditional public schools to receive D or F grades for three consecutive years before Schools of Hope would be encouraged to open nearby. Gradebook.
Disqualification list: The Senate Education Committee is considering a bill today that would create a “disqualification list” of teachers who have been involved in serious disciplinary actions. The list would include teachers from traditional public schools, charter schools and private schools that accept scholarship money, and districts and schools would be barred from hiring anyone whose name appears on the list. Private schools that hire an individual on the list could be closed by the education commissioner. Florida Phoenix.
