Investing in Full-Service Community Schools: A Pathway to Student Success
Few programs have proven as successful as the Full Service Community Schools Program at providing holistic support to students and their families to increase positive academic outcomes. The Coalition for…
Graduation Season: The Transformative Power of a High School Diploma
It’s graduation season- that time of year when families gather to celebrate the academic accomplishments and the rite of passage of achieving a major milestone. However, high school graduation is…
The Vital Role of School Nurses: Bridging Health and Education
School nurses play a pivotal role in safeguarding the well-being of students, staff, and the entire school community yet, Florida faces a critical shortage. Sunday, May 12th is Nurses’ Day…
The promise of a better FAFSA leaves students in the lurch
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), a lifeline for college-bound students seeking financial assistance, has recently undergone an overall. When the Department of Education first announced the “Better FAFSA”—a…
Teacher Appreciation Week: Why they need more than just our thanks
Next week, May 6th through May 24th, is Teacher Appreciation Week. This is the annual week where we honor the professional educators who ignite curiosity, instill a love of learning,…
School leaders and students partner for success
In January, the Alliance for Public Schools collaborated with Superintendent Van Ayres to launch the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council (SSAC) in Hillsborough County Public Schools. The SSAC model represents a…
What is the Science of Reading?
How we teach reading has become the latest debate in education. On one side are the proponents of the “science of reading” movement, a phonics- and cognitive-based instructional method. The…
Navigating Social Media: Balancing Connection and Well-Being
In today’s interconnected world, social media has become an integral part of our lives. For school-age students and teachers alike, navigating this digital landscape presents both opportunities and challenges. Over…
The Current Funding Cliff: Impacts on School Budgets and Students
When the pandemic forced schools to close their doors, the sudden shift to remote learning caught everyone off guard. Now, as the dust settles, we face another impending disruption—one that…
Congress Passes Education Funding Bill: A Victory for Students and Educators
After months of delays, Congress has finally taken a significant step toward fulfilling its basic duties: passing the remaining bills to support education and other vital public services. The books are…
The 2024 Florida Legislative Session: What’s in store for schools?
Taking place against the backdrop of a contentious presidential election season which included its governor, Florida lawmakers grappled with a myriad of issues that would shape the future of K-12…
Every day matters- why are so many students missing school?
There are a few things that profoundly impact a student’s academic outcomes. Attendance, or the lack thereof, can make or break a student’s chances of success. Our annual GradNation Community…
Rising Stars- an interview with Melissa Erickson
Recently, Voyage Tampa met with Alliance for Public Schools Executive Director Melissa Erickson to talk about the Alliance’s work to champion students, educators, and public education. Here’s the interview: Alright,…
What to expect from the 2024 Florida Legislative Session
The 2024 Florida Legislative Session began Tuesday, January 9th. For the next 60 days, the Florida House and Senate will debate many policies that will impact students and their schools.…
Advocates save recess, applaud changes to state testing
Thanks to your advocacy, Florida elementary students will continue to enjoy recess! Over 2,000 Alliance for Public Schools advocates emailed the bill sponsor, Sen. Corey Simon, and other legislators demanding…
The top performing school system in the nation may surprise you
Who has the top performing school district in the nation? The United States Department of Defense. The U.S. Department of Defense operates 160 schools worldwide, offering an education for more…
10 ways families can support reading at home
Reading is fundamental as the saying goes. Students who are not proficient in reading by third grade have a harder time earning a diploma in high school. Reading is an…
ACT scores drop to record lows; causes unclear
According to PBS News Hour, “High school students’ scores on the ACT college admissions test have dropped to their lowest in more than three decades, showing a lack of student preparedness…
National increase in book challenges caused by vocal few
In attention grabbing headlines around the country, school districts face a record number of book challenges resulting in bans. During this Banned Books Week, we decided to take a closer…
Why is there a teacher shortage and what can you do about it?
According to a recent article in Education Week, “Between the 2008-09 and 2018-19 academic years, the number of people completing a teacher education program declined by almost a third, according…
Free money- “vouchers for all” has expensive price tag for Florida
A new law passed by the state legislature makes all Florida students eligible for the school voucher program originally designed for low-income children. The “vouchers for all” law took effect…
Sweeping new laws lead to confusion for schools, parents
Recent legislation passed by the Florida Legislature and signed into law by Gov. DeSantis have left educators, parents, and students alike scratching their heads. From controversial new laws about the…
2023 Legislative Update: Major changes ahead for FL’s public schools
The Florida Legislature enacted sweeping changes to our state’s public schools during the 2023 Legislative Session. They had one mandate for the sixty day session– pass a balanced budget. In…
Florida Board of Ed rule now requires school districts to track book challenges
According to a story by the News Service of Florida the Florida Board of Education approved a new rule that will require school districts to provide the state with a…
Vouchers for all proposal would devastate public school budgets
A priority proposal is moving through the Florida House which would give every K-12 student thousands of dollars each year to spend on their education with little oversight and regardless…
Remembering a Tampa philanthropist and Alliance for Public Schools’ benefactor
We wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the inspiring life of Cy Spurlino. Cy, with his wife Joanne, spent a life committed to serving the community. His philanthropy will…
Where have all the students gone?
The global pandemic had major impacts on education. A recent piece in EdWeek draws attention to one of the major factors affecting public schools since the pandemic- declining enrollment. The…
Third Grade Reading Retention- No Longer on Pause
During the pandemic, states paused policies requiring third grade retention for students who have not attained reading proficiency on high-stakes, state reading exams. According to EdWeek, these controversial policies are…
The Nation’s Report Card (NAEP) grades drop to lows not seen in decades
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores are out and show drops in math and reading not seen in decades. NAEP provides important information about student achievement and learning…
School board elections: A Recap
The 74 interviewed our own Melissa Erickson Tuesday night after the polls closed on schools board elections across the state. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s effort to fill local school board…
Schools across the nation open without enough teachers
As schools open around the country, many districts face unfilled teaching and support professional positions. The state of Florida has an estimated 8,000 open teaching positions. Nationwide, there are at…
Legislative Update: Changes slated for Florida’s public schools
The 2022 Florida Legislative Session came to an end on Monday, one day later than scheduled. The legislature had two mandates: pass a balanced budget and redraw the election district…
New report gives Florida education funding a failing grade
The Florida Policy Institute recently published the first installment of their “Pursue Equity” series, a part of their “multi-year research initiative on Florida’s historically discriminatory policies, their evolution and their…
Media Advisory: Alliance for Public Schools celebrates increased graduation rates
Today, the Alliance for Public Schools celebrates Florida’s graduation rates for the Class of 2021. Hillsborough County Public Schools posted the highest graduation rate in district history. “I am so…
In Focus: Ending the FSA and changing standards for Florida classrooms
Recently, Gov. DeSantis announced a goal to end the Florida Standards Assessment. This statewide, standardized exam, given to Florida’s school children in grades 3-10, was made obsolete by the state’s…
Thanks to your advocacy- FL finally submits plan for $2.3 Billion in federal relief
After tremendous advocacy from parents and community members across the state, the Florida Department of Education finally submitted its plan on Wednesday to access $2.3 billion in remaining federal education…
Florida to end the FSA but what will happen to the high-stakes?
The FSA will be administered for the last time this coming spring if the governor has anything to say about it. At a press conference Tuesday, Governor DeSantis announced that…
Florida leaves billions in pandemic relief earmarked for kids unspent
In May of 2020, the U.S. Department of Education released $770 million dollars to Florida schools to address the impacts of COVID-19. Now, the amount has grown to $15 billion…
U.S. Department of Education opens civil rights investigation for students with disabilities
In a story from the New York Times’ reporter, Erica Green, the U.S. Department of Education has begun investigations into five states whose prohibitions on universal mask mandates in schools…
Federal funds save Florida…again
The Florida Policy Institute released their summary of the state budget for fiscal year 2021-2022. The legislative session and subsequent budget occurred in the midst of a global pandemic and…
Alliance for Public Schools Earns Community Investment Grant from United Way Suncoast
ALLIANCE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS EARNS COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUNDING FROM UNITED WAY SUNCOAST The UWS award, part of a $6.05 million investment in the community, will support the organization’s Hillsborough and…
DeSantis signs budget. How did Florida’s public schools fare?
Governor DeSantis signed the record $101.5 billion budget for the coming fiscal year into law today at a popular restaurant in New Smyrna Beach. He also vetoed $1.5 billion in…
2021 Legislative Session budget balanced with federal relief funds
The 2021 Florida Legislative Session ended on April 30th. Lawmakers will return on May 17th to discuss details of the gaming compact. No money from the compact is in the…
Billions in federal aid earmarked for schools tied up in Tallahassee
According to the Miami Herald, the Florida lawmakers have yet to reach an agreement on how to spend $12 billion in federal COVID stimulus funds earmarked for public education. School…
Teachers in Florida and Texas can get COVID-19 shots despite governors’ edicts
March 5, 2021 From CBS News: School and childcare workers now have an opportunity to get the COVID-19 vaccine even if they live in one of the roughly dozen states around the…
DeSantis says school employees will not be prioritized for COVID-19 vaccine
DeSantis says school employees will not be prioritized for COVID-19 vaccine “Emphasizing that his focus remains on Florida’s elderly population, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday said teachers and school staff…
HCPS receives $3 million STEM grant from the Department of Defense for STEM partnership
The Alliance of Public Schools is thrilled to announce that Hillsborough County Public Schools is one of 12 U.S. Department of Defense awardees across the nation for the National Defense…
Florida to see ‘significant cuts to the budget’ says House speaker
Florida’s incoming Speaker of the House Chris Sprowls warned of significant budget cuts due to the state’s dire financial crisis. He told participants in an online webinar last week that…
Judge rules in favor of teachers’ school reopening lawsuit; State to appeal
BREAKING NEWS- Today, Leon County Judge Charles Dodson ruled in favor of the Florida Education Association in their lawsuit against the state. Read the Ruling here. From the Tampa Bay…
Teachers’ lawsuit to prevent mandatory school reopening proceeds
The lawsuit contending the state cannot force counties to open for in-person instruction passed its first hurdle Friday morning. The judge ruled in favor of the plaintiffs and denied the…
Hillsborough School Board: 100% eLearning for Four Weeks
After stark testimony from Hillsborough’s medical advisory group, Hillsborough School Board members voted to delay the implementation of Superintendent’s school re-opening plan for four weeks. Members Stuart and Snively were…
VP Pence “It’s time to get kids back to school”
Wednesday, Vice President Pence announced that, “It’s time to get kids back to school.” He spent time thanking America’s teachers for their work during the closures and thanked parents for…
Florida provides guidance on reopening plans; won’t seek FSA waiver
In a follow up presentation by the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) Tuesday, districts received additional guidance about reopening requirements after Commissioner Corcoran issued an emergency order Monday. Districts must…
Emergency Order requires Florida schools to reopen 5 days a week
This is a breaking story. We will be updating this post with more information. Florida Department of Education announced an Emergency Order Monday. In part, the order states that school…
Reopening plans unveiled in Hillsborough
Reopening schools was the topic for Hillsborough County’s Superintendent Davis yesterday. His plan is fluid but likely allows families to have a choice. The plan was outlined in a 47…
School leaders warn of massive budget cuts
School leaders across the country are sounding the alarm on looming budget cuts. The pandemic has led to a national fiscal crisis predicted to be worse than the Great Recession.…
Caring for your mind while you are caring for our students
Today, we have a special guest post from Hillsborough County School Board Member Karen Perez. Teachers and Parents- First, THANK YOU for ALL you are doing with your students at…
CARES Act: How much will Florida schools receive?
The CARES Act, signed into law on March 27th, gave an unprecedented $2 trillion economic relief to individuals, businesses, and states. $30.75 billion of that money went to the Education…
Thank Public School Employees Today
Guest post by Mariel Brie Taylor, Director for Digital Curriculum in Orange County Public Schools. I am deeming today, “Be nice to a public school employee day in Florida”Why?…
Class of 2020: good news in these uncertain times?
Although the Florida Department of Education released specific details about testing and other waivers, it was still unclear whether the Class of 2020 would receive a diploma if they lacked…
FDOE closes K12 campuses and state colleges; provides information on testing, funding and more
The Florida Department of Education issued additional guidance to their March 17th press conference. In addition to closing school campuses through April 15th and moving to distance learning for students,…
State Testing Canceled for 2020; Schools Remain Closed
Governor DeSantis canceled state testing and school grading for the 2019-2020 school year. Schools will remain closed through April 15th. From WCTV- Gov. Ron DeSantis announced in a press conference Tuesday…
Big Data Will Not Stop School Violence
Ora Tanner graciously agreed to share her latest blog post with us about a convening of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission. Ora became involved in the…
Engage. Inspire. Educate Hillsborough
Today, we have a guest post from our partners at Hillsborough County Public Schools that was originally posted on their Get Schooled blog. Last week the inaugural Educate Hillsborough class…
Study shows so-called “failing schools” may not be failing
A study from Ohio State University shows that disadvantaged and minority children have as much academic growth as advantaged kids in other schools. Even though disadvantaged students in poorer school…
Funding needed for students, teachers
Teacher salaries have been in the spotlight after years of chronic under funding of public schools. Many Florida school districts have struggled to negotiate contracts with their teachers. Districts across…
About That Per-Pupil Funding Increase …
State lawmakers, back home in their districts, tout the increase in education funding in the 2019-2020 budget that took effect July 1st. However, a closer look reveals that politicians shortchanged…
Florida’s school grading system rests on shoulders of children
On Friday, the Florida Department of Education released FSA scores to school districts and parents. This single standardized test determines advancement to the next grade, graduation eligibility, teacher pay, school…
Bill to arm teachers passes another committee
There is only one more stop for a major bill that allows classroom teachers to carry guns while teaching. Senate Bill 7030 expands the so-called Guardian Bill passed last year…
Florida House, Senate far apart on education budget
The Republican-led Florida House and Senate released competing budget proposals on Friday. The budgets differ from each other and also differ in many ways from Gov. Ron DeSantis’ proposals. The…
Florida’s public schools deserve support
by Betty Castor, published by the Tampa Bay Times Betty Castor, former teacher, Hillsborough County commissioner and state senator, served as Florida’s commissioner of education and later as president of…
ICYMI: Graduation rates increased again!
In case you missed the news during the holiday bustle, graduation rates increased across Florida. Students are graduating at record rates, reaching a 15-year high in the last school year…
Arizona voucher opponents’ win- a model for Florida?
Florida school voucher proponents overwhelmingly won their elections in November. Avid supporters like Governor-elect DeSantis, likely Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran and leadership in the Florida Legislature are poised to…
Rough road ahead for Florida’s public schools
Governor-elect DeSantis has named Richard Corcoran as his pick for the next Florida Commissioner of Education. As the previous Speaker of the House, Corcoran ushered in two of the most…
Tampa Bay Times: Answering questions about the referendum
The Tampa Bay Times has endorsed the school referendum on the ballot in Hillsborough County in November. They followed up with a column on why voters should pass the referendum:…
Tampa Bay Times, Chamber of Commerce endorse referendum
The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce and the Tampa Bay Times have endorsed the Hillsborough school referendum on the ballot on November 6th. On Thursday, the Chamber voted to support…
Town halls provide referendum information to voters
Voters are encouraged to attend an information session to learn more about the Hillsborough Schools Referendum that will appear on the November 6th ballot. Here is the schedule of Town…
School referendum to appear on November 6th ballot
At the August 24th school board meeting, Hillsborough School Board members decided to ask voters to approve a half-cent, 10-year local sales tax increase on the November 6th ballot. The…
A/C problems plague Hillsborough schools
School is back in session but it still feels like summer outside. Massive air conditioning problems are causing summer-like temperatures inside classrooms across Hillsborough County. Social media sites are flush…
Florida Supreme Court strikes Amendment 8 from the ballot
This afternoon, the Florida Supreme Court ruled that the controversial proposed constitutional Amendment 8 should remain off of the November ballot. They agreed with the lower court that the summary…
School board races decided by only a few voters
School board races decided by a few voters It turns out that the people who represent us and our children on the school board earned their seats thanks to just…
Primary voters in Florida exceed 2014 totals
Primary voters in Florida exceed 2014 totals Over 1.9 million Florida primary voters had already voted before polls opened on Election Day. Election supervisors are predicting an increase over the…
DeVos considers allowing federal funds for guns in schools
According to the Washington Post, sources inside the U.S. Department of Education say Secretary Betsy DeVos is considering allowing federal funds to buy guns for schools. Two people said the…
Amendment 5 puts school funding, Florida’s future in jeopardy
Amendment 5 puts school funding, Florida’s future in jeopardy Florida’s current per-pupil, school funding is below the pre-recession level, when accounting for inflation, and could be made even worse if voters…
Florida’s schools need fix to access millions for kids’ health services
Florida has the opportunity to improve children’s health and educational outcomes while drawing down millions in additional federal funds for school-based Medicaid services by making a series of statutory and…
Republican vouchers give $7,200 for claims of “bullying”
This year the Republican controlled Florida Legislature passed a bill that gives up to $7,200 vouchers to students who claim to have been bullied. The so-called “Hope Scholarship” provides vouchers…
Florida risks $1.1 billion due to lack of federal ESSA plan
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was passed by Congress in the fall of 2015. It was a rare piece of major federal legislation that was truly a bipartisan effort-…
Charter schools behind deceptive Amendment 8
In November, Florida voters will have a chance to vote on Amendment 8, a proposed addition to the state constitution. This proposal claims to require school board term limits and…
Why don’t we treat teachers as professionals?
This year, the nation watched as teachers in numerous states began to walk out of schools and storm state capitals demanding better working conditions for themselves and better learning conditions…
Future of public education in Florida voters’ hands
This election cycle, Florida voters will choose a new governor, half of the state senate and the entire state house. The winners of these races will shape the future of…
Speaker holds education budget hostage
From WLRN: Under House Budget Plan, No Public School Funding Without Corcoran Education Bill By JESSICA BAKEMAN • JAN 31, 2018 A budget proposal that is advancing in the Legislature would make next…
Student leaders help raise grad rates to record levels across Tampa Bay
Student Alliance for Public Schools leaders worked in high schools across the region to raise high school graduation rates to record levels. From the Tampa Bay Times: Graduation rates in…
In her own words: My experience with Parent Teacher Home Visit Project
My experience with Parent Teacher Home Visit Project was truly eye-opening. I have always known that there is so much more to teaching than simply what goes on in the…
Civil citations keep kids in school, out of jail
As the new school year begins, many counties are looking at ways to keep students in class and out of jail by employing the use of civil citations instead of…
You did it! A nurse in every Pinellas public school
You advocated for funding for a nurse in every Pinellas County Public School and they listened! This week the Pinellas Board of County Commissioners unanimously voted to provide funding for…
Florida’s anti-science bill signed into law
In addition to HB 7069, the sweeping 278 page education bill, a few other education related bills were passed this session. According to the National Center for Science Education, HB…
Report shows Florida shortchanges children
Kids Count 2017, the annual study by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, found that Florida’s children experienced an overall decline in economic well-being. According to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Florida children…
Powerful commission and election will determine the future of Florida
The 2018 election season is already shaping up to be a momentous one for Florida’s public schools. The governor’s office and cabinet positions will be on the ballot along with…
Will the new education law impact you? Find out here.
Governor Scott signed HB 7069 into law at a private, voucher school in Orlando. It was a fitting setting for a bill that funnels billions of taxpayer dollars into private…
Florida’s school grades rise against backdrop of harsh legislative session
The Florida Department of Education released school grades this week. Across the state, districts saw their grades rise with the number of schools earning A’s and B’s increasing by 20…