Florida lawmakers continue debate over school red tape, spending and more
The big story: It’s do or die time for several education-related proposals as Florida lawmakers enter the final days of their 2024 legislative session.
This week has seen several bills advance, while others appear to have stalled out.
Among the most notable making their way forward, a public school deregulation effort led by the Senate gained traction after weeks of delay as the House adopted one of two expected bills scaling back some of the red tape, WCTV reports. A second measure is set to hit the House floor today. The measures are less expansive than the Senate’s initial vision, and the Senate must agree to the changes.
In the key area of budgeting, House and Senate negotiators reached consensus on how much to fund PreK-12 education, but had some more specific details unresolved, Florida Politics reports.
In other action, the Senate approved a proposal granting college tuition waivers for certain high school dropouts, News Service of Florida reports. • The House signed off on a controversial career education bill that has raised questions about the activities teens may perform on construction sites, Florida’s Voice reports. • Senate President Kathleen Passidomo said she supports proposals to curtail the number of school book challenges taking place across the state, Florida Phoenix reports.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Paul Renner said he is trying to save his priority bill barring minors from social media, which Gov. Ron DeSantis has threatened to veto, News Service of Florida reports.
The Legislature is scheduled to close on March 8.
Today in Tallahassee ... The full Senate convenes at 10 a.m. Bills available on special order include SB 62 on tuition. • The full House convenes at 10 a.m. Bills available on special order include HB 1291 on teacher preparation, SB 7004/HB 7025 on education deregulation, and HB 537 on high school certificates of completion.
Hot topics
Cell phones: Pasco County school officials are contemplating stricter cell phone limits for students in the fall. Some teens want to sway superintendent Kurt Browning as he makes his recommendation.
Culture wars: Parent and education advocates across the political spectrum say they want to see schools in Florida and other states move away from partisan battles and back toward issues such as literacy and learning loss, ABC News reports.
History lessons: A growing number of historically Black churches are offering Black history lessons for younger congregants, saying state law has watered down school offerings, the Miami Herald reports.
Legal counsel: The Flagler County School Board is conducting its search for a new lawyer behind closed doors, raising questions about its adherence to Sunshine laws, Flagler Live reports.
Library books: The Brevard County School Board decided to remove “The Nowhere Girls,” overriding a committee’s recommendation, Florida Today reports.
Start times: Polk County schools are seeking parent input as they prepare to shift middle and high school start times to follow state law, Lakeland Now reports.
Taxes: Marion County voters will decide tax referendums for both their school district and county commission in November, Ocala Gazette reports. • Palm Beach County officials are pondering the renewal of a local-option sales tax that supports school capital projects, the Sun-Sentinel reports.
Transportation: A Duval County family is demanding answers after their 6-year-old was left at the wrong school bus stop near a busy intersection, WJAX reports.
Don’t miss a story. Here’s a link to yesterday’s roundup.
Before you go ... Any time is a good time to celebrate the great Celia Cruz.
