Gradebook

With the rise of Common Core, some conservative Florida groups began taking a closer look at what the schools were teaching. They found "objectionable" material in some districts and raised complaints. To bolster their efforts, they worked with lawmakers to expand the textbook challenge laws. The issue is now coming to a head in Collier County. Keith Flaugh of the Florida Citizens Alliance and Eric Otto, an associate professor of humanities at Florida Gulf Coast University, discuss the debate with reporter Jeff Solochek.

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The 13 Florida school districts that sued the Legislature over its 2017 measure to create a new charter school system received a setback in April in Leon County court. But many of them are moving ahead with an appeal, saying local control of public education is on the line. Pinellas County School Board chairwoman Rene Flowers talks with reporter Jeff Solochek about her panel's decision this week to stick with the suit.

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Teachers in Arizona, Oklahoma, West Virginia and other states have garnered national attention for their strong stands against the way their lawmakers fund public education and schools. Many in Florida have watched and wondered why our teachers don't take a similar stance. Nadia Zananiri, an AP history teacher at Miami Beach High, is one who frequently speaks out on what she sees as the state's absurd education policies (hence the name of her blog, Kafkateach). And she encourages others to do the same, though she understands the fear many have — particularly the growing number of teachers on annual contracts. Zananiri speaks with reporter Jeff Solochek about the things she thinks Florida teachers should and could do to raise awareness to their positions.

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The Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association has been at odds with the school district over pay for the past year. It's not walking out of school, though. The group has taken its case to a special magistrate, who will decide whether the faculty or the administration has a better case. Reporter Marlene Sokol discusses the impasse, as well as her conversations with students leading school safety walkouts and rallies, in this week's Gradebook podcast.

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Florida lawmakers recently created a program to allow schools to have armed employees on campus, as part of an expanded security measure. Most superintendents and school boards have balked. But not the folks in Bay County, in Florida's Panhandle. The district surveyed staff and found nearly 60 percent supported the idea, so it's now exploring how to get it in place. Superintendent Bill Husfelt talks with reporter Jeff Solochek about his district's security plans in the aftermath of the Parkland school shooting in February.

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A Manatee County teenager went to high school without wearing a bra. Administrators said she was distracting other students, and told her to change. They also offered her bandages to cover up. She claimed she was being harassed, and complained publicly. The story has gone viral. We turn to ACLU lawyer Nancy Abudu to discuss dress codes, student rights and school responsibilities.

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Florida lawmakers require certain state end-of-course exams count as 30 percent of a student's grade in that class. But the state doesn't give school districts a formula for how to include that score. And many districts do it differently. Education activist Sue Woltanski wrote about the discrepancies in her blog, and she talks about why she thinks the system is unfair with reporter Jeff Solochek.

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The Florida Constitution Revision Commission, which meets once every 20 years, narrows the number of education proposals it seeks to put before voters in November. Reporters Emily Mahoney and Jeff Solochek discuss the provisions under consideration, such as school board member term limits and a state charter school authorizer.

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Students across Florida and the nation are finding their voice in the aftermath of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in February. Citrus County high school senior Nick Lahera is among a growing group seeking public office to ensure their views gain a wider platform.

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Reporters Jeff Solochek and Emily Mahoney review the 2018 Florida legislative session, which ended Sunday, and how it affected state education policy and spending.

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