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…