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Gary Fineout - page 24

Gary Fineout has 257 articles published.

Florida House poised to make some changes to state testing

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Florida legislators are prepared to scale back the number of tests given to students, but they remain opposed to any large changes that could undo the signature program put in place by former Gov. Jeb Bush. The House is expected this week to pass a wide-ranging bill that places limits on the number of standardized tests that could be given in public schools. The legislation also would allow school districts to move up the start of the school year to…

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Rick Scott headed to California to dog Jerry Brown’s ‘tax and spend administration’

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Gov. Rick Scott is heading to the West Coast. Scott is planning an April trip as part of his effort to lure businesses from other states. The Republican governor sent a letter Thursday to shipping companies. Scott is urging them to shift their business to Florida after labor disputes in California ports. Scott’s letter says he will be in Los Angeles on April 12 and April 13. His letter also takes shots at what he calls California Gov. Jerry Brown’s “tax and…

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FSU asks judge to throw out lawsuit from Jameis Winston accuser

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Florida State University late Monday asked a federal judge to throw out a lawsuit filed by a former student who said top NFL prospect Jameis Winston sexually assaulted her back in 2012. The woman filed a lawsuit against the university board of trustees in January, asserting that university officials had knowledge of her alleged sexual harassment and discrimination by the star quarterback and this created a hostile educational environment for her. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages, including reimbursement for tuition,…

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Budget battle may doom tax cuts and school spending

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Their session only days old, the Florida House and Senate appeared already to be on a collision course Thursday over how to balance the state budget. State Sen. Tom Lee, a Brandon Republican and the Senate budget chief, warned Thursday that the potential loss of more than $1 billion in federal aid for hospitals is forcing the Florida Senate to reconsider big-ticket spending items. Lee acknowledged that Gov. Rick Scott’s push for nearly $700 million in tax cuts is in…

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A look at the 5 biggest issues for the Florida Legislature

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Florida’s GOP-controlled Legislature kicks off its annual session Tuesday, one that could be consumed by plenty of high-profile issues — but lacking the intensity that comes during an election-year session. Both House Speaker Steve Crisafulli and Senate President Andy Gardiner have their own agendas. But it appears the focus over the next 60 days may be more about how Gov. Rick Scott and various special interest groups fare during the weeks to come. Here then are the five biggest questions…

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Florida legislators under pressure to alter school testing

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For nearly 2 million Florida public school students, the next few weeks could be a crucial moment in their education. The state is undertaking one of the biggest changes in its classrooms since former Gov. Jeb Bush pushed through his signature A+ school grading system nearly 16 years ago. Students will switch this spring to a new test based largely on Common Core standards, and it’s a test that most will do on a computer instead of paper. What happens…

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Legislature defends new districts

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The Republican-controlled Florida Legislature on Friday called on the state’s highest court to keep intact new congressional districts that state legislators drew up in August. In a lengthy legal brief, attorneys for the Legislature insisted that the new districts, which will not be utilized until the 2016 elections, meet new standards intended to eliminate maps drawn for partisan gain. The Florida Supreme Court is scheduled next year to decide an ongoing lawsuit challenging the districts. But the attorneys also argued…

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