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August 31, 2008

Coming up

Monday: Labor Day - schools closed

Sept. 2: Pasco School Board, 9:30 a.m.; Hernando School Board, 1 p.m. workshop, 6 p.m. budget hearing, 7 p.m. meeting

Sept. 4: Hillsborough School Board, 3 p.m.; Florida College System Task Force, 1 p.m., Tampa Bay Grand Hyatt

Sept. 9: Hillsborough School Board, workshop, 9 a.m.; Pinellas School Board, 5 p.m.

Sept. 10: Commission for Independent Education, 9 a.m., Lake Buena Vista; Florida Schools of Excellence Commission, 11:30 a.m., Miami

Sept. 16: Hillsborough School Board, 3 p.m.; Pasco School Board, 6 p.m.

Sept. 18: Florida College System, 9 a.m., Tallahassee; Education Practices Commission, administrator panel, 9 a.m., Tallahassee

Sept. 19: Education Practices Commission, teacher panel, 9 a.m., Tallahassee

Sept. 23: Pinellas School Board, 10 a.m.; Hillsborough School Board, workshop, 1 p.m.

Sept. 30: Hillsborough School Board, workshop, 9 a.m.

Oct. 7: Pasco School Board, 9:30 a.m.; Hillsborough School Board, 3 p.m.

Oct. 14: Pinellas School Board, 10 a.m.

Oct. 21: Hillsborough School Board, 3 p.m.; Pasco School Board, 6 p.m.; State Board of Education, Tampa

August 31, 2008 in Calendar | Permalink | Comments (0)

TEACHER TRANSFER: Most teachers choose to go from low-performing schools to high-performing ones. But not Lourdes Plunkett, who left a school that's never made less than an A to teach at Pasco's Cox Elementary, which is under restructuring under NCLB. (Times photo, Mike Pease)

BUSING BATTLES: Hillsborough parents remain upset about the school district's transportation new world order.

GETTING FIT: Miami-Dade creates high-tech wellness centers to help students keep fit and healthy. The U.S. surgeon general approves, the Miami Herald reports.

A LITTLE HELP, PLEASE: The Martin School Board agrees to televise its meetings, but not until it gets enough private donations to cover the cost, the Stuart News reports. Too bad they don't know the head of the largest Spanish broadcaster in the world, who donated $1-million to Miami-Dade College to kick of the school's new Centre for Television and Film Production, as the Miami Herald reports.

HANDS OFF: Corporal punishment has no place in Florida schools, Collier school psychologist Phyllis Walters writes in the Naples Daily News.

NEW MATH: Florida looks at ways to change the way it calculates its high school graduation rate, including the emphasis on GED completers, the Palm Beach Post reports.

NO MORE TESTING: Drug testing, that is. The state is dropping its random drug testing for student-athletes, the Fort Myers News-Press reports.

EAT BETTER: Lake hires a new food services director, who plans to dump the fryers and introduce healthier foods, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

AROUND THE NATION: America needs innovators to improve our public education system, Newark Mayor Cory Booker, venture capitalist John Doerr and California Board of Education president Ted Mitchell write in the LA Times. Free public schooling doesn't feel so free anymore to families in one D.C. suburb, the Washington Post reports.

August 31, 2008 in Daily News Report | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 30, 2008

A weekend interview with ...

... Janelle K. Read, 33, dropped out of Dixie Hollins High School as a 17-year-old. On Thursday, the Pinellas County Schools plant operator walked across the stage at Ruth Eckerd Hall and received a state of Florida diploma after passing the GED test. Read spoke with reporter Donna Winchester about going back to school.

Tell me a little about yourself. Why did you drop out of school and how did you get back into school?

I left because I made some bad choices. I was skipping school and doing things that teenagers do. I didn't have that much confidence in myself. I thought I was old enough to drop out because I was working. I tried correspondence courses. I started and stopped four or five times. It was all so overwhelming to me. I would go for three months at a time and get discouraged and quit. I always had a reason. I didn't want to make the mistake of having to say I wish I'd spent more time with my kids. I was thinking, 'I'll raise the kids, then I'll do my schooling.' Then I thought, 'No, I have to better myself to show them they need to better themselves.'

What was different for you this time?

I went to the adult education center over at Clearwater High. I dragged my sister-in-law with me. She' a procrastinator like myself. I felt a little weird because I was so much older than the other students. At first I thought, 'I'm a little too old. I should have done this a long time ago.' But I took school books to work to study on breaks. I said, 'I might as well go and take what I can and pass what I can pass.' I just said, 'I'm gonna to do this.' I passed all five sections of the test with good scores.

You work at Clearwater High School. Did seeing kids every day have an influence on you?

Continue reading "A weekend interview with ..." »

August 30, 2008 in High Schools, Weekend Interview | Permalink | Comments (1)

Today's news

HOMELESS NO MORE: Roger Laracuente entered the Pinellas adult education program in 2007, homeless and jobless. This past week he celebrated his successful completion of his GED. (Times photo, Lara Cerri)

WHAT'S IN A NAME: As the Pasco School Board prepares to name a new high school, two groups seek to honor educators who made a difference in their lives.

A SPECIAL FIRST DAY: Fourth-grader Kiki Pressley makes it to her first day of school at Sandy Lane Elementary, six months after she was severely burned in a house fire.

AMENDMENT CONCERNS: School Board members from across Florida convene in Indian River to talk about the ins and outs of Amendments 5, 7 and 9, the Vero Beach Press-Journal reports.

HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH: The Florida State Board of Education will consider a policy to allow educators to use physical force to keep their classrooms safe and orderly, but some parents worry it might open the door to physical abuse of children, the Palm Beach Post reports.

TOO EXPENSIVE: Families are leaving Florida's private schools as they can no longer afford the tuition, the Sun-Sentinel reports.

A RARE RAISE: Palm Beach teachers snare a 2 percent pay bump, the Palm Beach Post reports.

TEACH, DON'T PREACH: Schools are supposed to educate, not indoctrinate, Pensacola News-Journal columnist Reginald Dogan writes in support of an ACLU lawsuit against the Santa Rosa school district.

Visit the Gradebook at noon for an interview with Pinellas adult education graduate Janelle Read.

August 30, 2008 in Daily News Report | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 29, 2008

Sorry, you've got to make it up

After Tropical Storm Fay closed them down just after the first day of classes, several Florida school districts asked education commissioner Eric J. Smith (left) to waive the days off, essentially shortening the school year.

Not gonna happen, Smith says.

In a letter to superintendents, the commissioner acknowledged that he could waive up to three days from the 180-day calendar. But because the year is young, and the hurricane season is far from over, he told the districts to "utilize existing flexibility" (read: use some scheduled planning days) to make up the lost time.

Smith suggested he might reconsider later in the year. Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando lost just one day. Other Florida districts were closed almost a week.

August 29, 2008 in State Board of Education | Permalink | Comments (9)

Study: Middle school reading coaches help, a little

Florida's middle school students have been doing better in reading, both on the FCAT and on national tests. But how much credit goes to Florida's battalion of 500-plus middle school reading coaches? Maybe a little, says a new RAND Corp. report.

The RAND researchers found the coaches were associated with "small but significant improvements" in FCAT scores for 2003 and 2005 cohorts, but no significant improvements in 2004 and 2006 cohorts. They were stumped as to why.

It might not be the coaches' fault:

More than half of them said they needed more time to coordinate and administer assessments;
A third said teachers did not have enough planning time to meet with them; and
A third said some teachers were reluctant to work with them.

The researchers recommended that districts address those concerns and develop pipelines for future coaches. To see the full 269-page report, click here.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

August 29, 2008 in FCAT | Permalink | Comments (0)

To spank or not to spank

August 29, 2008 in Gradebook poll, School Discipline | Permalink | Comments (7)

Whaley backs Donaldson

Her successor officially chosen, retiring Pasco School Board member Marge Whaley has felt free enough to voice her opinion on the district's upcoming superintendent election.

She's endorsed challenger Stephen Donaldson in a letter that the Donaldson campaign released late Thursday:

After serving on the Pasco School Board for the past 16 years, I have decided to retire. This has been a wonderful experience that I will truly cherish for the rest of my life. I have loved this job and our school system here in Pasco.

This is why I feel the need to endorse the strongest candidate for Superintendent of Pasco County Schools. I firmly believe there is a single candidate who has the graduate-level education, leadership skills and business experience necessary to lead our schools to success. That candidate is Steve Donaldson.

Whaley, a 16-year board veteran, long has bristled at incumbent Heather Fiorentino's management style, frequently complaining about the way decisions get made and the way the administration keeps the School Board in the dark. But she has kept quiet until now, even when we at the Gradebook questioned her recent $20 donation to Donaldson. That was the fee to get into a fundraiser to hear the man speak, she explained.

Apparently, she liked what she heard.

August 29, 2008 in Elections, Pasco County | Permalink | Comments (26)

Today's news

SATISFACTION: They've traveled the world, written books, raised families. Now 211 Pinellas men and women also have finally finished high school. (Times photo, Lara Cerri)

NO SATISFACTION: Parents continue to flood Hillsborough's school transportation line seeking information about their children's bus routes.

ARRESTED: George Paul Adams, a 16-year-old student at Moore-Mickens Education Center in Dade City, made plans to shoot up his school. He was upset because he was held back a grade.

WOUNDED WHILE WAITING: A 10-year-old Valrico boy is hit by a car when he darts into traffic at his bus stop.

ABOUT THAT BUDGET: Lee superintendent James Browder sends a note to education commissioner Eric J. Smith suggesting some better ways to ensure what little funding schools get can be better used, the Fort Myers News-Press reports. UF president Bernie Machen continues to call for the state to dip into reserves to help public education, the Gainesville Sun reports.

TAX SWAP UNCERTAINTY: A Mason-Dixon poll shows a high percentage of undecideds on Amendment 5 - if it ever makes it back to the ballot, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.

BUDGET UNBALANCED: Miami-Dade moves to take another $22-million from its reserves to cover unbudgeted expenses, essentially depleting the fund. Board members and the superintendent yell at one another, the Miami Herald reports.

THEY WANT MORE: Broward finds $20-million to offer teachers small raises, but the union seeks millions more, the Miami Herald reports.

TUITION WINDFALL: Higher than expected enrollment at UCF generates enough money to give employees a one-time $1,000 bonus plus to create a merit pay pool, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

INCENTIVE TO READ: Manatee High students vie for a free 2-year car lease by making reading gains on the FCAT, the Bradenton Herald reports.

LOGGING IN: A growing number of Panhandle students are taking college and university courses online, the Pensacola News-Journal reports.

AROUND THE NATION: A Georgia school district becomes the first district nationally in nearly 40 years to lose its accreditation, the NY Times reports. A tiny Texas school district allows teachers to carry weapons into classrooms, the NY Times reports. Researchers find the effects of preschool are long-lasting, the Wall Street Journal reports.

August 29, 2008 in Daily News Report | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 28, 2008

Superintendent finalists on parade

The public can see the Pinellas School Board's interviews with the four finalists to be the district's next superintendent. To see video of the sessions, which took place Wednesday, just go to www.pcsb.org and look under the heading "PCS News" or click here.

The finalists are (clockwise from above left): Alberto M. Carvalho, 43, associate superintendent of Miami-Dade schools; Nicholas M. Gledich, 55, chief operations officer for Orange County schools; Julie Janssen, 59, interim superintendent in Pinellas; and Sherrie Nickell, 50, associate superintendent for Polk County schools.

The interviews with Gledich and Carvalho took the full 90 minutes. Janssen and Nickell ran about an hour each.

Today, School Board members are interviewing the finalists one-on-one in private. The next step: a workshop Tuesday in which the board will narrow the field to two or three and invite them back for a second interview on Sept. 8.

August 28, 2008 in Pinellas County | Permalink | Comments (24)

Meet and greet

Hey, Hillsborough parents. How's school going for you and your kids? Superintendent MaryEllen Elia wants to know.

Ever since Elia took over the superintendency, she's gone on the road each fall to collect feedback from the public. This year is no exception. The road show begins Tuesday, with all meetings beginning at 7 p.m. Take some time to speak your mind.

Here's the schedule:

Tuesday: Hillsborough High School, 5000 Central Ave., Tampa
Sept. 8: Burns Middle School, 615 Brooker Rd., Brandon
Sept. 9: Coleman Middle School, 1724 S. Manhattan Ave., Tampa
Sept. 11: King High School, 6815 N. 56 th St., Tampa
Sept. 15: Mulrennan Middle School, 4215 Durant Rd., Valrico
Sept. 22: Brandon High School, 1101 Victoria St., Brandon
Sept. 23: Pierce Middle School, 5511 N. Hesperides St., Tampa

August 28, 2008 in Hillsborough County | Permalink | Comments (1)

Democratic divide?

If these strong words at the Democratic National Convention are any sign, the cracks in the Democratic Party over things like vouchers and merit pay are widening.

A gaggle of renegade Democrats – including NYC Chancellor Joel Klein and the mayors of Denver, Newark and D.C. – staged a three-hour forum in Denver Sunday that included a fair amount of anti-teachers-union rhetoric.

"As Democrats, we have been wrong on education," said Newark Mayor Cory Booker (shown above). "It's time to get right."

Florida Democrats haven't been as split, unless you consider the growing rift over vouchers or put stock in Jeb's report card (how did 9 Democrats get A's?!).

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

August 28, 2008 in Performance Pay | Permalink | Comments (17)

Today's news

MEET THE CANDIDATES: The four aspirants to become Pinellas superintendent sit down with the School Board for a talk.

DROP IN: Michael DaConceicao left high school six years ago to have his own little party. Now he's graduating from Pasco's adult education program. (Photo special to the Times)

BALLOT SET: The Pinellas elections office settles the question of who will appear on the November ballot for School Board.

FIX IT OR FORGET IT: The Hernando School Board gives Mavericks in Education an Oct. 1 deadline to improve its charter school application.

SEEKING A RAISE: Pasco employees ask for 3 percent raises during contract talks. Maybe FSU offers a clue, with administrators making additional budget cuts to give employees 3 percent raises, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.

HOW KIDS LEARN: Boys and girls are not the same when it comes to schooling, and James Elementary in Tampa is trying to meet the different needs.

READY TO ROLL: Newly elected Pasco School Board member Joanne Hurley is doing her research so she can "hit the ground running" when she takes the oath of office.

EDUCATION EDITORIALS: A dip in enrollment is not a good reason to stop building new schools in Pasco, the Times editorializes. Hernando's offer of a 3.5 percent raise to teachers shouldn't be contingent upon their acceptance of a dress code, the Times editorializes.

SUPERINTENDENT NEWS: Collier superintendent Dennis Thompson has had his share of controversy during his first year, the Naples Daily News reports. Miami-Dade board members suggest superintendent Rudy Crew will be gone soon, the Miami Herald reports.

NOT SO SMART: The Smart School in Broward, a charter school, closes its doors as the state pulls its funding because of repeated academic failure, the Sun-Sentinel reports.

SEEKING CLARIFICATION: Challenged by the power companies, the Lee district will ask the state whether the Jessica Lunsford Act requiring background checks applies to utility workers, the Fort Myers News-Press reports.

NO LAYOFFS: Sarasota finds jobs for all its displaced teachers, the Herald-Tribune reports.

SCHOOL PRAYER LAWSUIT: The ACLU has sued Santa Rosa schools over graduation prayers, the Pensacola News-Journal reports.

EXPANDING THE MIDDLE: A Valparaiso middle school adds fifth-graders to the student body to help with the transition to the older grades, the Northwest Florida Daily News reports.

August 28, 2008 in Daily News Report | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 27, 2008

Pasco teachers ask for 3 percent plus steps

Negotiators for Pasco's 4,000 teachers say they've looked at the district's financial picture and think that, with some readjustments to spending priorities, they could get their annual step raises that come with an extra year of service plus a 3 percent pay increase.

Combined, the proposal would cost $11.27-million.

"We believe there's a way to find the dollars to do this," lead teacher negotiator Jim Ciadella told district representatives.

Continue reading "Pasco teachers ask for 3 percent plus steps" »

August 27, 2008 in Pasco County | Permalink | Comments (38)

ACLU sues Santa Rosa schools

The ACLU of Florida has filed suit against the Santa Rosa school system in the Panhandle on behalf of two high school students who claim the district has consistently promoted and endorsed religion in the schools.

In a press release, the organization states "graduation ceremonies during the past five years at Central, Jay, Milton, Navarre and Pace High Schools have included prayers by students – often members of groups like the Fellowship of Christian Athletes or the Christian World Order. The graduation ceremonies at Santa Rosa Adult School and Santa Rosa Learning Academy also have included prayers." School officials also injected their own religious beliefs in other activities, too, the group contends.

To see the full complaint, click here.

August 27, 2008 in High Schools, Schools and religion | Permalink | Comments (0)

How about a 179 day school year?

Since Tropical Storm Fay took away a day of classes so early in the year, Pasco superintendent Heather Fiorentino is hoping not to have to force students to make it up.

Fiorentino sent a letter to education commissioner Eric J. Smith today asking him to waive the 180-day school requirement for Pasco County.

"As you probably are aware, every county in the State of Florida was impacted by Tropical Storm Fay and would benefit from this decision," Fiorentino wrote. "Thank you for your consideration of this important request."

Seeing as the district sent its request just a few hours ago, it's not surprising the DOE doesn't yet have a response.

August 27, 2008 in Pasco County | Permalink | Comments (0)

Amendment hearings all moved up

The Florida Supreme Court has re-scheduled oral arguments in the Amendments 7 and 9 case from Sept. 8 to Sept. 3, and our sister blog The Buzz is reporting it has done likewise for the Amendment 5 suit.

August 27, 2008 in Elections | Permalink | Comments (0)

Is there an education leader in the House?

It's been two weeks since Trey Traviesa announced he won't seek reelection to the Florida House. His surprise decision threw speculation over who will head the Schools and Learning Council into overdrive.

Traviesa was considered a hands-down favorite to take the reins from Joe Pickens, who left the House because of term limits and now is in the running to lead St. Johns River Community College.

Both incoming speaker Ray Sansom and outgoing Speaker Marco Rubio have done nothing to control the conversation. Sansom told the Gradebook in a brief e-mail that he'll make his choice known in the fall. A spokeswoman for Rubio said past tradition would put the transition off until November, when the speakership officially changes hands.

Seven Republican council members remain in play, four of whom have already won reelection without opposition, another three who are headed to the general election. Of that group, three names consistently rise to the top - Pasco County's John Legg, Marti Coley of Marianna and Anitere Flores of Miami (see above, L-R).

Continue reading "Is there an education leader in the House?" »

August 27, 2008 in Legislation | Permalink | Comments (1)

Mr. Jeb's honor roll

State Rep. Rick Kriseman, D-St. Petersburg, got a C this morning. But given the source, it’s probably not the worst C he ever got.

The middling grade was handed out by Jeb Bush’s Foundation for Florida’s Future, which unveiled its first-ever report card for lawmakers. “I’m fine with that,” Kriseman, a steady critic of Bush’s education policy, told The Gradebook about his grade. “I’m not going to be obstructionist and disagree with something just because it’s (supported by) Jeb.”

The grades were largely based on how lawmakers voted last spring on a select group of education bills (the foundation keyed in on 14 in House and 17 in the Senate). Kriseman got points for supporting bills that strengthened academic standards, improved workforce education and revamped the state’s grading formula or high schools. He didn’t get points for voting against expansion of corporate tax credit vouchers and for elimination of school recognition money. "I'm proud of my votes," he said. "I don't care about grades. I care about issues."

Overall, 82 of 120 state representatives got A’s while only 14 of 40 senators did. In both chambers, Democrats must have been sitting in the back row and firing spitballs, because only nine of them got A’s (and most if not all of them voted for the voucher expansion). Among them: state Reps. Bill Heller, D-St. Petersburg, Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg and Janet Long, D-Seminole.

The foundation matrix did not include positions on overall education spending, which was cut this year for the first time in decades despite Democratic protest.

August 27, 2008 in Legislation | Permalink | Comments (9)

No wonder they're flunking the FCAT

As if grade inflation weren't bad enough.

Fully 43 percent of parents say they've done their kids' homework, according to a new national survey. And dads are either bigger suckers or more honest about it: 47 percent of them admitted it, while 39 percent of mothers did.

The survey by Ask.com and Kelton Research also found age and regional differences. Thirty-three percent of parents 18 to 24 say they've done their kids' homework, compared to 45 percent of parents 25 to 44. And in the South, 52 percent of parents say they did, compared to 36 percent nationally.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

August 27, 2008 in Parents and Education, Research and Reports | Permalink | Comments (0)

Today's news

ELECTION RESULTS: It's runoffs all around in three Pinellas races. In Hillsborough, incumbent board member Susan Valdes claims victory while incumbent Carol Kurdell and challenger Stephen Gorham head to a runoff. Pasco elects Joanne Hurley in the first round of voting. And Hernando sends James Yant and Gene Magrini to the November general election. (Times file photo)

STILL STRUGGLING: Florida high school students continue to fare poorly on the SAT.

INSTANT GRATIFICATION: Pasco schools look to adopt test-taking technology that would allow teachers and students to immediately know the results.

TOP OF THE CLASS: Class offers foundation for freshmen (Hernando Central High); Mothers support parents of special-need children (Hernando Challenger K-8)

JUST SAY NO: The Volusia School Board urges voters to oppose Amendments 5, 7 and 9 if they make it to the November ballot, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reports.

POWER SHIFT: One of Miami-Dade superintendent Rudy Crew's staunchest supporters loses her reelection bid, putting Crew's tenure in jeopardy, the Miami Herald reports.

YOU'RE OUT: An Indian River high school baseball coach is suspended for failing to report a hazing incident during a team trip, the Vero Beach Press-Journal reports.

STICKING AROUND: The "brain drain" isn't as bad as feared for UF, as many professors remain despite tough economic times, the Lakeland Ledger reports.

KNOCK IT OFF: FAMU plans to crack down on unlicensed university merchandise, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.

IN OTHER PLACES: The Bloomberg administration gets some heat for proposing that children in kindergarten through second grade take timed standardized tests to help grade public schools, the NY Times reports. An Australian school bans tumbling during recess for fear of student injuries, prompting a national uproar, the AP reports.

August 27, 2008 in Daily News Report | Permalink | Comments (1)

August 26, 2008

Hurley wins Pasco board seat

Earlier today, we speculated that it would be tough to win a three-person (or more) race outright in the primary.

Leave it to Joanne Hurley to prove us wrong.

Hurley trounced her two opponents, Kurt Conover and Peter Hanzel, to become Pasco County's newly elected representative to School Board District 2. Unless there's a remarkable change in the one remaining precinct, she'll replace retiring Marge Whaley in November, no general election required.

With 153 of 154 precincts reporting, Hurley has received 55.5 percent of the vote, compared to 27.4 for Conover and 17.1 percent for Hanzel.

UPDATE: The final unofficial results for this race are Conover: 9,153 votes for 27.37 percent; Hanzel: 5,708 votes for 17.07 percent; and Hurley: 18,577 votes for 55.56 percent.

August 26, 2008 in Elections, Pasco County | Permalink | Comments (4)

Hernando raps charter school applicant

BROOKSVILLE -- A new charter school applicant faces two choices from the Hernando County School Board: revise its application by Oct. 1 or go home.

Earlier this summer the Fort Lauderdale-based Mavericks in Education applied to open a 400-student school exclusively for high school dropouts or at-risk students. Company officials say they've filed similar applications in nine other counties, including Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough.

Their plan contains plenty of flash: a year-round schedule, video games in the student lounge, and marketing help from pro basketball star Dwyane Wade.

But a Hernando staff committee has found "multiple deficiencies" in the for-profit company's proposed budget, as well as its plans for teaching special-needs students and struggling readers.

Continue reading "Hernando raps charter school applicant" »

August 26, 2008 in Charter Schools | Permalink | Comments (1)

Sierra Club ranks UF a "Cool School"

U.S. News and World Report may have ranked the University of Florida a lowly 53rd on its recently released list of “America’s Best Colleges,” but the Sierra Club announced Tuesday that the school is No. 7 on its list of “Cool Schools” -- those that have been quickest to adopt green building standards, expand environmental studies programs, and convert fleets to zero-emission vehicles.

UF, the only Florida school to make the list, earned 86 points out of a possible 100 in categories such as environmental activism, waste management and overall commitment to sustainability. The Sierra Club complimented UF for recovering 40 percent of its waste and for pledging to divert, reclaim, or reuse 100 percent of it by 2015.

With 50,000 students, UF was one of the largest schools on the list. Most schools, including No. 1-rated Middlebury College in Vermont and No. 2-rated University of Colorado at Boulder, have fewer than 30,000 students.

Meanwhile, a handfull of shools made the Sierra Club’s “5 That Fail” list: the College of William and Mary, George Washington University, Howard University, Texas Tech and Valdosta State.

Donna Winchester, higher education reporter

August 26, 2008 in Higher Education | Permalink | Comments (0)

Will they get recognition funds, too?

First, Jeb Bush graded schools. Now he's grading legislators.

The former governor's Foundation for Florida's Future is releasing its first-ever "Florida's Education Report Card." According to a press release, members of the Legislature "will earn annual grades based on their votes and advocacy on legislation aligned with key education policy and budget issues."

The results won't be released until 10 a.m. tomorrow. Which gives you plenty of time to speculate on what they will look like.

Any guesses on whether GOP Senate Education chairman Don Gaetz got an A for his effort, which included an educator ethics law but failed to come through with charter school reform and killed a House attempt to change gifted education. How about House Democratic leader Dan Gelber, who offered the most continued and blistering criticism of the Bush education plan, yet couldn't muster meaningful opposition to alter much of it?

Who do you think earned top marks? Who failed? Class clown in the mix?

If you can't wait for our overview of the grades when they come out tomorrow, click here at 10 a.m. to see what the foundation has to say.

- Ron Matus and Jeff Solochek

August 26, 2008 in Legislation | Permalink | Comments (1)

On voters and education

Americans list education as one of the most important issues they want their leaders to address, but right now they consider gas prices and the economy more important, according to a new poll by the Public Education Network. Just two years ago, education ranked as the most important issue in a similar poll by the group.

Among the other findings:

48 percent of those polled said education was "very important" or "one of the most important" factors in their vote for president, yet 60 percent said they were not hearing enough from candidates about the issue.
On a scale of zero to five, Americans rated how well their communities supported schools. They gave their communities decent marks for having active parents (3.4) and providing equal educational opportunities across all genders and races (3.9). But civic organizations and office holders got the lowest marks, with 2.8 and 3.0 respectively.
Only 26 percent said their local schools have improved. One-third said their schools had declined and 36 percent said they had stayed the same. "Americans are waiting for change," the group concluded. "They have not seen it, and they want to see more."

The results were based on a national phone survey of 1,200 adults in May. The Public Education Network is a national association of local education advocacy groups.

August 26, 2008 in Research and Reports | Permalink | Comments (0)

Florida SAT scores rise and fall

Florida high school students did slightly worse on the reading portion of the SAT this year, and slightly better in math and writing, according to results released this morning.

Average Florida reading scores fell one point, while math scores ticked up one and writing scores crept up two. A total of 98,578 Florida students took the test, up 1.2 percent from last year. The College Board, which administers the SAT, calls it a key predictor of college success.

Florida students continue to score well below their peers. Average national scores remained steady this year at 502 in reading, 515 in math and 494 in writing. Florida scores came in at 496, 497 and 481 respectively.

The College Board does not offer state-by-state comparisons, but ambitious Gradebook readers are welcome to slog through all 50 state reports on the College Board Web site. (Keep in mind that you’ll have to go to other sources to figure out participation rates.)

If ACT scores are any guide, a state-by-state SAT comparison won’t be flattering for Florida. The Sunshine State ranks No. 26 in the percentage of graduating seniors taking the ACT, and No. 48 in average composite scores, according to scores released two weeks ago.

And yet, SAT and ACT scores in Florida will soon matter more than ever. Even though more and more universities are making those tests optional for admissions, the Legislature decided this year to include them in the formula for school grades, beginning in 2009-10.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

August 26, 2008 in High Schools | Permalink | Comments (3)

Cutbacks affect school newspapers, too

It looks like big city dailies aren’t the only newspapers struggling during tough economic times. The Oracle, produced by students on the Tampa campus of the University of South Florida, has announced it no longer will publish on Fridays.

Editor in Chief Candace Braun blamed the cutback on lower ad sales and reduced readership on Fridays since fewer students are on campus. But readers needn’t worry about missing anything, Braun says.

“Should something happen on campus — whether it’s Friday, Saturday or Sunday — expect the full scoop at usforacle.com,” she wrote in an Oracle opinion piece published Monday, the first day of fall classes. “Just because we’re not printing that day doesn’t mean we’re not working. We’re just publishing it online instead of in the newspaper, with continuous updates as we receive more information and links embedded right into the stories, so everything you need is only a mouse click — or less — away.”

Donna Winchester, higher education reporter

August 26, 2008 in University of South Florida | Permalink | Comments (1)

Go vote

Today's the day at least one area school board race will have a winner. Hillsborough District 1 has just two candidates, so someone will emerge victorious at the end of the evening.

As for the others, well, it's hard to collect a majority of votes in a larger field. So look for a general election face-off between the top two contenders for most of the other seats.

Still not sure who to cast your vote for? We've linked below to as many of the candidate web sites as we know about. And be sure to check our Know Your Candidates section for even more. You have until 7 p.m. Don't let this opportunity pass you by.

Pinellas School Board
District 1: Janet Clark (incumbent), Jennifer Crockett, Max Loden, Grant Smith
District 2: David Archie, Nina Hayden, Minetha Morris, Sean O'Flannery, Ron Walker
District 4: Chris Hardman, Steven Isbitts, Ken Peluso, Robin Wikle

Hillsborough School Board
District 1: Dave Schmidt, Susan Valdes (incumbent)
District 7: Stephen Gorham, Carol Kurdell (incumbent), Jason Mims

Pasco School Board
District 2: Kurt Conover, Peter Hanzel, Joanne Hurley

Hernando School Board
District 4: Gene Magrini, Robert Neuhausen, James Yant

August 26, 2008 in Elections | Permalink | Comments (5)

Today's news

IT'S A RECORD: USF sees enrollment rise 1.5 percent across its four campuses, to 45,585. But budget cuts mean the students have a tougher time getting into classes they need. (Times photo, Willie J. Allen Jr.)

GROWTH SLOWS: Pasco schools projected to see 1,387 more students this year than last. So far, they've not showed up. Sarasota schools are seeing a similar trend, the Herald-Tribune reports.

SCHOOL CAN'T OPEN: The Taylor Peace Academy, intended to become Hillsborough's first anti-bullying charter school, doesn't open its doors after just six students enroll.

THE OTHER 3 R'S: Pasco schools get serious about their recycling efforts.

WASH YOUR HANDS: A national drive to educate kids about the importance of hand washing kicks off at Trinity Elementary in Pasco, with a Hannah Montana star making a guest appearance.

PROTEST: About 30 students show up at Miami-Dade College's president's office to complain that their midwifery program has been canceled, the Miami Herald reports.

NO FREE RIDE: The Manatee School Board ends free bus service for extracurricular activities, the Bradenton Herald reports.

GROUPS DENY WRONGDOING: Two organizations accused of improper contributions in a Collier School Board race say they've done nothing illegal, the Naples Daily News reports.

WHAT'S IN A NAME? Edison College adds "State" to its title, along with making several other changes to boost the school to a new level, the Fort Myers News-Press reports.

August 26, 2008 in Daily News Report | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 25, 2008

War chest watch

While we wait for the Florida Supreme Court to rule on Amendments 7 and 9, voucher partisans are stockpiling ammo.

The pro-voucher group All Children Matter-Florida raised $350,000 in the past three weeks and spent most of it, according to the latest campaign finance reports All of the money came from its national affiliate, All Children Matter, and at least some of it was spent on flyers in the District 55 race between Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, and Charles McKenzie.

ACM keeps raising money too, including another $445,000 from Alice Walton, the latest reports show.

On the other side of the voucher divide, the Public Education Defense Fund – closely tied to the state teachers union – ain't doing too shabby, either. It raised $1,501,000 in the last three weeks, with all but $1,000 coming from the NEA and AFT.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

August 25, 2008 in Elections, School Choice | Permalink | Comments (0)

Wake up call?

In the race for Pasco superintendent, challenger Steve Donaldson inched past incumbent Heather Fiorentino on the latest campaign finance reports.

Donaldson showed total contributions of $29,857, compared to Fiorentino's $29,330 total - the first time he has surpassed the first-term superintendent.

Much of Donaldson's support comes from teachers and their associations: political action committees for the teachers in Pinellas, Nassau, Miami-Dade, Polk, Marion and Hillsborough counties donated anywhere from $200 to $500. But a huge chunk of his funding remains his own bank account. This reporting period, Donaldson gave himself more than $6,600 in in-kind support.

He's loaned himself thousands more in past weeks. And since he's already spent more than $20,000, there's not much left for the election, which doesn't roll around until Nov. 4.

Fiorentino, by contrast, has spent just over $6,000 of her take.

As we've noted in the past, it's a bad year for Republicans like Fiorentino generally. But she does have the benefit of name recognition across the county, so Donaldson has needed to spend liberally to get his name out there. It's on bus benches, billboards and mailers already. Will this Democrat be able to toss the incumbent? Like we said, we'll find out Nov. 4.

August 25, 2008 in Elections, Pasco County | Permalink | Comments (13)

Are they really public schools?

They get the same amount of funding per student as Florida's traditional schools. They must meet the state's class-size requirements. Their students have to pass the FCAT.

So Florida's charter schools meet the definition of public. Right?

Well, a lawyer for the Renaissance Charter School in Miami isn't so sure. Stephanie D. Alexander has filed a petition with the Department of Community Affairs asking for a ruling as to whether charter schools are indeed public when it comes to setting a county's school concurrency ordinances. (See the law in question here, particularly sections 13(a) and (b).)

The decision could be an interesting one. School districts have struggled to come to terms with counties as they seek to define terms for whether housing development may move forward based on available school seats. Should a charter school's seats count?

The case has been numbered DCA08-DEC-218. Stay tuned.

August 25, 2008 in Charter Schools | Permalink | Comments (4)

Today's news

HIT THE BOOKS: Florida's 11 universities begin classes today. They expect about 300,000 students, up 59,000 from eight years ago. UF sees a rise in the incoming class GPA but a decrease in diversity, the Gainesville Sun reports. Smaller schools like UWF see their freshman class grow, the Pensacola News-Journal reports.

ANOTHER TEST: Pasco prepares to launch sophomore level end-of-semester exams in core courses, to help make sure students are learning the standards they need to graduate.

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES: The Imagine School of Land O'Lakes went down to the wire on its contract and still doesn't have a permanent home, but the charter school had a strong opening week, to hear parents, teachers and students tell it.

NO FAIR: Collier's School Board chairman accuses local organizations of violating state election law to donate more money than allowed to her opponent (and other candidates, too), the Naples Daily News reports.

STILL A BARGAIN? Some parents of FSU students complain that even with scholarships it's getting tougher to afford the college experience, the Fort Myers News-Press reports.

ON THE JOB TRAINING: The City of Miami has a dozen disabled students use City Hall as a vocational classroom, a first in the state, the Miami Herald reports.

WANNA BET? The Broward school district wagers that jobs fixing slot machines will grow in demand, so it adds the coursework to one of its adult schools, the Miami Herald reports.

GETTING USED TO IT: Santa Rosa students, parents and teachers slowly grow accustomed to changes in school start times, the Northwest Florida Daily News reports.

August 25, 2008 in Daily News Report | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 24, 2008

Coming up

Tuesday: Election Day - school board races occur in Pinellas, Pasco, Hillsborough and Hernando counties, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; Pasco School Board, 6 p.m.

Wednesday: Pinellas School Board, superintendent candidate interviews, 8 a.m.

Sept. 1: Labor Day - schools closed

Sept. 2: Pasco School Board, 9:30 a.m.; Hernando School Board, 6 p.m. budget hearing, 7 p.m. meeting

Sept. 4: Hillsborough School Board, 3 p.m.; Florida College System Task Force, 1 p.m., Tampa Bay Grand Hyatt

Sept. 9: Hillsborough School Board, workshop, 9 a.m.; Pinellas School Board, 5 p.m.

Sept. 16: Hillsborough School Board, 3 p.m.; Pasco School Board, 6 p.m.

Sept. 18: Florida College System, 9 a.m., Tallahassee

Sept. 23: Pinellas School Board, 10 a.m.; Hillsborough School Board, workshop, 1 p.m.

Sept. 30: Hillsborough School Board, workshop, 9 a.m.

Oct. 7: Pasco School Board, 9:30 a.m.; Hillsborough School Board, 3 p.m.

Oct. 14: Pinellas School Board, 10 a.m.

Oct. 21: Hillsborough School Board, 3 p.m.; Pasco School Board, 6 p.m.; State Board of Education, Tampa

August 24, 2008 in Calendar | Permalink | Comments (0)

Today's news

FOUR TO GO: The candidates for Pinellas superintendent come to town this week to meet with the School Board and the public. Here's some information about them and the search.

THE RACES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE NONPARTISAN: But in Hernando, the political parties make their presence felt in the campaign for School Board District 4.

NO LEADERSHIP: Florida's economy, already projected to fall $1.6-billion below where it started, requires leaders to make tough decisions about spending for schools, universities and more. Yet the state's lawmakers and governor don't step up, the Times editorializes.

EVOLUTION ON THE FRONT LINES: The NY Times profiles a north Florida science teacher who tries to instruct his students about the the evolution of species amid folks who believe "God did it."

A NOBLE EXPERIMENT: Collier's new initiatives to keep more teens in high school should help the entire community if implemented correctly, the Naples Daily News editorializes.

MAKE SCHOOLS A PRIORITY: Florida elected leaders talk a good game about improving public education, but they betray the goal by shorting the schools budget, Orlando Sentinel columnist George Diaz writes. Some lawmakers are now talking about increasing taxes for education, the Gainesville Sun reports.

RIDE A BIKE: The University of Miami bans cars for all freshmen who live on campus, the Miami Herald reports. It's part of the school's "

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