Florida education news: Turnarounds, vouchers, charter schools and more

  By Jeffrey Solochek Published: July 19, 2018 TURNAROUNDS: With 2018 state grades out, Hillsborough and Pinellas school district leaders bring improvement plans for their most struggling campuses to the Florida Board of Education for approval. Each gets warnings that their plans must include highly rated teachers, using the state’s standards. • The board approves plans for two Duval County schools without…

Durham Public Schools to combat suspensions with restorative practices

BY GREG CHILDRESS July 06, 2018 06:38 PM   DURHAM  About four years ago, Grace Marsh’s presentation to Durham principals touting the benefits of restorative practices in schools landed with a thud. “At the time, the principals didn’t seem too excited,” said Marsh, executive director of the Elna B. Spaulding Conflict Resolution Center, a community…

Free handheld metal detectors available for all Indiana schools

JULY 9, 2018, BY FOX59 WEB, INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.– Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb provided an update Monday in the state’s efforts to improve school safety, and announced a new program for schools to get handheld metal detectors. The metal detectors will be made available to any public, charter and non-public school that wants them and will not…

Janus rallying cry for public school employees

KATHI GRIFFIN July 10, 2018 With the 5-4 decision in Janus v AFSCME, the U.S. Supreme Court delivers a rallying cry to America’s working men and women, including our public school employees.   Those who pushed the Janus lawsuit, including Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Illinois Policy Institute, will be disappointed to learn the court’s…

Why Republicans are now bragging about their investments in education

By Michael Scherer March 25, 2018 Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who made his name attacking unions and slashing school funding, is promising a “historic investment” in public schools as he campaigns for reelection. Florida Gov. Rick Scott, another proud cost-cutter, is bragging about his more recent increases to school funding as he prepares to launch a…