Gradebook

Lawyers headed to Leon County Court on Friday to argue whether Florida's controversial three-pronged proposal to amend the education article of Florida's constitution should actually go before the voters, or if it's too misleading. Judge John Cooper said he planned to rule early next week. Reporters Emily Mahoney and Jeff Solochek review the hearing.

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Monthly active shooter drills. Armed guards on campus. Locked doors and gates. This is the new reality in Florida schools that teachers and students face as they return to classes this week and next. Reporters Jeff Solochek and Megan Reeves discuss the efforts to implement the changes, and the reactions that schools are experiencing.

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After what many saw as a too short summer break, Florida students are about to head back to classes. They'll find new security measures, programs and services when they arrive. Reporter Jeff Solochek and editor Tom Tobin discuss start times, teacher vacancies, water woes and more as 2018-19 approaches.

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The Florida Constitution Revision Commission is asking voters to support a three-pronged amendment to change three areas of education-related law. Its proposal, Amendment 8, faces a legal challenge to remain on the November ballot from the League of Women Voters, which contends the title and summary are misleading. CRC sponsor Erika Donalds, who is leading the Amendment 8 campaign, talks with reporter Jeff Solochek about why she thinks the attacks miss the point.

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Supporters of Florida Constitution Revision Commission Amendment 8 focus on the part that would create school board term limits, viewing it as a popular idea that could push the proposal to the 60 percent vote needed for passage. Critics say the measure goes much further, though — with some potentially devastating provisions that could dramatically change the face of public education. Yet the title and language don't reflect the full scope of the backers' plan, they say. So the Florida League of Women Voters is trying to get Amendment 8 tossed off the November ballot, calling it intentionally misleading. League president Patricia Brigham discusses her group's effort with reporter Jeff Solochek.

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Florida's Hernando County school district is proving that not only the biggest systems suffer from politics and infighting. After years of internal disputes, and growing discontent within the general public, the board recently fired superintendent Lori Romano on a 3-2 vote, accusing her of ineffective leadership and other shortcomings. Romano turned around and demanded a hearing where she wants to prove otherwise, as a new district leader tries to cool tempers back down. Hernando County education reporter Megan Reeves joins Jeff Solochek to discuss what's happening in the small, semi-rural district north of Tampa.

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Children who go hungry over the summer often find themselves struggling when they return to school in the fall. A new report shows Florida serves hundreds of thousands of children while school's out, but could do much better. Crystal FitzSimons of the Food Research & Action Center discusses the findings with reporter Jeff Solochek.

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Florida has issued school grades for 19 years. And while the marks have prompted some schools to change the way they do business, they also have enraged some people who see the rating system as an unfair, imprecise way to gauge school performance. Mike Petrilli, CEO of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, is a supporter who also sees the need to improve the model. He speaks with reporter Jeff Solochek about school grading in Florida, its history and next steps.

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The Hillsborough County school district, eighth largest in the nation, has plenty of concerns, such as low reading scores and financial woes. Its school board would like to seek help from the community, but its political antics continue to raise questions of confidence in the leadership. Reporters Marlene Sokol and Jeff Solochek discuss the latest board dispute over Facebook posts, catty comments and more.

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Florida lawmakers did away with teacher professional services continuing contracts — commonly referred to as tenure — in 2011. They argued such a change would lead to improved student performance. Did it work? A new Brookings paper suggests the effect was minimal, if any. Researcher Celeste Carruthers discusses the findings with reporter Jeff Solochek.

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