Photo: Tampa Bay Times
Armando Arvizo, right, and Hugo Ramirez review building plans as they do masonry work on the new building under construction at Quail Hollow Elementary School in Wesley Chapel Wednesday (2/11/15). Walbridge construction has gutted the existing building for a remodel in addition to the new facility.
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Florida Trend Education
Florida short $36 million for school construction - unless it borrows
Florida short $36 million for school construction unless it borrows
If Florida lawmakers don’t agree to borrow money to pay for school construction and maintenance projects, they will come up about $36 million short of what state education officials have requested for a key program next year. More from the Palm Beach Post and the Daily Commercial.
Florida investigating whether grad rates were manipulated
The state is investigating whether or not school districts are moving students around in order to manipulate graduation rates. Florida leaders have continually touted the state's rising graduation rate over the last few years. More from the AP and the Orlando Sentinel.
Florida Lottery's record revenues no jackpot for students
The economy is again humming, revenue has rebounded and the Florida Lottery has seen record-breaking sales for five years in a row, earning more than $6 billion last year. But the Bright Futures program last year dropped to the lowest level of funding since 2003. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Betsy DeVos to Highlight Dual Enrollment Programs in Florida
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos is planning to take her first solo trip out of the Washington, D.C., area as secretary on Friday. The theme: dual enrollment and career and technical education. DeVos will be going to Valencia College in Orlando, Fla., a prominent community college with a robust dual-enrollment program. [Source: Education Week]
Charter school operators criticize Florida's new capital outlay funding rule
Florida charter school operators took issue Wednesday with proposed rules governing their access to state capital outlay funding, a subject of heavy debate almost annually in Tallahassee. They pointed specifically to a section that would prohibit charter schools from receiving the money if they had earned two consecutive state grades lower than a C. [Source: ]
› FIU law clinic helps educate lawyers handing death penalty cases
The Florida Center for Capital Representation at the FIU College of Law is the only organization in Florida that consults with, teaches and assists lawyers in all aspects of capital representation.
› Barry University faces up to $8 million revenue gap. What happens next?
Barry University, the 77-year-old Miami Shores institution that has taught students in the progressive Catholic tradition of its founding Adrian Dominican Sisters, is confronting financial strains on its mission of serving a diverse, working-class student body.
› Florida TaxWatch: School choice options a better bargain for state
A recent report by Florida TaxWatch refutes one of the key arguments made by school choice opponents — namely, that charter and choice schools end up hurting traditional schools by diverting funding. Further, the paper says that voters might be missing a larger part of the picture: how much taxpayer money is actually going to K-12 education.
› UWF receives $3 million to help refugees, immigrants
Starting in the fall at the University of West Florida, a new resource will aid struggling immigrant students endeavoring to complete their degrees. The university announced Tuesday it had received a $3 million donation from an anonymous donor to establish an endowment to fund need-based scholarships.
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Previous Education Updates:
- College crime surging back to pre-COVID levels. Here's the crime at Florida colleges, universities
- Florida student aid requests plunge. How many will delay or skip college?
- Florida schools have a teacher shortage. Why are they cutting jobs?
- Florida schools need more nurses. Can they compete with employers who pay more?
- Florida's MBA programs: Mastering the cyber industry
- Florida settles lawsuit over LGBT education bill
- $117.5 billion state budget pumps up education spending
- Florida lawmakers continue debate over school red tape, education spending and more
- Too many Florida kids are skipping school. What's being done about it?