Lawmakers tinker with teacher bonus plans *
More top educators in Florida would have a crack at an annual state bonus in the 2017-18 school year, under initial legislative proposals to expand a controversial, 2-year-old teacher incentive program. While there’s more room for compromise this year, House and Senate plans, unveiled last week, likely won’t appease all critics because they keep intact a core premise that teachers’ unions have vehemently opposed. To entice and reward the “Best and Brightest” teachers and — for the first time — principals who work in Florida public schools, lawmakers still want educators to demonstrate both “highly effective” teaching skills but also personal academic prowess in order to qualify for the extra cash. Teachers and principals who tested well on the SAT/ACT back in high school could still use those scores as one way to meet the requirements, and going forward, lawmakers want to also let them use other, similar benchmarks — such as qualifying scores on graduate school entrance exams or teacher certification tests. The inclusion of principals in the program is critical to expanding it, said state Rep. Manny Diaz Jr., a Hialeah Republican who is the House pre-K-12 education budget chairman and who is shepherding the House measure. “We know the No. 1 factor in the student’s life is the quality of the teacher, but the No. 1 factor in getting teachers to those schools is the quality of the leadership,” Diaz said. How many additional teachers and principals might be eligible under an expanded program is unknown — so is the price tag for exactly how much the expansion of “Best & Brightest” would cost taxpayers or how it would be paid for. One key senator revealed last month that the House’s intent — with Senate support — is to pour as much as $250 million into expanding “Best & Brightest” next year. That would be five times the $49 million that lawmakers approved this year. Altamonte Springs Republican David Simmons, the Senate’s pre-K-12 education budget chairman, reaffirmed that pledge on Wednesday when the Senate’s proposal was released. House leaders have been less committal to a figure and said Friday that an estimated cost hadn’t been determined. The “Best & Brightest” program — the brainchild of current House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’Lakes — has been the subject of intense criticism since it was established in 2015. Teachers’ union leaders and some lawmakers in both parties have complained that teachers’ personal academics and their performance in the classroom ought not to be linked. “Just because you do well on a test doesn’t mean you’re going to be a good teacher — clearly,” Diaz said. “However, we know that if you put individuals with higher aptitude into the classroom, they have a better chance at being a highly effective teacher and impacting our students.” The Florida Education Association, the largest teachers’ union in the state, is “still evaluating” the Legislature’s new proposals, FEA spokesman Mark Pudlow said. However, he added: New teachers “need to know there is some consistency in their base pay — not just volatile bonuses.” “Good research suggests some incentives can work, but several of the criteria being used to award the bonuses are untethered from research,” Pudlow said.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article137753233.html
The only “no” vote during Friday’s hearing came from Rep. Shevrin Jones, D-West Park, who said the changes put the House “on the right track," but he still had reservations about the bonuses. “If we could just give them a raise … we would be able to just attract teachers based on the salaries we have,” Jones said. Stuart Klatte, president of the Lake County Education Association, said that is what the unions and most teachers would prefer. “I’d rather see that money going into teacher salaries, going into the classroom, benefitting students,” Klatte said. Rep. Rene Plasencia, R-Orlando, who voted for the House bill, said there still will be “push back” from teachers and administrators, but he liked that the bonus money bypassed the usual teachers union-district bargaining process. Instead, the money gets distributed as lawmakers want. “Our intentions are carried out because it goes directly from us to the teachers,” he said.
http://news.wfsu.org/post/florida-house-members-move-bill-expand-teacher-scholarships-principals
Scott's ideas for teacher incentives didn't resonate; Legislature has own plans
Teaching of evolution, climate change at stake in Donalds' bill
New Pasco County school union president calls for improved culture (Don Peace quoted and Kenny Blankenship mentioned)
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/new-pasco-county-school-union-president-calls-for-improved-culture/2316166
Despite promises, change comes slowly to Tampa school
School counselor honored for helping Miami’s most vulnerable LGBTQ students
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/gay-south-florida/article137809423.html
A parent lawsuit bites the dust, and legislators get rolling
New law allows out-of-county school transfers, but only if there's space
The Florida corporate tax credit program: a statewide scam *
https://dianeravitch.net/2017/03/07/the-florida-corporate-tax-credit-program-a-statewide-scam/
The origins of Florida’s tax credits for constitutionally banned vouchers
DeVos' holy war
Vouchers hurting the children they pretend to help
How a high court ruling on playground covering may pave the way for vouchers (Lily Eskelsen García and Alice O’Brien quoted)
http://neatoday.org/2017/03/09/blaine-amendment-school-vouchers/
What DeVos should have learned at Washington school
Parents, unite against DeVos! Think of it as a bake sale to save the future
Block grants produce waste, fraud, and abuse
https://dianeravitch.net/2017/03/12/denis-smith-block-grants-produce-waste-fraud-and-abuse/
Teacher to Ohio governor: “You are in the dark about life in the classroom”
New Orleans: A plagiarized charter school application
http://amp.nola.com/v1/articles/20300871/plagiarize_charter_application.amp
Alabama constitution still calls for “separate schools for white and colored children”
GOP won’t protect LGBT students, those with disabilities in D.C. voucher bill
Colleges balk at budget cuts *
State college presidents on Friday expressed dismay that the 28-school system is being targeted for three-quarters of the cuts in the Florida Senate's initial plan to trim $131 million in higher-education spending. "It is of great concern that the first thing out of the chute is a 74 percent reduction impacting the Florida college system and it is directed at programs that support our most at-risk student populations," said Ed Meadows, president of Pensacola State College and the chairman of the Council of Presidents, which represents all the state colleges. The suggested cuts include a $55 million reduction in remedial education, the suspension of $30 million in performance funding for the colleges and the suspension of $10 million in incentive funds aimed at producing more students with technical and industry certifications. College presidents were also concerned that their system's cuts represented more than 74 percent of the $131 million total, while the state university reductions represented 10 percent and the private college cuts represented 5 percent. But Meadows noted the budget process is still in its early stages. "We hope to work with the Senate in the coming weeks to lessen the impact it could have on our ability to serve our students," he told the other presidents Friday during their monthly meeting.
http://www.dailycommercial.com/news/20170311/colleges-balk-at-budget-cuts
New FGCU president agrees to $350,000 base salary, plus bonuses
Delaney’s legacy as UNF president has been built on more than just numbers
http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=549513
California Democrats unveil aid plan with goal of making public colleges “debt-free”
http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-sac-debt-free-college-20170313-story.html
Under radar, GOP leaders spent $240 million on lawyers
http://floridapolitics.com/archives/233732-dep-responds-house-legal
House votes to kill Enterprise Florida despite Scott's pressure
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article137790208.html
http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20170310/no-sale-florida-house-votes-to-shut-down-jobs-agency
http://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20170310/house-shoots-down-enterprise-florida-incentives
Who dared to defy Gov. Scott on jobs program?
Southwest Florida a case study in GOP split over incentives
Lingering question about 2017 Legislature
Dispute over bill exposes fractures in Negron's Senate leadership team
Defend openness during Sunshine Week
http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-defend-openness-during-sunshine-week/2316152
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/article138046198.html
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/columnists/os-ed-sunshine-sunday-20170310-story.html
http://www.gainesville.com/opinion/20170312/editorial-protect-publics-right-to-know
More than half of Polk households struggling, United Way says
http://www.theledger.com/news/20170310/more-than-half-of-polk-households-struggling-united-way-says
Republicans want to be rewarded as if they expanded Medicaid
Legislators attack — and now want to preside over — courts
https://www.facingsouth.org/2017/03/open-war-against-judiciary
Unanimous death juries legislation headed to governor's desk
http://floridapolitics.com/archives/233720-floridas-death-penalty-fix
Legislature postpones vote on racial bias in sentencing
Tell us why you haven't ruled Florida House tells court
http://floridapolitics.com/archives/233714-supreme-court-reporting-bill
Wildfire season could be hot, damaging in Florida — thanks to La Niña
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/environment/article137818613.html
Gun bills aren’t dead yet, NRA lobbyist Hammer says
Why hurting the poor will hurt the economy
The 1930s were humanity's darkest, bloodiest hour. Are you paying attention?
Steady U.S. job growth sets stage for Fed to raise interest rates
Trump wants faster growth. The Fed isn’t so sure.
Trump team taking more and more credit for Obama successes
Trump's budget director claims Obama was “manipulating” jobs data
http://money.cnn.com/2017/03/12/news/economy/mick-mulvaney-obama-jobs-data/index.html
Trump’s head-spinning shift on the economy has left his supporters behind
Trump budget expected to seek historic contraction of federal workforce
House committee wants evidence for Trump's wiretap claim
http://www.bradenton.com/news/politics-government/national-politics/article138036403.html
If Russia inquiry is not “legitimate,” Democrats may abandon it
McCain to Trump: Retract wiretapping claim or prove it
Sources: FBI looks into computer link between Russian bank, Trump organization
Trump asks U.S. attorneys to resign after Hannity calls for “purge”
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/10/us/politics/us-attorney-justice-department-trump.html?_r=1
https://thinkprogress.org/amp/p/22093206f793
Bharara was investigating Fox News when Hannity urged Trump to fire him
Tampa's Bentley among U.S. attorneys asked to resign in Trump housecleaning
Warren says Trump pushed out prosecutors to install “cronies”
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/12/elizabeth-warren-trump-preet-bharara?CMP=edit_2221
Oversight Committee member is suspicious about the U.S. attorney firing
https://thinkprogress.org/cummings-preet-bharara-firing-suspicious-b92329a69391#.5qr9itc9w
Flynn was paid to represent Turkey’s interests during Trump campaign
Trump adviser admits to contact with DNC hacker
https://thinkprogress.org/robert-stone-exchanged-messages-guccifer-2-0-f9e75f15d1aa#.a5v1llo1e
Russian espionage piggybacks on a cybercriminal’s hacking
Russian oligarch responds to Trump airport connection
ACLU files complaint against Sessions over Senate testimony
http://www.wpbf.com/article/aclu-files-complaint-against-sessions-over-senate-testimony/9116687
GOP health bill is a $600 billion tax cut -- almost entirely for the wealthy
http://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/3/7/14844362/ahca-ryancare-trumpcare-tax-cut-rich
The five big numbers to look for in the CBO report on health care reform
http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/13/politics/cbo-report-republican-health-care/index.html
GOP health plan could strip addiction and mental health coverage from 1.3 million
Trump supporters in the heartland fear being left behind by GOP health plan
http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-obamacare-trump-supporters-20170312-story.html
The moral failing of Obamacare repeal
Yes, Trump scammed many of his working-class supporters
Another key Republican senator knocks GOP Obamacare plan
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/03/dean-heller-obamacare-republicans-235978
Pence says Obamacare “failed” Kentucky, where 500,000 gained insurance
Trump’s promises are taking a beating in the GOP’s Obamacare replacement
Trump said no one would lose coverage under GOP plan. Ryan won’t back that.
Price says “nobody will be worse off financially” under Obamacare repeal
Trump keeps low profile after praising health care overhaul
Millions might lose health coverage? Not to hear Republican leaders tell it.
Sleeper issue of Medicaid’s future could prove health-care plans’ stumbling block
The GOP’s high-risk strategy for health law repeal
GOP desire to keep party feuds private breaks down over health care
Obamacare repeal could die in Senate without changes, Nelson says
Nurses in Tampa speak out against GOP health law proposal
http://health.wusf.usf.edu/post/nurses-tampa-speak-out-against-gop-health-law-proposal#stream/0
Desantis under fire at town hall meeting in Daytona Beach
https://trofire.com/2017/03/10/florida-congressman-tells-cancer-patients-go-er-seek-treatment/
DeSantis’s first principle: Do harm
https://flaglerlive.com/105719/desantis-obamacare/
Issa, Hunter face raucous anti-Trump crowds at town hall meetings
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/sd-no-issa-meeting-20170310-story.html
Trump's revised travel ban dealt first court setback
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-court-idUSKBN16I02F
Mayors resist Trump's immigration policies: “We cannot submit to a bully”
Trump’s revised travel ban is denounced by 134 foreign policy experts
The travel-ban casualty the White House is ignoring
King says civilization can’t be restored with “somebody else’s babies”
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2017/03/12/iowa-rep-steve-king-muslim-children/99099712/
Trump immigration crackdown is great for private prison stocks
Is ICE’s help-wanted sign a welcome mat for rogue applicants, too?
Muhammad Ali Jr. stopped again after testifying about first airport detention
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/fl-reg-muhammed-ali-red-flag-flight-20170310-story.html
The Trump slump? Tourists say they're scared to visit the United States
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-travel-slump-2017-story.html
Foreigners who overstay their visas outnumber those who cross the border illegally
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article137722458.html
Woman detained after speaking about deportation fears is released
A man assumed a store’s Indian owners were Muslim. So he tried to burn it down.
“Go back to your country, terrorist”: Man accused of attacking restaurant employee https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/03/12/get-out-of-america-man-charged-with-hate-crime-after-attacking-restaurant-employee-with-a-pipe/?tid=sm_tw&utm_term=.1e9619ecba0f
What have we become in the time of Trump?
http://floridapolitics.com/archives/233712-martin-dyckman-become-time-trump
What happened after an anti-Semitic bomb threat at my school
Survey: White evangelicals think Christians face more discrimination than Muslims
http://www.vox.com/identities/2017/3/10/14881446/prri-survey-muslims-christians-discrimination
What the president could learn from professional economists
Concerns about riskier mortgages are sprouting
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/03/12/concerns-riskier-mortgages-sprouting/98954348/
Democrats’ line of attack on Gorsuch: no friend of the little guy
http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/13/politics/neil-gorsuch-supreme-court-nomination/index.html
GOP votes to “obliterate” consumer class-action lawsuits
http://www.latimes.com/business/lazarus/la-fi-lazarus-class-actions-20170310-story.html
Employees who decline genetic testing could face penalties under proposed bill
We spend $100 billion on policing. We have no idea what works.
Sessions doesn’t want to investigate police. Here’s why we need to.
Pruitt’s office deluged with callers after he questions the science of global warming
How Perdue’s power benefits his friends
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/03/donald-trump-sonny-perdue-agriculture-235982
Trump’s proposed NOAA cuts would disarm our coasts in the face of rising seas
Nelson, Rubio fight back over proposed cuts to Coast Guard, NOAA and FEMA
How the Amazon River may make hurricanes more deadly
Conservatives cheer EPA cuts that activists fear “will be borne by lungs”
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