Capital Soup

Florida News Straight From the Source

You are here: Home / Archives for Education

Education

UT Academic Leaders to Travel to Cuba to Build Educational Partnerships

Posted on

The University of Tampa has been selected as one of 10 schools in the U.S. by the Institute of International Education (IIE) to participate in the binannual Congreso Universidad Cuban International Education Conference.

As part of the program, David Stern, UT’s provost; Marca Bear, associate dean of international programs; Frank Ghannadian, dean of the Sykes College of Business; David Gudelunas, dean of the College of Arts and Letters; Jack Geller, dean of the College of Social Sciences, Mathematics and Education; and Paul Greenwood, dean of the College of Natural and Health Sciences, will travel to Havana Feb. 11–17.

“Engaging in academic and cultural exchange with institutions of higher education in Cuba deepens Tampa’s international heritage that is a unique part of our community’s history,” said Stern.

“This is a critical moment for academic cooperation between the United States and Cuba,” said Clare Overman, head of higher education initiatives at IIE. “We firmly believe in the opportunity to expand bi-lateral exchange. This delegation aims to foster and explore those opportunities for academic collaboration despite challenges.”

At the Congreso Universidad, U.S. representatives will meet with their Cuban counterparts, opening opportunities for future academic partnerships and student exchanges between the two nations. IIE’s International Academic Partnership Program (IAPP) will lead the delegation.

Since current restrictions limit options for individual travel to Cuba from the United States, this trip represents a unique opportunity to foster educational exchanges and partnerships between the two countries. Moreover, Congreso Universidad will allow representatives of U.S. universities to connect with their counterparts in remote or difficult to access regions of Cuba.

The Cuban Ministry of Higher Eduation (MES) hosts the Congreso Universidad semi-annually, inviting delegations from Latin America and the world to meet with higher education officials from Cuba.

UT previously attended Congreso Universidad in 2015, which led to the University being named the first U.S. affiliate of the Center for Martí Studies in April 2016.

In May 2016, UT offered two travel courses to Cuba: Government and World Affairs 353: Cuba and the U.S., and Communication 224: Mass Media and Society. In October 2016, seven UT faculty presented research papers during the UNICA Conference, organized by the University of Ciego de Avila in Cuba.

For more information, contact Lisa Shemon, coordinator of international programs education and outreach, at [email protected] or (813) 258-7431.

Senate Passes Balanced Budget Focused on Education, $3.4 Billion in Total Reserves

Posted on

$154 million for Florida Forever Programs, State Law Enforcement and Firefighter
Pay Raise, Historic Investments in Need and Merit-Based Student Financial Aid

The Florida Senate today passed Senate Bill 2500, the 2018-19 General Appropriations Act. This legislation forms a balanced budget for the 2018-19 fiscal year, prioritizing funding for Florida’s K–12 and higher education systems, while setting aside $3.4 billion in total reserves. The budget also makes critical investments in Florida’s environment, continues historic investments in need-based and merit-based student financial aid, and provides a pay raise for Florida’s state law enforcement officers and state firefighters, among others.

“I am pleased to see the Senate budget pass with strong bipartisan support today. The balanced budget that passed today is the product of thousands of informed decisions that reflect public testimony from our fellow citizens and input from the constituents we represent over the last several months,” said Senate President Joe Negron (R-Stuart). “From unprecedented per-student funding for K-12 education, to historic investments in need-based student financial aid for our college and university students, combined with the permanent expansion of Bright Futures, the Senate is committed to ensuring that all Florida students have an opportunity to achieve their educational goals.”

“This balanced budget ensures that we live within our means and responsibly plan for Florida’s future by setting aside ample reserves,” said Senator Rob Bradley (R-Fleming Island), Chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations. “One important focus of the budget is our state employees. We want to continue to recruit and retain top talent for our state workforce, so the Senate budget includes targeted pay raises in areas where we see high amounts of turnover, including state law enforcement and state firefighters. Additionally, we continue our commitment to faithfully implement the voter-approved Water and Land Conservation Amendment with significant investments in Florida Forever and Everglades Restoration, as well as restoration of our beaches and springs.”

Department of Education Celebrates Career and Technical Education Month

Posted on

This month, the Florida Department of Education, students and educators are celebrating Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month with the 2018 theme, “Celebrate Today and Own Tomorrow.” 

“We are proud to offer Floridians a public education system that was designed to help students of all ages and backgrounds reach their academic and career goals,” said Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart. “Many students have gained the professional skills necessary to succeed through the Career and Technical Education programs available in all of our state’s school districts and colleges. Career and Technical Education Month is a great time to highlight the tremendous opportunities available to help students get a head-start on their careers.”  

More than half a million Florida students are enrolled in secondary and postsecondary career and technical education. Programs around the state will hold activities during February to promote awareness about these educational opportunities.

“CTE programs have evolved from the ‘vocational’ programs of the past that prepared students for a single job with limited skills to today’s programs where students are prepared for a career,” said Career and Adult Education Chancellor Rod Duckworth. “Students who are enrolled in Florida’s CTE courses and programs are developing the skills to be successful in today’s workplace and those necessary for the jobs of the future.” 

In honor of CTE Month, the department recognized two students who are benefiting greatly from CTE programs.

Kaitlyn Bowman is a high school junior in the engineering magnet program at Lyman High School in Seminole County. She has been studying engineering since middle school and plans to continue after graduation. Through this program, Kaitlyn has taken coursework in engineering, digital electronics and robotics and participated in SkillsUSA, which enables CTE students to strengthen their leadership skills and compete in their chosen field. Following graduation, Kaitlyn will work toward a degree in mechanical engineering.

Nicolas Velasco graduated in 2017 from Atlantic Technical High School in Broward County, where he studied machining to build the foundation he will need to pursue a degree in mechanical and aeronautical engineering. He was selected for the prestigious Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Vocational Scholarship Program, and he is currently representing Florida in Germany, where he has begun a series of CTE internships.

Students and educators continue to experience the positive impacts associated with Career and Technical Education and Industry Certifications, as evidenced by the data points below. 

  • More than 420,000 K-12 students are enrolled in career and technical education programs in Florida’s public schools.
  • More than 52,000 students are enrolled in district technical center programs that prepare students for immediate entry into high demand, high skill employment opportunities.
  • More than 164,000 students are enrolled in the Florida College System postsecondary career and technical education programs. 
  • The number of industry certifications earned by K-12 students continues to rise.  In 2015-16, high school students earned a total of 81,970 industry certifications, and in 2016-17, that number jumped to 102,044.
  • More than 489,000 students in grades 6-12 are enrolled in one of over 1,900 registered Career and Professional Education Academies and more than 17,000 registered Career-Themed Courses.

 

To learn more about Career and Technical Education in Florida, visithttp://fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/career-tech-edu.

Department of Education Celebrates Braille Literacy Month at Woodville Elementary School

Posted on


In honor of National Braille Literacy Month, DBS Director Robert Doyle read to 40 third grade students at Woodville Elementary School in Tallahassee. Following the reading, staff from the Florida Department of Education’s (FDOE) Division of Blind Services (DBS) led the students in interactive activities that provided them with an understanding of how individuals with varying visual impairments live, work and play. The students were later presented with copies of their names written in braille and the braille alphabet.
“Literacy is the foundation for learning and the gateway to a valuable education, profitable career and a better quality of life,” DBS Director Robert L. Doyle III said. “With these building blocks, individuals with visual disabilities gain access to a plethora of opportunities that lead to independence. Florida remains at the forefront in its efforts to increase accessibility and inclusion for individuals in the blind and visually impaired community.”
Through DBS, blind and visually impaired Floridians have access to many educational, vocational, medical, social and recreational services beginning at birth. Through the efforts of FDOE’s Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services, students with visual disabilities work with ‪‎teachers to learn important skills such as reading ‪braille and how to navigate the classroom using a cane or a guide dog.
DBS is dedicated to ensuring that Floridians who are blind or visually impaired have the tools, support and opportunities to achieve success. Last year, DBS helped 854 individuals achieve successful employment and another 10,614 received assistance to become more successful in school, community and work. Through DBS’ Braille and Talking Book Library, the agency served more than 31,000 active readers with disabilities, with more than 2.4 million items (audio books, braille, large print) available for patrons.
For more information about the Division of Blind Services and their programs, visit dbs.fldoe.org.
For more information about the Florida Department of Education, visit fldoe.org.

Senate Budget Prioritizes Investments in Education, $3.4 Billion in Total Reserves

Posted on

$154 million for Florida Forever Programs, Law Enforcement Pay Raise,
Historic Investments in Need and Merit-Based Student Financial Aid

The Florida Senate Committee on Appropriations, chaired by Senator Rob Bradley (R-Fleming Island), today filed SPB 2500, a proposed budget for the 2018-19 fiscal year. The balanced budget prioritizes Florida’s K–12 and higher education systems, while setting aside $3.4 billion in total reserves. The budget also makes critical investments in Florida’s environment, continues historic investments in need-based and merit-based student financial aid, and provides a pay raise for Florida’s state law enforcement officers.
“The budget proposal we released today reflects the Senate’s strong commitment to education,” said Senate President Joe Negron (R-Stuart). “From unprecedented per-student funding for our K-12 schools, to continuing historic investments in need-based student financial aid and setting aside funds for the permanent expansion of the Bright Futures scholarship, the Senate budget recognizes the link between education and our economy and the significant return for taxpayers when we invest in Florida’s future.”
“The Senate budget ensures continued fidelity to the Constitution by fully and faithfully implementing the voter-approved Water and Land Conservation Amendment, including $154 million for Florida Forever Programs,” said Senator Bradley. “We also account for funding to combat the opioid crisis plaguing communities across our state and invest in pay raises for our state law enforcement officers. Additionally, the Senate budget reflects our commitment to sound fiscal planning by setting aside $3.4 billion in total reserves.”

Department of Education Celebrates Braille Literacy Month at Tallahassee Elementary School

Posted on

MEDIA ADVISORY

Tomorrow, January 26, Division of Blind Services (DBS) Director Robert Doyle will visit Woodville Elementary School and read to students in honor of Braille Literacy Month. Following the reading, the students will participate in hands-on activities to provide them with an understanding of how individuals with varying visual impairments live, work and play.
WHAT: Braille Literacy Month Celebration
WHEN: 9:00 am
Friday, January 26, 2018
WHERE: Woodville Elementary School
9373 Woodville Highway
Tallahassee, Florida 32305
The Division of Blind Services’ mission is to ensure blind and visually-impaired Floridians have the necessary tools, support and opportunity to achieve success. To find out more, visit dbs.fldoe.org.

Expert on Academic Freedom in Higher Education to Speak at UT on Friday, Feb. 9

Posted on

Risa Lieberwitz, professor of labor and employment law at Cornell University and general counsel of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), will speak at The University of Tampa about academic freedom in higher education on Friday, Feb. 9, at 2 p.m.
This presentation is free and open to all UT students, faculty and staff, and the public. It will be held in the Reeves Theater in the Vaughn Center on campus.
Lieberwitz will address the role of law and institutional policies in protecting the multiple aspects of academic freedom in public and private institutions of higher education — individual rights of free speech and due process and collective rights of shared governance. The presentation, “The Many Faces of Academic Freedom: Free Speech, Due Process and Shared Governance,” will also examine the following questions: What does academic freedom mean? Does it extend beyond the teaching and research? Does it include rights to due process?
Lieberwitz’s presentation will be followed by a Q-and-A session.
The event was organized by the UT Workgroup on Free Speech and Academic Freedom and is sponsored by the Office of the Provost and Faculty Senate. The presentation is the first of a series of forums and events meant to cover the principles of free speech and academic freedom for the benefit of the entire University community.
For more information, contact Marcus Arvan, UT assistant professor of philosophy and chair of the UT Workgroup on Free Speech and Academic Freedom, at [email protected].

First Lady Ann Scott Releases Educational Children’s Book Ally & Jordi’s Adventures Through Florida

Posted on

Fun and informative book helps children explore
Florida’s history, culture, environment and much more

First Lady Ann Scott, in collaboration with the Florida Department of State, today released her new educational children’s book titled Ally & Jordi’s Adventures Through Florida, which takes children on a journey across the state to explore Florida’s history, culture and environment through colorful illustrations, engaging activities and creative content.  The book will be distributed to Florida schools and libraries at no cost.
First Lady Ann Scott said, “Reading and literacy is the foundation for a student’s success in life and one of my primary goals as First Lady has been to encourage a love of reading among Florida’s students. I passed my love of reading on to my daughters Allison and Jordan, who inspired the two main characters in the book, and now I do the same with my grandchildren. Ally & Jordi’s Adventures Through Floridacombines my passion for encouraging children to read and my love for our great state. It is my hope that this book will spark a child’s imagination, inspire a passion for reading and teach them about Florida.”
Ally & Jordi’s Adventures Through Florida is a collaboration between First Lady Ann Scott and the Florida Department of State.
“It was an honor for the Florida Department of State to work with First Lady Ann Scott to produce this fantastic children’s book, which showcases fun facts and the unique history behind each part of Florida, and I am so proud of the exceedingly talented team at the department whose creativity and hard work made it possible,” said Secretary of State Ken Detzner. “Recently, the department commemorated 50 years of dedication to our mission of preserving and sharing Florida’s history and there is no better way to celebrate this milestone anniversary than by releasing Ally & Jordi’s Adventures Through Florida, a book that encompasses and propels our mission forward.”
The 52-page book is geared toward students in elementary school. A copy of Ally & Jordi’s Adventures Through Florida will be distributed to elementary school libraries and public libraries throughout the state at no-cost to them. The book is now available for preorder on Amazon for $12.00. All proceeds from book sales will benefit the Friends of the Museums of Florida History Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit citizen support organization of the Florida Department of State that supports the promotion of Florida’s history and culture.
Additional resources for teachers, parents and students are available online at AllyandJordisAdventures.com. The website includes downloadable versions of the puzzles and activities from the book, interactive puzzles that can be done online and a host of other resources to help educators bring Florida history to life in the classroom.
The First Lady will highlight her new book as she visits schools and libraries across the state.
For more information, please visit AllyandJordisAdventures.com.

Florida Prepaid Partners with Florida Department of Education to Honor Outstanding Educators

Posted on

Florida Prepaid Signs on as Presenting Sponsor
of the 2018 Florida Teacher of the Year

From left, 2018 Teacher of the Year Tammy Jerkins, State Board Member Tom Grady, State Board Member Ben Gibson, Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart, Florida Prepaid Executive Director Kevin Thompson, Florida Prepaid Director of Marketing and Communications Martha Bullock, Florida Prepaid Spokesperson Shannon Colavecchio, State Board Chair Marva Johnson, State Board Member Andy Tuck and State Board Member Michael Olenick.

At a meeting of the State Board of Education, Commissioner Stewart today recognized Florida Prepaid as the presenting sponsor of the Florida Teacher of the Year Program. The annual Florida Teacher of the Year Program celebrates one of the most important professions in the world: teaching.
“We are grateful for Florida Prepaid’s commitment to Florida’s future, and we look forward to working together toward our goal of Florida being the best place in the world to receive a great education,” said Education Commissioner Pam Stewart. “The Teacher of the Year Program is a wonderful opportunity for teachers from every school district to be recognized for their hard work and to access valuable professional development to enhance their leadership skills.”
As the presenting sponsor, Florida Prepaid will support statewide teacher leadership programs and expand the influence of Florida’s most accomplished teachers; elevate teaching as a rewarding and honored career choice and help solve the teacher shortage; and celebrate excellence in one of the most impactful professions.
“We are honored to be a part of this important program for Florida educators, whose professional mission aligns so closely with ours,” said Florida Prepaid Executive Director Kevin Thompson. “Teachers prepare Florida students academically for the rigors of a K-12 and postsecondary education, and at Florida Prepaid we are helping the families of Florida students to prepare financially for college. The result is a stronger Florida.”
Proceeds from the program support professional growth programs for teachers and strategies to enhance the impact of Florida’s best educators. That effort begins with the Teacher Roundtable, a three-day series of teacher leadership training held each year in July. Following this initial orientation to the purposeful activities of being a school-wide leader, this distinguished group has the opportunity to participate in the Florida’s Teacher Lead Network, a growing collaborative of Florida’s best teachers committed to impacting positively our state’s schools and districts.
Florida Prepaid, as well as additional sponsors, also make possible the gala, including the much-anticipated Teacher of the Year announcement. The gala is the backbone of an intentional strategy to infuse every school in Florida with exceptional teachers who are prepared to lead other educators, impacting instructional quality throughout the state. The 2018 gala is scheduled for July 13 in Orlando.
About the Florida Prepaid College Board
The Florida Prepaid College Board manages the Stanley G. Tate Florida Prepaid College Program and the Florida 529 Savings Plan. Both are tax-favored 529 college savings plans authorized by Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. In 1987 the Florida Prepaid College Program was created by the Florida Legislature and the commitment and dedication of Mr. Stanley G. Tate to provide Florida families with an affordable means to save for their children’s future college education. The first Florida Prepaid College Plans were sold in 1988, and were augmented with the addition of the Florida 529 Savings Plan in 2002. Florida Prepaid is the largest, longest running and most successful prepaid plan in the nation with more than 1.8 million Florida Prepaid College Plans purchased and more than $6.7 billion invested in Prepaid Plans by Florida families. The 529 Savings Plan has more than 60,000 active accounts with a market value of more than $525 million. To learn more about Florida Prepaid, visit myfloridaprepaid.com.
About the Florida Education Foundation
The Florida Education Foundation serves as the direct support organization for the Florida Department of Education. As a valued partner to public education, the Foundation’s mission is to invest in high achievement for every student to contribute to Florida’s globally competitive workforce. More information about the Foundation can be found at Florida Education Foundation.
To find out more information about Florida’s Teacher of the Year Program, click here.
For more information about the Florida Department of Education, visit fldoe.org.

Registration is open for FLVC’s Open Educational Resources Summit

Posted on

Florida Virtual Campus will host Florida’s first Open Educational Resources Summit from Feb. 7-8 at the Hilton Sandestin Beach & Golf Resort in Miramar Beach, Florida. FLVC is a Complete Florida Plus Program, managed by the University of West Florida Division of Research and Strategic Innovation. The summit was originally scheduled for Sept. 7-8, 2017 in Daytona Beach, but was rescheduled due to Hurricane Irma. Participants will hear from Cable Green, director of Open Education, as well as other national and campus leaders involved in defining and driving OER strategy and initiatives.
“Not even a hurricane would prevent us from being able to provide valuable OER information to state and campus leaders,” said Dr. John Opper, executive director of Distant Learning and Student Services at FLVC. “Attendees will discuss the components of a sustainable OER program, elements of a successful faculty-driven OER program, the key concerns relating to the quality of open textbooks and how to address them, and the return on investment for students and institutions.”
Open educational resources are freely accessible, openly licensed text, media and other digital assets that are useful for teaching, learning and research purposes. One state-funded resource for storing and sharing OER is the Orange Grove, an online collection of textbooks and educational materials available to Florida students for free. Using this resource, students can find textbooks for a range of courses, from English composition to oceanography to precalculus.
State and campus leaders involved in defining and driving OER strategies and initiatives in higher education, including faculty, librarians, instructional designers, administrators and other thought leaders are encouraged to attend this event. Registration is $100 per attendee. For more information regarding the summit or to register, visit flvc.org/oersummit.
About Florida Virtual Campus
The Florida Virtual Campus (FLVC), a Complete Florida Plus program, is made up of several units which provide statewide innovative educational services for Florida’s K-adult students. Working collaboratively with Florida’s 12 public universities, 28 public colleges, K-12 school districts, and other partners, FLVC provides state-funded services to help students go to college, succeed in school, prepare for career success, and thrive in life after graduation.