Topic: Charter Schools

Florida legislators should be able to end their session on time. The Senate and House appropriations chairmen Tuesday did some "housekeeping" on a budget proposal and the state spending plan was delivered to legislators at 8:35 p.m.

The PECO proposal includes $10 million for the FAMU-FSU Engineering College to construct a third building and not to begin separating the two universities from a joint school. Proviso language will address how to study that issue and to distribute $200 million in performance-based funding for universities.

The proposal requires districts to provide charter schools with unused buildings and allow out-of-state groups with high-performing status to receive the same consideration in Florida, Democrats say the bill would violate the state constitution.

An amendment which would have aligned the House bill with the Senate proposal failed when it was offered during the proposal's second reading on the House floor.

A Senate proposal that once promised sweeping changes in the contracting process between Florida charter schools and school districts no longer requires districts to share unused buildings. And, Sen. Bill Montford said the more comprehensive House version will not fare well in the Senate.

Bill would require charter schools to provide more information in application.

Lawmakers will confront the four horsemen of education during the 2014 legislative session when they revise the school accountability system. Initiatives affecting charter schools, regulations of early learning programs and tying budget increases for higher education to performance are also on the agenda.

In advance of Valentine's Day the Florida Education Association sent its members a love note in the form of a poll. Ninety percent of respondents say that teachers are not the problem in our schools. And a supermajority agrees that public school teachers are paid too little.

There's a substantial increase in the budget for maintaining and renovating schools in the K-12 system but Gov. Scott proposes continuing a trend in which charter schools get more money than traditional public schools. One lawmaker says if it gets public money then the building should remain open to the public.

The Senate President and House Speaker released a three-point education agenda that builds upon last year's reforms and would expand an opportunity scholarship program for low-income students to attend private and charter schools.

Sen. Clemens says he's frustrated by the battle for dollars between charter and traditional public schools. He sponsored a bill to insert a specific need requirement in the law authorizing the creation of charter schools. ... Related Research: Florida Statute Chapter 1002.33 - Charter Schools.

Florida's debate over Common Core will play out in public this week. The Association of District School Superintendents will call on the State Board of Education to continue with its implementation and the board will hold three public hearings on the proposed standards for English and math. ... Related Research: Oct. 15, 2013 State Board of Education meeting agenda and materials.

DOE is in the final stage of developing a standardized contract for school districts and charter school operators. Lawmakers this spring directed the department to come up with language and guidelines as outlined in HB 7009 and say they expect to approve a DOE proposal during the 2014 session. ... Related Research: Sept. 24, 2013 House Choice and Innovation Subcommittee meeting packet

Policymakers and educators in 45 states have been for six years working on new standards for public schools. The standards are set to go into effect next school year but opponents have stalled implementation in other states and Florida supporters say they are not going to let that happen here.