Poll: Funding lawsuit

Do you support the parent lawsuit alleging that Florida has not properly funded or supported public education?
Yes
No

Poll: Race to the Top

Should Florida pursue federal Race to the Top education funds?
Yes, we need the money
No, too many strings attached

Poll: Graduation requirements

Does Florida need more rigorous high school math and science courses?
Yes
No

Poll: Internet taxes

Should Florida lawmakers enforce collection of taxes on Internet sales to bolster education funding?
Yes
No

(Image from peproducts.com)

Poll: More school?

President Obama has called for shorter summer breaks and longer school days and years. Is this a good idea?
Yes
No

(Times file photo)

Poll: Underage drinking

Should the Florida Legislature support a proposal by Florida universities to ban all-you-can-drink specials?
Yes, too many underage students drink too much
No, just enforce existing drinking laws

Poll: School recognition funds

What's the best way for Florida schools to spend their recognition funds?
Teacher bonuses
School supplies
Extra temporary staff
Put it into the general fund

Poll: The Race to the Top

Will the Obama administration's Race to the Top reform effort generate real school change in Florida?
Yes
No

Image from SusanOhanian.org

Help us improve the Gradebook

Okay, readers. We need your input on the Gradebook.

As ever, we're trying to improve upon the information we provide to you. And there's no better way to know what you like and dislike than to ask. So here goes.

Over the past couple of weeks, we've discontinued the weekend news roundup. Do you miss it? Would you like it back?

We've been running Saturday newsmaker interviews since we began more than two years ago. Do you like these? Should we keep them going? If so, who else would you want to hear from?

We're considering some new ideas, too, such as live chats with our reporters or perhaps newsmakers who might make themselves available. But we want to make sure we're offering you something that interests you.

So please weigh in, either in comments or via e-mail. What would you like to see? What would you like to see changed? What should we leave alone? We look forward to your input.

Poll: School vouchers

A new report shows that Florida students who use vouchers perform no better than those who don't. Should Florida continue the program?
Yes, the vouchers cost less than public school
No, the vouchers don't lead to better results

(Photo from Education Next)

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Poll: Zero tolerance in schools

A new Florida law gives schools more flexibility in imposing its zero tolerance rules. Was this the right move?
Yes. A toy plastic gun should not get a kid suspended.
No. Zero tolerance doesn't mean some tolerance.

Poll: Shoplifting teachers

Is the penalty of probation strong enough for Florida teachers caught shopflifting?
Yes, everyone makes mistakes
No, teachers should be positive role models

Poll: School taxes

Florida school boards soon could have new authority to increase local taxes for one year to pay for operating shortfalls. Should they do it?
Yes. The schools need the money.
No. Cut spending instead.

Poll: Do you Tweet?

Local school districts have begun using Twitter to inform parents about events. Are you following them?
Yes. It's the best way to get unfiltered information.
No. I prefer the note in the backpack.

Poll: Swine flu

Are schools getting too worked up about swine flu?
Yes, there's too much hype
No, better safe than sorry

Poll: Strip searches at school

Should schools be allowed to strip-search students when looking for drugs and weapons?
Yes. Safety first.
No. That's too intrusive.

Poll: Should schools spank?

Okaloosa schools are considering an end to corporal punishment. Should Florida schools be allowed to spank students?
Yes, spare the rod ...
No, only parents have that right

Poll: Increasing tuition

Should Florida lawmakers approve plans to let universities increase tuition?
Yes, the universities need more money
No, tuition must remain affordable for all

Visit the Gradebook at noon Saturday for an interview with Florida Prepaid Tuition Program founder Stanley Tate, who's fighting the proposals to raise tuition rates.

Poll: Class size and sales tax

Would you support a plan to scale back the class-size amendment paired with a sales-tax increase for education?
Yes, that's a good compromise
No, I like the tax but leave class-size alone
No, I back class-size changes but no new taxes
No, they're both bad ideas

Poll: Repay Bright Futures?

Should Florida lawmakers approve a bill to have students return Bright Futures money for classes they drop?
Yes, use it or lose it
No, it's not fair to undecided kids

Poll: Exam exemptions

Should schools give students exam exemptions for attendance?
Yes, it's an incentive to come and learn
No, practice makes perfect

Poll: Extra credit for supplies?

Should students receive credit for providing classroom supplies?
Why not? They're helping the class
No way. That's like buying a grade

Poll: Sales tax for schools?

Should Florida lawmakers create a three-year, 1 percent sales tax to support education?
Yes
No

Poll: Pay cuts vs. layoffs

Would you be willing to take a pay cut to avoid layoffs?
Yes
No

Poll: Make graduation harder?

Should Florida increase its graduation standards?
Yes, our kids aren't ready to compete
No, that would lead more kids to drop out
Not an option until there's more money

Poll: Should feds break the rules on stimulus package for Florida?

What do you think: Should Congress waive its rules so Florida can get education funding through the stimulus package?
Yes, Florida schools need the money.
No, Florida should solve its money problems without the feds.

Poll: Reasonable protection?

Should Florida adopt a law that would force school districts to steer any new money to teacher pay before giving administrators raises?
Yes, without teachers you have no education.
No, the state should stop telling districts what to do.

Poll: What to cut?

Florida schools face huge budget reductions this year and next. What areas should they target?
Employee benefits - make the workers pay more
Sports and extracurriculars - that will make parents pay attention
Layoffs - give those who remain can get the raises they deserve
Class size - just ignore it until we can afford it
Textbooks - language arts is language arts
Taxes - forget cuts, we need more cash

Poll: Change needed in Bright Futures?

Should the Bright Futures scholarship be limited to high-achieving students with financial need?
Yes, it is too costly to give everyone the money.
No, if students make the grade they deserve it.

Poll: No. 10? Really?

Education Week rated Florida schools 10th best in the nation. Does that sound right to you?
Yes, the numbers do not lie
No, data cannot tell the whole story
Do not know, I have only been to Florida schools

Poll: How districts spend their money

Should Florida school districts be allowed to spend money in their capital project accounts on general operations?
Yes, it is all taxpayer money.
No,  the money is segregated for a reason.

Poll: Trash tenure?

Should schools do away with teacher tenure?
Yes, that would make it easier to fire bad ones.
No, teachers need protection from politics.

Poll: Would you enroll your child in an online class?

Florida's virtual schooling program is rated tops in the nation. Would you ever enroll your child in an online class?
Yes
No

Gift time for teachers

What's the best gift a student can give a teacher for the holidays?
A gift card from a shop.
Classroom supplies the whole class can use.
Just saying Thanks and being a good student.
Something homemade, like a card or candy.

Higher taxes to help students?

Should Florida raise taxes to cover education budget deficits?
Yes, we need to support schools at whatever the cost.
No, make them cut and live within their means.

Poll: What's in a grade?

Collier elementary schools have decided to make 50 the lowest score a student can earn. Is this a good idea?
Yes, getting even one zero makes it too hard to catch up
No, if kids fail they should get a failing grade

What's in a name?

What should be the priority when naming schools?
Community heritage
Geographic landmarks
Honoring leaders
Team mascot considerations
Something else

Poll: Should schools cut the sugar?

Should schools ban the sale and distribution of sugary treats and drinks?
Yes, kids don't need soda and candy during class.
No, kids are going to get it somehow anyway.

Report card payola

School districts are doing it in Chicago, New York, D.C. and elsewhere. Florida lawmakers have toyed with the idea from time to time, too. So we ask you:

Should school systems pay students for good grades?
Yes, it's a way to encourage academic excellence
No, it's bribery

School recognition

How should schools distribute their A-Plus recognition funds?

Employee bonuses
School supplies and materials
Additional temporary staffing
A combination of the three
It's up to the school and no one else

Drink for education?

Should the state re-implement a 10-cent tax on every alcoholic beverage to support education?
Yes, that's a simple way to support public education.
No, no new taxes.

Class size changes?

Should the state scale back the class-size amendment, given current financial concerns?
Yes, it's too expensive to count kids in each class.
No, kids deserve smaller classes as voters mandated.

Thanks for participating in our weekly polls. Hope you enjoy them. Please send along ideas for new ones, along with any thoughts on the Gradebook, to solochek@sptimes.com. Here's how last week's question turned out.

We asked, "Should Florida reduce the size of its school districts?" You said:

• Perhaps, but politics and finances will never let it happen. 72 votes -- 40%
• Yes, they're too big and bloated. 69 votes -- 38%
• No, we don't need more superintendents and school boards. 39 votes -- 22%

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Too big to succeed?

Should Florida reduce the size of its school districts?
Yes, they're too big and bloated.
No, we don't need more superintendents and school boards.
Perhaps, but politics and finances will never let it happen.

In our previous poll, we asked, "Should teachers get more money to teach in high-needs schools?" Here's what you said:

• Maybe, but save the talk until there's money in the budget.  142 votes - 48%
• Yes, districts should do more to lure good teachers to schools that need them.  135 votes - 46% 
• No, teachers who want to teach there will go there anyway.  16 votes - 5%

Thanks for contributing to the Gradebook. If you have any questions or suggestions, please send them to solochek@sptimes.com.

Higher pay for teachers in tougher schools?

Should teachers get more money to teach in high-needs schools?
Yes, districts should do more to lure good teachers to schools that need them.
No, teachers who want to teach there will go there anyway.
Maybe, but save the talk until there's money in the budget.

Just FYI, we asked you last week whether districts should dip into reserves to give teachers raises, and the response was 181 yes, 180 no. Guess that's a controversial one. We'll see how this question turns out. And, again, if you have any questions or suggestions for the Gradebook, please contact us at solochek@sptimes.com.

Too much for a raise?

Should Florida's school districts and universities dip into reserves to give employee raises?
Yes, the cost of living is rising too quickly to not give raises.
No, don't pay reoccurring costs with one-time funds.

Homework helper

Do you help your children with their school work?
Yes, it's a good way to keep up with their education.
No, it's their assignment, not mine.
No way, it's more complicated than when I was in school .

Thanks for responding to our last poll, where we asked you whether Florida should ban corporal punishment in schools. You split evenly on that one, with 133 saying "yes" and 133 saying "no." If you have ideas for future poll questions, or any comments or thoughts about the Gradebook, please don't hesitate to send them to solochek@sptimes.com.

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To spank or not to spank

Should Florida ban corporal punishment in schools?
Yes, adults shouldn't hit kids.
No, spare the rod, spoil the child.

Back to school blues

What concerns you most about kids going back to class?
Too much FCAT focus
Bullying
Supplies cost too much
Bad teachers
Something else
Absolutely nothing

Thanks for responding to our weekly polls. They're informal and, we hope, informative. Last week we asked the question, Do you support Amendment 5, which would alter the way Florida's public education is funded?

For most of the week, the response was a lopsided "NO." The pro-Amendment 5 side must have caught wind, because by the end of our survey the results looked like this:

• Yes  254 votes - 65% (Note how that's just above the supermajority needed for a win.)
• No  115 votes - 29%
• I need more information  21 votes - 5%

Now we just have to wait and see whether the measure actually goes to voters.

Tax Swap

Do you support Amendment 5, which would alter the way Florida's public education is funded?
Yes
No
I need more information

Who should lead?

Should the new Pinellas superintendent be an insider or an outsider?
An insider - we need someone who knows and cares about the district.
An outsider - it's time to clean house.
Doesn't matter - just find someone capable.