Nation's report card: 'Something very good is happening in Florida'

| 4/12/2018

Nation's report card: 'Something very good is happening in Florida'

Florida was the only state where students scored higher on a national math exam last year, solving problems better than counterparts did two years earlier and making progress where the rest of the country remained in place, according to new results released this week. See the full news release from Gov. Rick Scott and Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart, here. Also read more at the Orlando Sentinel and CBS Miami.

State auditors say Florida education officials blocked them

Florida state auditors are sharply criticizing the Department of Education for repeatedly blocking access to records and for not allowing auditors a chance to interview key department employees. Florida Education Commissioner Pam Stewart defended the agency and said auditors had a "misunderstanding" of the department's process. [Source: AP]

Private high schools will get free dual enrollment classes, and state colleges worry about the costs

Florida’s private high schools will no longer have to pay for their students to take dual enrollment courses, thanks to a new state law, but the change could deliver a financial hit to the state colleges that offer teenagers those classes. [Source: Orlando Sentinel ]

How to improve research and development programs at universities in Florida

Improving research and development programs in higher ed will generate jobs, bring new monies to state's economy, says the Florida Council of 100. Two new reports from the Florida Council of 100 detail how research and development is faring at Florida universities, and make recommendations on how to improve it. Full story with links to both reports, here.

When professors' remarks conflict with university culture, which must yield?

Faculty members may have a right to publicly share or publish unpopular or racist views, because of constitutional free speech guarantees, but they should be made aware that they can potentially be dismissed if their words and actions are causing irreparable harm to the institution. [Source: Education Dive]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Florida Technical College continues its growth plan [Miami Community Newspapers]
Florida Technical College, which has campuses in central and southern Florida, recently reorganized its operational structure to increase its resources and academic offerings. Founded 35 years ago in Florida, the educational institution merged with National University College (NUC), which until recently had been a sister institution.

Dr. Georgia Lorenz

› Seminole State College names Dr. Georgia Lorenz president-elect [News Release]
Seminole State College of Florida's Board of Trustees has announced Dr. Georgia Lorenz as president-elect. Dr. Lorenz is currently vice president of Academic Affairs at Santa Monica College in California. She will succeed Dr. E. Ann McGee on Aug. 1, 2018, who has successfully served the College for the last 22 years.

› Stetson University receives $18 million gift, largest in school's history [Orlando Sentinel]
Stetson University has received an $18 million gift, the single largest in the DeLand school’s 135-year history, that will be used to supplement science programs.

› Giant ‘surf rover’ taking shape at UNF engineering lab [Florida Times-Union]
Here’s an engineering project for you: Design a vehicle that can venture into the surf under diesel power, that can be controlled from the beach as it gathers data underwater while traversing an uneven, shifting bottom — all while risking getting pounded to smithereens by powerful breaking waves.

Tags: Education eNews

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