Gradebook

Gradebook

By Tampa Bay TimesEducationGovernment
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Gradebook episodes

  • Does Florida's education system need to be reconstructed?
    Florida's education policy makers have their eyes focused on pushing their school choice agenda farther than it has gone before. But not everyone is on board — including some of the conservatives who hail from the same side of the political divide. Former Martin County School Board member Tina McSoley has launched a fast-growing Facebook group called Reconstruct-ED, with a goal of trying to sway the conversation, and the policy trajectory, in a different direction. Also a former classroom teacher, who now runs a private education group, McSoley talks with reporter Jeff Solochek about her thoughts on the status quo, and the need to fight back.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    25 min
  • A Democratic approach to Florida education, with Rep. Anna Eskamani

    In the Florida Legislature, education issues have been some of the most high profile, impactful and controversial measures to move through the halls, year after year. Yet the voices of opposition to the leadership plans frequently get sidelined, regardless of party.

    That leaves it to a new wave of lawmakers to step up to the task, fighting the continuing effort to expand vouchers and scholarships, grow the charter school system and offer more school choice in a manner they see as potentially harmful to the district public schools.

    Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, is among the newest voices in the debate. She didn’t plan to make education a top priority — she didn’t even ask to be on any of the committees. But upon her arrival on the PreK-12 Quality subcommittee, the 28-year-old lawmaker quickly studied up and became one of the more vocal and articulate members who doesn’t agree with what she considers the move to privatize public education.

    In her efforts, she seeks compromise when possible, without caving on key positions. She spoke with reporter Jeff Solochek about the variety of issues, from a proposed requirement for Bible courses in high schools to school safety, that she’s already had to weigh in on.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    23 min
  • In search of great teaching in Florida
    Several Florida school leaders have said that while they have many excellent teachers, they're not always providing the best teaching possible. Concerns have arisen that they're lessons are below grade level, or perhaps they're not getting students engaged enough with the material. Impact Florida is a new group that arose to help schools find successful instructional models and get them into classrooms. It had its first statewide conference this month, involving officials from school districts representing nearly half of the state's students. Executive director Mandy Clark and chief operating officer Trey Csar talk about their objectives, how Florida's pending standards review will play a role, the connections between schools and outside funders, and more.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    20 min
  • Jeb Bush on Florida school choice, vouchers and education reform
    Twenty years ago, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush proposed the state's first school voucher program. His efforts were stymied by the courts. In the years since, state lawmakers have slowly pushed Florida in the direction Bush was headed with his Opportunity Scholarships. This year, Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Legislature appear poised to push the envelope on vouchers and choice. Their Equal Opportunity Scholarship plan is among several proposals primed to win a reversal of the 2006 court case with Bush's name attached, and change the public education model in Florida. Bush remains active in the testing, accountability and choice model he brought to the state. He speaks with reporter Jeff Solochek about what he hoped to see, how he views Florida's march to that goal, and where he expects the system to head next.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    21 min
  • Is private education public when taxpayers fund it? An expert's view
    Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to spend state tax money to help families send their children to private schools. In the past, the state's courts have ruled vouchers unconstitutional, driving the creation of a tax-credit scholarship program instead. As that scholarship program has blossomed to the size of a major school district, with demand on the rise, DeSantis aims to blow up the distinction between it and vouchers. "If the taxpayer is paying," he said, "it's public education." But is it, really? We turn to Rutgers University education professor Bruce Baker, author of the School Finance 101 blog and a leading national expert on education finance, to dissect DeSantis' simple, appealing yet controversial statement.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    18 min
  • A debate about arming teachers, on the anniversary of the Parkland shooting
    A year after 17 people were murdered by an armed intruder inside Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland, Fla., a debate rages over whether allowing teachers to carry guns in their classrooms would serve as a useful deterrent to future attacks. We discuss the issue with MSD teacher Sarah Lerner, Moms Demand Action leader Gay Valimont and Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    46 min
  • Gov. Ron DeSantis and his "major" Florida education announcements
    In a few short weeks in office, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has set the education world abuzz with a series of proposals to change the state's approach to schooling. He wants to overhaul the standards, saying they rely too closely on the Common Core. He's called for eliminating the waiting lists for state funded private-school scholarships. He recommended a new model for teacher performance pay bonuses. And that's not all. Reporters Emily Mahoney and Jeff Solochek discuss the governor's announcements, the needed next steps, and the impact they could have if everything happens according to his playbook.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    20 min
  • Fixing Florida's school security system: An expert's view
    Florida lawmakers worked fast to adopt enhanced school safety and security requirements in 2018, after the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland. Perhaps they moved too quickly, though. Kenneth Trump, president of the Ohio-based National School Safety and Security Services, suggests that the legislation — which key leaders have already said needs tweaking — resulted in "some of the most unrealistic, time constrained, and potentially dangerous mandates I have seen from states in my 30+ years in the school safety field." Trump discusses his thoughts and recommendations with reporter Jeff Solochek.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    22 min
  • Why Parkland parent Andrew Pollack wants to be on Florida's Board of Education
    Andrew Pollack is on a mission. After his daughter Meadow was killed while attending Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, he set a goal of finding ways to ensure such a tragedy never again happens. Before leaving office, then-Gov. Rick Scott appointed Pollack to the Florida Board of Education, in part to focus attention on the need to improve school security. Current Gov. Ron DeSantis withdrew the nomination, but Pollack continues to do a board member's work, fully expecting reappointment. He explains to reporter Jeff Solochek why he wants the volunteer job, what his goals are and what he still needs to learn.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    14 min

About Gradebook

From the publisher's feed

Gradebook takes you inside the world of Florida education issues with reporter discussions and newsmaker interviews on the hottest topics of the week. Florida has been a national leader in education…