Florida House members will get their chance next week to debate at length a controversial education reform measure that would link teacher pay raises to student performance on standardized tests.
And public school teachers will be packing the room in protest of the legislation.
THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, March 31, 2010.....Major changes to a popular scholarship program that pays for the majority of Florida's students to attend college easily won approval in the Florida Senate Wednesday.
THE CAPITOL, TALLAHASSEE, March 30, 2010..... Despite initial projections that the university system could take major hits in next year's budget, university officials are relatively happy to see that they will likely see a budget between $3.41 billion and $3.5 billion, about on par with last year's.
A bill to massively expand a state voucher program is headed to the Senate floor after winning approval from a key Senate committee Friday.
Teacher pay would be based on how well students do on standardized tests under a bill set for a final fight in the Senate where ruling Republicans look poised to strike a blow against Floridas Democratic-allied teachers union.
The Senate Ways and Means committee approved the measure (SB 6) by a 15-8, party-line vote, with Democrats saying it was wrongheaded to base all teachers' pay on student performance, while warning it could drive instructors from the classroom.
A change to a statewide school prayer proposal may ease the way for its passage after years of floundering, though civil liberties groups continue to oppose it.
Rep. Brad Drake, R-Eucheanna, and Sen. Stephen Wise, R-Jacksonville, are the sponsors of bills (HB 31, SB 1580) that would permit students to give inspirational messages, including a prayer or an invocation during certain school events. .
Lawmakers will likely whittle away at the popular Bright Futures Scholarship program that pays for the education of more than half of Florida's college students this year as they write the budget for the state's colleges and universities.
The Senate is examining a change to the scholarship that could reduce the number of students who are eligible for the award and also permanently take it away from students who can't keep their grades up.
The House's lead gaming negotiator and the Seminole Tribe appear to be inching toward a gaming agreement as lawmakers kick off the 2010 legislative session.
A state senator who doubles as the head of Floridas Republican Party opened a new election-year battle with the Democratic-allied teachers union on Tuesday by proposing legislation that would base teacher pay on how well students do on standardized tests.
The measure, SB 6, demands that teachers get paid based on student performance, rather than on the educators years of service. Schools who fail to comply with the new system will be penalized, losing a percentage of their state funds, under the bill.
