Topic: K-12 Education

Lawmakers appropriated a record amount for public education, granted in-state tuition rates to undocumented immigrants and expanded a tax-credit scholarship program. .

Two researchers conclude that there is either a weak or nonexistent relationship with the quality of teacher's instruction and student performance on standardize tests.

With a stroke of a pen, Gov. Scott removed more than 30 references to Common Core State Standards from Florida law. Scott signed three education bills Monday, addressing textbooks, data collection and standards.

Gov. Rick Scott received 58 bills Thursday. He has 15 days to sign or veto the bills before they would automatically become law.

The state budget headed to Gov. Rick Scott's desk does include a $500 million increase in spending for public education but most of the increase will come from local property taxes and Democrats are taking issue with Republicans referring to "historic levels" of spending on public schools.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress reports Florida 12th graders who took NAEP exams posted scores below the national average and showed no improvement from 2009.

A federal judge rules against a teacher's union challenge to the evaluation system used to determine teacher's contract renewals and pay raises.

Two national polls reached different conclusions about voters and Common Core academic standards. One found that liberals and moderates support the benchmarks while conservatives said they thought it was bad policy.

The legislation requires districts to hold a public hearing if parents objected to textbooks. It does not get rid of an existing state review of textbooks.

The Florida House amended a bill providing school districts authority to select textbooks to include a state-approved list of instructional material and an appeals process for parents. Sponsor Matt Gaetz described the Senate bill amended on the House floor as 'half a loaf.'

"This sets up, I think, an opportunity to have a good conversation with our colleagues in the House," Gaetz said. The Senate plan gives scholarships to students with disabilities for extra education or therapy, removes a requirement that a student attend public school for one year before becoming eligible and includes more foster kids.

Sen. Galvano said the proposal is a vehicle to start a conversation that may lead to a compromise. It includes a testing requirement, a provision not in the House version.

Much of the "work plan" put forth by both House Speaker Will Weatherford and Senate President Don Gaetz has either been accomplished or is on track. But two big-ticket items favored by Weatherford - expansion of vouchers and a move to push most new state workers into a defined contribution pension system - have hit turbulence in the Senate as session enters its final two weeks.

The priorities of House Speaker Will Weatherford, large ominibus bills and the finalization of the budget will all be in play in the session's final weeks.