Monthly Archives: March 2014

The Florida Legislature continues to debate the expansion of the state’s tax credit scholarship program.  With large Republican majorities in both houses, the proposal is certain to succeed if a difference of opinion between the presiding officers of the two … Continue reading →

The Florida Legislature is nearing a collision between the House and Senate on a plan to dramatically expand the Tax Credit Scholarship Program that provides support for students from families of modest means to attend private schools.  The expansion would … Continue reading →

From my meeting with 8th – 12th graders at Orlando Science Schools on Friday:

Update (Wednesday 9:30 am):  I will confess that I find the language of the amendment somewhat confusing, and I may have sold it short yesterday.  So here’s the language right from the amendment (627080) that was adopted at the Senate Education … Continue reading →

From PayScale.com‘s 2014 College Salary Report: Starting salary for a new bachelor’s degree grad in Physics:  $53,100 Starting salary for a new bachelor’s degree grad in Mathematics:  $49,400 Starting salary for a new teacher in Florida:  less than $40,000 What … Continue reading →

The issue (from the Executive Summary in the agenda materials for the March 18 meeting of the SBOE): Florida Statutes require the State Board of Education to approve areas of critical teacher shortage. State Board Rule requires the Commissioner to recommend … Continue reading →

Update (Friday evening):  Here is a letter to the editor in Saturday morning’s Orlando Sentinel written in response to a story on the computer programming-for-physical education substitution in SB 790. Senate Bill 790 was originally filed with a provision that would have … Continue reading →

Yes, I actually sent this letter to Governor Scott this morning… Dear Governor Scott: I appreciate your mention in today’s State of the State Address of the importance of our universities educating students in fields where they can get great … Continue reading →

The American Physical Society’s Forum on Education, which I presently chair, publishes a newsletter three times per year that includes research and position articles in addition to announcements.  The Spring 2014 issue, which was recently released, features articles on online … Continue reading →