Opt-out decision: The Florida Supreme Court announces it will not consider a lawsuit brought by parents against several school districts for retaining their 3rd-graders because they opted out of taking the Florida Standards Assessments tests. The decision lets stand a court of appeal ruling that the lawsuits should have been filed in the home counties of the districts, rather than in Leon County. News Service of Florida.

Alternative exams: Florida students who fail two key tests needed to graduate have alternative tests they can take - but the standards for those alternatives could be changing. Students have to pass the algebra 1 test and the 10th-grade language arts exam that is part of the Florida Standards Assessments to earn a diploma. Students who fail can take the SAT or ACT for language arts, or the PERT for algebra. But a state panel is recommending that the PERT be eliminated, with the PSAT replacing it, and that the passing score on the SAT be raised from 430 to 500. The Florida Board of Education will decide on the proposed changes. Orlando Sentinel.

Gardiner scholarships: The expansion of the state's Gardiner scholarships for students with disabilities has been so broad and rapid that even the namesake, former state Sen. Andy Gardiner, worries that the program is straying from the original intent to provide help for children with the most severe disabilities. The program has grown from $20 million in 2014 to $100 million this year, and the criteria for qualifying has broadened so much that students with peanut allergies now are eligible for vouchers. Step Up For Students, which hosts this blog, helps administer the program. Politico Florida.

Turnaround schools: Today, the Florida Board of Education will consider a turnaround plan for the newly combined Gadsden County High School, which is merging East and West high schools. Both schools received D grades from the state this year, and both have had ongoing disciplinary problems. The plan would likely mean a change in administrators, teachers, curriculum and the length of school days. Turnaround plans will also be considered for Hawthorne Middle School in Alachua County and Hamilton County High School. Tallahassee Democrat. (more…)

Religious schools and vouchers: Two U.S. Supreme Court decisions this week could have implications for the constitutionality of vouchers for religious institutions. Monday, the court ruled that Missouri could not exclude private religious schools from a playground grant program. Tuesday, the court ordered the Colorado Supreme Court to reconsider a decision that the state's Blaine Amendment prohibits public funding of religious institutions. redefinED. Education Week. Associated Press.

Voucher studies: Long-term studies in Louisiana and Indiana show that former public school students who keep private school vouchers for several years eventually catch up and sometimes pass their peers in reading and math tests. Earlier, shorter-term studies have shown that those students tend to lag behind their public school peers. redefinED.

Immunizations upheld: Parochial schools can require students to get immunizations to be admitted, the First District Court of Appeal rules. A parent filed the appeal after the Holy Spirit School in Jacksonville refused to admit his child without immunizations. News Service of Florida.

Teaching bonuses: The Manatee School for the Arts is offering bonuses of up to $3,000 fill two 6th-grade math teaching positions, plus higher than expected salaries. The district has sent recruitment letters to the most highly rated math teachers in school districts around the state. Bradenton Herald. (more…)

School construction funds: Florida will be $36 million short for school construction funding in the next year if legislators do not agree to borrow money. The latest revenue estimates suggest the Public Education Capital Outlay revenue for the 2017-2018 school year will be $337 million. But state education officials have requested $373 million for projects. Gov. Rick Scott has historically been averse to such borrowing, and House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, has spoken out against new PECO bonding. Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, has said he is open to a “reasonable” amount of bonding. News Service of Florida.

Bright Futures: A House education subcommittee approves a higher education bill that is substantially different than the one approved by the Senate. But both bills expand Bright Futures scholarships by covering full tuition and fees for qualifying students plus $300 for textbooks and other costs. Both would also allow recipients to use scholarship money for summer classes, though the Senate version restricts use to "academic scholars" while the House bill offers it for all Bright Futures recipients. Politico Florida. News Service of Florida.

Making tests available: The House PreK-12 Quality subcommittee approves a bill that would require the Florida Department of Education to post state assessment exams online after they are taken. "So much is driven around these tests," says Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay. "I think it makes sense for us to know what we're evaluating." The committee also approved a bill that would allow students to satisfy graduation requirements for an arts or elective credit with a trade apprenticeship. Gradebook. Politico Florida.

PTA praises Scott budget: The Florida PTA jumps into the legislative battle over education budgets by praising Gov. Rick Scott's. In a statement, PTA officials said: "Florida PTA applauds the governor's request to increase total funding for K-12 education to $20.99 million, and state funding to $11.55 million, both historic highs. We likewise consider his proposed record $7420.99 in per-pupil funding a good first step toward bringing Florida closer to the national average. Equally welcome is the governor's commitment to increasing the budgets for early learning, voluntary pre-kindergarten, and school readiness." Gradebook. (more…)

Meetings agenda: School testing and choice will be the focus of next week's legislative education committee meetings. The House committee will meet Tuesday to discuss "closing the opportunity gap" for low-income students, and the Senate committee will meet Wednesday to discuss ways to cut back on testing. Politico Florida.

Education bills: Two bills are filed in the Florida House that are intended to make college more affordable. One would allow students to use their Bright Futures scholarships to cover summer tuition, and the other increases the number of credit-hours an in-state student can take before incurring a 100 percent tuition surcharge. Both were filed by new Rep. Amber Mariano, R-New Port Richey, a 21-year-old University of Central Florida student. Gradebook. Politico Florida.

Out-of-school suspensions: Orange County School District principals must now consult with their bosses before imposing out-of-school suspensions on students for all but the most serious offenses. The new policy is meant to encourage principals to consider other options. About 1 in 15 Orange students were given out-of-schools suspensions in the 2014-2015 school year, which is slightly higher than the state average. For black students, the rate was 1 in 8. Orlando Sentinel.

School elections: The Manatee County School Board is considering a change in how school board members are elected. The current system elects board members to at-large seats, voted on countywide. Board member Charlie Kennedy wants to change that to single-member districts, arguing that would cut campaign costs and the influence of outside money. Making the change would require a countywide referendum. Bradenton Herald. (more…)

Naming rights: The Lee County School District is starting to see revenue from its decision to selling naming rights to schools' facilities such as athletic fields, performance halls and libraries, and to sell advertising on the main website. Fort Myers News-Press.

District problems: The Florida Board of Education is still looking for a long-term solution to the financial and academic problems in the Jefferson County School District. The district has yet to adopt a budget, and some board members are pushing for a state takeover or a constitutional amendment to change the rules governing school districts. WFSU.

Rezoning plan approved: A committee of parents and school officials narrowly approves a rezoning plan to ease overcrowding at middle and high schools in southwest Pasco County. The first public hearing on the new map is Dec. 20, and the school board is scheduled to vote on the proposal Jan. 17. Gradebook.

Drivers file suit: Bus drivers file a federal lawsuit against the Sarasota County School District, alleging they are not being paid for any work they do beyond the time the district estimates it takes to complete a route. The group of current and former drivers is calling the district's actions "wage theft." Saintpetersblog. (more…)

Civil rights complaint: A federal civil rights complaint is filed against the Pinellas County School District. The Southern Poverty Law Center charges that the district punishes black students and students with disabilities more often and more harshly than it does white students. The organization is asking the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights and the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate. Southern Poverty Law Center. Huffington Post.

School closings: Many Florida school districts, including all in the Big Bend area, decide to close today as a tropical system nears the state. Some will also close Friday. Tallahassee Democrat. WFSU. WUSF. WTXL. Citrus County Chronicle. WFTV. WJHG. WWSB. WTSP. Daytona Beach News-Journal. Panama City News Herald. St. Augustine Record. Bradenton Herald.

Act of kindness: Bo Paske, who is autistic, usually sits alone at lunch in the Montford Middle School cafeteria. But this week, Florida State wide receiver Travis Rudolph was visiting the Tallahassee school, saw Bo alone at lunch and joined him. “I'm not sure what exactly made this incredibly kind man share a lunch table with my son, but I'm happy to say that it will not soon be forgotten,” Bo's mom Leah Paske wrote on Facebook. Tallahassee Democrat. Associated Press. Fox News. Tampa Bay Times.

Turnaround plans: Three of the five Polk County School District's plans to turn around struggling middle schools are approved by the Florida Board of Education. But the state says a condition of the approval is that it gets to remove teachers it deems as unsatisfactory. The board says new principals and teachers are needed at Lake Alfred-Addair and Westwood, and told the district to submit updated plans for those schools by Sept. 23. Lakeland Ledger. (more…)

Retention confusion: A Department of Education spokesperson says school districts that are retaining third-graders because they opted out of state testing and don't take alternative tests are misinterpreting the state's directives. The state also does not require a student to take tests before a district may consider other exemptions for promotion. Some districts have said they won't promote a student unless she or he has test scores, and cited DOE advice for reaching that decision. "Our primary guidance to the districts is to follow the law," spokeswoman Meghan Collins says. "Obviously, the law says participation on the FSA (Florida Standards Assessments) is mandatory. But we never said you must retain a student who doesn't have an FSA score." Gradebook. The Manatee County School District backs off its position of automatically retaining students who don't have a test score, and Superintendent Diana Greene criticizes the DOE for a “lack of direction and decisiveness.” Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Bradenton Herald. Parents in Florida's opt-out movement are talking to lawyers about fighting some districts' plans to automatically retain students who don't take the Florida Standards Assessments or alternative tests. Politico Florida.

Computer science: The vice chairman of the Florida Board of Education says the state's schools ought to require computer science instruction. John Padget suggests a three-year plan that includes adding teachers and credentials for math and science teachers, among other things. He hopes the Legislature will approve such a plan in its next session. Gradebook.

Discrimination suit: The Lee County School Board discriminates against blacks applying for administrative positions, according to a federal lawsuit filed against the district by four African-American educators. The lawsuit alleges that the board has a "pattern and practice of refusing to hire well-qualified African-American employees to administrative positions often under the auspices of lack of qualifications or purely concocted criticisms." Fort Myers News-Press.

Alternative testing: State Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, who is leaving office due to term limits, hopes the Legislature will again consider his bill that would allow students to use alternative tests, such as the SAT or ACT, instead of the Florida Standards Assessments. Politico Florida. (more…)

Teacher bonuses: The Best and Brightest teacher bonuses program is renewed for another year, as part of an overall state budget agreement. The Senate, which had been hesitant to include funding for the program, voted to set aside $49 million to reward teachers based on their effectiveness and their SAT or ACT test scores. The Legislature is expected to vote on the budget Friday. Miami Herald. Politico Florida. Earlier in the legislative session, the teacher bonuses bill was passed by a single vote in the Senate Pre-K Education Committee. Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, was that vote. She's an opponent of the plan, calling it the "worst and dumbest," but says she voted for it just to get out out of the committee for a larger debate. Miami Herald.

Education bill: The Senate's sweeping education bill would allow open enrollment, permit athletes to transfer and play immediately, punish school district that overspend on construction, and much more. If the Senate passes it, the bill kicks back to the House. Here's a guide to what's in the bill. Politico Florida.

Education on trial: A lawsuit alleging Florida has failed its constitutional mandate to provide high-quality public education goes to trial Monday in Tallahassee. Citizens for Strong Schools contends the state has has not provided a uniform system of free public schools because it fails poor and minority students. The Department of Education says even if some inequities do exist, they are not caused by the state and cannot be fixed by the state. The nonjury trial is expected to last about five weeks. FloridaBulldog.org.

SAT feedback: A College Board survey of students who have already taken the new SAT test shows they prefer it by a 6-to-1 margin over the old version. More than 70 percent say the test reflects what they've learned in school. Students will get their results in mid-May. Palm Beach Post. (more…)

Testing standards: The Florida Board of Education votes 6-1 to follow the recommendation of Education Commissioner Pam Stewart on how to use the Florida Standards Assessments tests to rate student progress and grade schools. Board vice chairman John Padget and many business and education officials were calling for harder scoring and grading plans. School grades will be issued Feb. 9. Tampa Bay Times. Miami Herald. Orlando Sentinel. Tampa Tribune. Palm Beach Post. Florida Times-Union. Pensacola News Journal. Lakeland Ledger. TCPalm. Bradenton Herald. Tallahassee Democrat. St. Augustine Record. WFSU. Sunshine State News. Gov. Rick Scott and his allies in public education claim victory over former Gov. Jeb Bush and his allies in the fight over setting performance benchmarks for Florida’s students and schools. Politico Florida.

Grading schools, states: The nation's schools receive a C grade in the annual Education Week's Quality Counts report. Florida was 29th among the 50 states with a C-minus grade. Massachusetts is first with a B-plus, and Nevada is last with a D. Education Week.

Students' bill: Florida House Rep. Chris Latvala, R-Dunedin, files a bill that was created by two Countryside High School students that would offer high school students an elective course for life skills, leadership development, college planning and a study hall. Florida Politics.

School calendar: Okaloosa County schools will start Aug. 10 and end May 26, 2017 Here's the full calendar. The move was made to end the first semester in December and start the second after the holidays. Northwest Florida Daily News.

New virtual tools: Florida Virtual School is partnering with Knewton to build personalized courses for students, starting this spring. Virtual-Strategy magazine. THE Journal. (more…)

Fundamental problem: More black students than ever are applying for fundamental schools in Pinellas County, but black enrollment is at an all-time low. It's largely the result of a series of school board decisions to close some schools and change admittance rules for the fundamental schools. Tampa Bay Times.

School testing: The Department of Education is warning states that they still are responsible to deal with schools that show high rates of students opting out of standardized testing. Education Week. Both the federal and state governments are trying to cap the amount of time students spend taking tests. But the effect in Florida will probably be minimal. Palm Beach Post.

Education bills: A bill is filed that would create a social services-oriented pilot program for the state's poorest and lowest-performing schools. Meanwhile, legislators are still working on a bill that would give students and schools the option of replacing state assessment tests with nationally recognized ones. Gradebook. A move to improve oversight of home-schooled children is not likely to be taken to the Legislature. Bradenton Herald.

Single-sex schools: The benefits of single-sex education are inconclusive, but that's done nothing to dampen their popularity. From 2004 to 2014, the number of single-sex public schools in the United States jumped from 34 to 850. The Atlantic.

Gifted schools: The Orange County School District plans to open schools for gifted middle school and elementary students. School board chairman Bill Sublette says the district hopes to bring back gifted students whose parents now send them to private schools. The timetable is to open the schools in three to six years. Orlando Sentinel.

School attendance: Manatee County schools are reducing chronic absenteeism after hiring 25 "graduation enhancement technicians" to intervene with students in high-poverty schools before absenteeism slips into truancy. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. (more…)