Gradebook

 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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 ke

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.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As Florida seeks to fill all its classrooms — a recent survey showed 2,200 vacancies halfway through the year — the need for science and math teachers continues to vex schools. Teachers in those subjects continue to top the state's annual list of critical needs, recently approved by the Florida Board of Education for 2019-20. Are there steps either the state or local school districts can take to find and keep enough teachers in the STEM fields?  Talia Milgrom-Elcott, executive director of 100Kin10, speaks with reporter Jeff Solochek about the possibilities.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Entering 2019, Florida policy makers have focused on two key areas of concern with regard to public schooling — paying for it, and keeping students and staff safe — within the conservative framework of the newly elected administration and Legislature. With the state's finances "volatile" and the demand for increased security costly, resolving these issues might not be easy. Reporters Lawrence Mower and Jeff Solochek discuss the latest developments in Tallahassee on these hot topics.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Pam Stewart was counting down the days to her Jan. 8, 2019, retirement. Then suddenly she accepted an added year to her term as Florida education commissioner. Within weeks, she just as abruptly resigned, paving the way for incoming Gov. Ron DeSantis to get his hand-picked replacement, former House Speaker Richard Corcoran, into the seat. With the winter holidays and her final day in office approaching, Stewart figured she'd have some time to wind down and navigate toward life after government service. But she kept working straight through, offering a 15-minute window for a conversation with reporter Jeff Solochek about how she sees Florida education after her tenure, and where she thinks it's headed next.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Florida has a new education commissioner and new governor to start 2019. They have begun exploring how they plan to tackle issues such as teacher pay, classroom spending and workforce development as they approach their first day on the job. Reporters Emily Mahoney and Jeff Solochek review the discussions that have been taking place leading up to the new administration, as well as the nervous reaction from some of the critics.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The teaching profession has taken its hits lately, in Florida and across the nation, with morale sagging as lawmakers impose rules that many educators say make the job more of a chore than a craft. Many are heading for the exits, seeking employment where they feel more valued and respected. Yet many more can't see themselves doing anything other than helping prepare children for the world. Count Holly Mickler among them. Mickler, Pasco County's 2018-19 Teacher of the Year, says she often ignores the din of politics and policy so she can focus on her life's calling. It's not always easy, but to her, it's worth it. Hear Mickler talk with reporter Jeff Solochek about how and why she has become, and remains, a successful classroom teacher.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Across Florida and the nation, teachers have been demanding better pay for the work they do. The concerns surpass just pay, though, as educators see their work loads rise as working conditions deteriorate. It's those non-financial objectives that have the Pinellas County Classroom Teachers Association refusing to accept contract terms with their district, as the academic year nears the end of the first semester. PCTA president Mike Gandolfo talks with reporter Jeff Solochek about what his group wants to see beyond a raise, and how the School Board and Florida Legislature can change their approach to support teachers.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Florida lawmakers return to Tallahassee the week of Dec. 11 to begin committee meetings leading to their 2019 spring session. Education regularly tops the agenda. So we turned to school board members from across the state, representing districts large and small, to ask them what they'd like to see happen by the time the Legislature closes again in May. Hear their views, plus a little insight from Senate Education vice chairman Sen. Bill Montford.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A week after Election Day 2018, Florida remains knee deep in reviewing the results of some key state races. Not to be lost in the shuffle, though, are some significant outcomes in the Florida education world. Just over a quarter of school board incumbents statewide retired or lost their reelection bids, raising the question of whether that's enough to stop talk of imposing term limits on board members. Every district that asked voters to raise taxes on themselves to support school needs won its referendum. What message does that send to state lawmakers as they approach the 2019 legislative session? Reporters Marlene Sokol and Jeff Solochek discuss these issues and more in the Gradebook's post-election wrap-up.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's been a disturbing truth across Florida and the nation: School districts have disproportionately disciplined black students. Hernando County school officials noted the data in their district, and decided to do something about it. They launched a pilot project on three campuses to improve educators' approach to student discipline, without simply ignoring situations, and so far have been satisfied enough with the results to expand the effort to three more schools. Hernando County education reporter Jack Evans joins Jeff Solochek to discuss the program's intentions and implications.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Florida's tax credit scholarship program, referred to as vouchers by many, is the nation's largest and growing such model. But does it meet the needs of the families it serves? Jason Bedrick, policy director for the national advocacy group EdChoice, co-wrote a report based on a survey of thousands of program participants. He discusses the findings and their implications with reporter Jeff Solochek in this week's Gradebook podcast.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.