Florida House Advances Bill to Reward Student Achievement

Tallahassee, Florida –  Today, the House Pre-K – 12 Appropriations Subcommittee voted to reward high achieving students by passing HB 7059 which rewards student-achievement instead of seat-time.

“I thank members of the House Pre-K – 12 Appropriations Subcommittee for their commitment to increasing accelerated learning options for Florida’s students,” said Patricia Levesque, Executive Director of the Foundation for Florida’s Future. “This bill will open the door to restructuring education around what truly matters – student learning.  Evolution from seat-time based education is the next step to bringing every student a quality education that is customized to meet their unique learning style and pace.”

Florida has dramatically improved the quality of public education during the past decade, but our work is far from finished. These initiatives move Florida further down the path of improving education for all students. The Foundation looks forward to working with members of the Florida Legislature to continue our success.

The Foundation for Florida’s Future Applauds Governor Scott As He Releases Rankings for Florida School Districts

Tallahassee, Florida – For over a decade, Florida has graded school districts A-F, just like it grades schools.  Based on that data, today Governor Scott released how each of Florida’s 67 school districts rank from highest performing to lowest performing.

“We applaud Governor Scott’s initiative to rank Florida’s school districts in order to promote performance by encouraging competition,” said Patricia Levesque, Executive Director of the Foundation for Florida’s Future.  “Florida has already experienced the results accountability and transparency have on schools.  While grading school districts is not new, this additional level of transparency will better equip parents and community leaders to be more involved in ensuring their school district is leading the state and nation in student performance.” … Continue Reading

New Chair Of Florida Board Of Governors Makes Annual ‘State Of The State University System’ Remarks

Chair Dean Colson discusses quality and competitiveness, student financial aid, governance issues in presentation

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— Attorney Dean Colson of Coral Gables presided over his first meeting today as Chair of the Florida Board of Governors, opening with comments focused public universities’ quality and competitiveness, student financial aid and governance issues. The Florida Board of Governors is the constitutional appointed oversight body of the 11-institution State University System, which serves more than 325,000 total enrolled students. His comments, as well as his complementary PowerPoint presentation with data underscoring points of focus, are both posted in today’s Board meeting materials located at http://www.flbog.edu/pressroom/meeting_agenda.php?id=129. … Continue Reading

Florida Senate Confirms Commitment to School Choice on Eve of 2012 Session

Tallahassee, FL – Today, the Senate Pre-K – 12 Committee voted to increase educational opportunities for Sunshine State students. SB 962 allows for a one-time bump in the statewide tax credit cap to $250 million in the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program. This will allow 6,500 more children from low-income families the opportunity to select and attend the best school to meet their unique needs. … Continue Reading

Florida State Board Of Education Approves New FCAT 2.0 Reading And Mathematics Scores

Tallahassee, Fla.  – For the first time in 10 years, the Florida State Board of Education today approved new achievement level scores for grades 3-10 in reading and grades 3-8 mathematics on the annual FCAT 2.0 assessments. Since Florida began administering the FCAT in 1998, data from reading and math has been used to gauge student achievement and to identify policy changes needed to link learning to best practices. These new achievement scores improve the movement that has kept Florida on the forefront of learning and achievement for more than a decade and will better prepare Florida students for college or a job after high school. … Continue Reading

Statement By Florida Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson Regarding the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Results for Hillsborough and Miami-Dade Counties

“I want to commend the teachers and administrators who have dedicated their efforts and resources to ensure that our students are on track to being well prepared for their future. Today’s 2011 NAEP Trial Urban District Assessment (TUDA) results show that fourth and eighth grade students in Hillsborough and Miami-Dade continue to make tremendous progress when compared to other large city districts in the nation, with Hillsborough leading the country in grade 4 reading, tying with Charlotte, N.C., in grade 8 reading, and tying with Austin, Texas and Charlotte as the second highest performing districts in grades 4 and 8 mathematics.  Miami-Dade students scored higher than the average of students in large cities (populations over 250,000) both in terms of scale scores and percentage scoring above basic in reading for grades 4 and 8, and in grade 4 mathematics.  The commitment and leadership in these districts represent Florida’s focused mission to reduce the academic achievement gap while supporting our students in their pursuit of excellence. … Continue Reading

New Research and Education Grant to Fund Financial Education Effort

-AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company Endows Florida Independent Benefits Council -

Tallahassee, Fla. – Florida educators will soon get critical information about how to prepare financially for retirement thanks to a new $750,000 grant from AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company to the Florida Independent Benefits Council (IBC) to fund a comprehensive, three-year statewide education initiative specifically for school employees.

The educational initiative will support school employees in planning their retirements and realizing their financial goals.  The IBC, composed of leadership from Florida’s four leading education associations – Florida Association of School Administrators, Florida School Boards Association, Florida Association of District School Superintendents and the Florida Education Association – is the only entity of its kind in the country dedicated to ensuring access to high-quality retirement investment options for school employees. … Continue Reading

Advocate and Sexual Abuse Victim Says Penn State Case Highlights need for Stronger Child Abuse Reporting Laws, Stiffer Penalties

TALLAHASSEE – Child sexual abuse survivor Lauren Book said the Penn State case and other new revelations of alleged abuse highlight the need to strengthen the law to require child abuse reporting and increase the penalties for failing to report.

Book said she will advocate for changes to federal and state laws to clarify that all persons are required to report suspected child abuse, to increase the penalties for failing to report, and to end the statute of limitations relating to prosecution of sexual abuse of children younger than 16, a change she helped to pass in Florida in 2010. … Continue Reading

Florida Board Of Governors Approves New Strategic Plan Through 2025

Major effort concluded after national vetting, extensive data research

Strategic Planning Committee Chair: ‘Now we move quickly toward identifying the implementation strategies for every single goal and outcome to be achieved in the next 15 years’

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—The Florida Board of Governors of the State University System voted at its most recent meeting to approve the “Board of Governors’ Strategic Plan for the State University System of Florida: 2012-2025,” featuring an array of new or updated components and performance metrics that will revolve around three key themes – Excellence, Productivity, and Strategic Priorities for a Knowledge Economy – and reflect a major milestone and achievement by the Board of Governors, and its stakeholders and partners in the effort. … Continue Reading

Marrow Nation® Joining Kidz1stfund™ in the Fight Against Fanconi anemia

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Marrow Nation®, a drive that aids in the collection of potential bone marrow donors, is coming to Tallahassee Nov. 12, 13 and 19. Kidz1stfund™ invites the Florida State University community to join the bone marrow registry in hopes of finding Seminoles that can be a match and save a life. Fans can help the thousands of recipients who are waiting for a bone marrow transplant.

Marrow Nation® has helped match patients with donors resulting in 50,000 transplants in the last 25 years. The drive is stopping in Tallahassee in support of the new initiative by Jimbo Fisher and his wife Candi to find a cure for a rare blood disorder called Fanconi anemia (FA). In March, the Fisher family’s youngest son, Ethan, was diagnosed with the disease. FA results in a decline in the patient’s blood counts over time, eventually leading to bone marrow failure. The Fisher’s founded Kidz1stfund™ to support families affected by FA, raise money for research and ultimately find a cure. … Continue Reading

Colson, Hosseini Elected To Lead Florida Board Of Governors, State University System, In 2012-13

Dean Colson of Coral Gables, Morteza (“Mori”) Hosseini of Daytona Beach elected to posts of Chair, Vice Chair

BOCA RATON, Fla.—Today at its regular meeting, the Florida Board of Governors nominated and unanimously elected Dean Colson of Coral Gables and Morteza “Mori” Hosseini as Chair and Vice Chair, respectively, for 2012-13.

Colson has been a partner with the law firm of Colson Hicks Eidson in Miami since 1981. Colson was as Vice Chair of the Board of Governors and also served as the Chair of the Legislative Committee the past two years. He served as Chair of the University of Miami’s Board of Trustees, a private university, during his time on the Board from 1991 to 2009. He has served as a member and as Chair of the Florida Supreme Court’s Judicial Nominating Committee from 2002 to 2006. He received his bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and his law degree from the University of Miami. He worked as a law clerk to Judge Peter T. Fay at the Federal Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, and to Justice William Rehnquist of the U.S. Supreme Court. Colson was appointed to the Board of Governors in 2010. He also served as a special adviser on higher education issues to then-Gov. Charlie Crist from 2007-10. His seven-year term ends in 2017. … Continue Reading

Comcast Unveils Ambitious And Comprehensive Broadband Adoption Program For Tallahassee

Internet Essentials Provides Low-Cost Internet Service, Affordable Computers and Digital Literacy Training to Families with Children in the National School Lunch Program

TALLAHASSEE (October 27, 2011) – Comcast Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Melissa Maxfield and Comcast Vice President and General Manager KC McWilliams today announced the launch of Internet Essentials, an ambitious and comprehensive broadband adoption program. Joining them for the announcement were U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, State Senator Bill Montford, Representative Alan Williams, Leon County Superintendent of Schools Jackie Pons, Commissioner Andrew Gillum and other leaders. … Continue Reading

CFO and State Fire Marshal Jeff Atwater Recognizes Fire Prevention Week

TALLAHASSEE—Florida Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jeff Atwater sponsored a resolution this week recognizing Oct. 9 through Oct. 15 as Fire Prevention Week. Out of nearly 60,400 fires reported in Florida last year, more than 59,000 were fires that could have been prevented. Just last year, 40 Floridians died in accidental fires. … Continue Reading

Statement by Commissioner Robinson regarding appointment of Randy Hanna as Chancellor of the Florida College System

“I am pleased to announce the appointment of Randy Hanna as the new Chancellor of the Florida College System, effective November 14, 2011. Randy has a tremendous higher education background where he previously served as Chair of the Florida State Board of Community Colleges, Chair of the Florida College System Foundation and member of Tallahassee Community College’s governing board. He is currently a member of the Board of Trustees for the University of West Florida. I am excited to welcome him to the DOE team and am confident his extensive higher education experience, combined with his broad knowledge of Florida’s government, will lead to significant successes for our colleges in the years ahead. … Continue Reading

Kayakers Embark on 5th Annual RiverTrek To Help Preserve a Great American Treasure: The Apalachicola River

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Paddling and kayaking enthusiasts are gearing up for this year’s five-day RiverTrek “paddle-a-thon,” sponsored by the Apalachicola Riverkeeper. The 5th annual RiverTrek 2011 will begin on Oct. 12, 2011 at the northern end of the Apalachicola River and is designed to raise resources and awareness for the protection of the river. The journey will begin just below the Jim Woodruff Dam in Chattahoochee, Fla. and take the paddlers 107 miles to the Apalachicola Bay. … Continue Reading

Statement By: Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson Regarding new members of DOE’s executive management team

“Today, the State Board of Education unanimously approved my request to appoint Pamela Stewart as Florida’s new Public Schools Chancellor, effective October 17, 2011. Pam brings with her a wealth of Florida public school experience where she has previously served as Deputy Superintendent for Academic Services in St. Johns County, Deputy Chancellor of Educator Quality at the Department of Education, and principal at Vanguard High School and Reddick-Collier Elementary School in Marion County. I’m excited to welcome her back to the DOE team and know she will do an excellent job supporting our efforts to improve student achievement throughout the state. … Continue Reading

Florida Board of Governors makes appointments to two university Boards of Trustees

Appointments made for new members at FIU, UNF

The Trustee Nominating Committee of the Florida Board of Governors put forward – and the Board of Governors ratified and approved – two appointments to two universities’ Boards of Trustees on Thursday – one at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, and one to Florida International University in Miami.

Each one of the 11 institutions in the State University System has a 13-member Board of Trustees responsible for cost-effective policy, and for implementing and maintaining high-quality education programs consistent with the institution’s mission. The Boards of Trustees also develop processes to meet state policy, budgeting and education standards. … Continue Reading

New Director of Outreach Announced at Chabad Lubavitch of the Panhandle-Tallahassee and Florida State University


TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Rabbi Shalom Loeub has been hired as director of outreach for students and the community at Chabad Lubavitch of the Panhandle-Tallahassee and Florida State University.

The Montreal-born Shalom Loeub, 26, has volunteered for Chabad since 2008, helping Rabbi Schneur and Chanie Oirechman.

The Oirechmans opened Chabad of Tallahassee in 2000, serving the 4,000 Jewish students at FSU, the Tallahassee Jewish community and the Jewish communities in the Florida Panhandle.

Rabbi Loeub has proved to be an invaluable asset to the community. After getting married in March, he was hired by Chabad, which is based out of the Morris and Lillian Tabacinic Chabad Center, 2601 North Meridian Road. … Continue Reading

Foundation for Florida’s Future Releases Statement on FEA’s Lawsuit Against SB 736

Tallahassee, FL – Today, Patricia Levesque, Executive Director of the Foundation for Florida’s Future, released the following statement regarding the Florida Education Association’s lawsuit against Gov. Rick Scott and other state officials to block a new Florida law that will identify and reward Florida’s excellent teachers.

“Every day, teachers across Florida are equipping Sunshine State students with the knowledge and skills they need to achieve success. These teachers deserve to be recognized for their effectiveness and dedication with professional level compensation.  SB 736 modernizes Florida’s teaching profession and provides teachers, principals and school leaders the data they need to identify and reward Florida’s excellent teachers. This law benefits teachers and students. Today’s action by the teachers’ union, once again proves they care more about protecting political power than promoting a dynamic, highly-skilled workforce of educators.”

Statement By Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson Regarding Florida’s 2011 SAT Results

“Today’s release of Florida’s SAT results brings with it very positive news regarding the participation of our students on this important college entrance exam. According to the College Board’s report, nearly 12,000 additional public school students took the exam last year in Florida, highlighting the excellent work going on to introduce more students to the college-going process. … Continue Reading