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Gov. Scott signs bill to cut school testing

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Gov. Rick Scott signed HB 7069 Tuesday, reducing the number of tests Florida public school students take as well as making changes to teacher evaluations and school year start dates. “This legislation reduces the number of tests our students take, including the 11th grade English Language Arts test that we eliminated this year through an Executive Order in February,” Scott said in a news release. “I agree with many teachers and parents who say we have too many tests, and…

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John Stemberger attempts to explain the law on gay adoption to Florida lawmakers

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Last week, the Florida House struck down the state’s 38-year ban on same-sex adoptions. The Christian Right in Tallahassee has vowed ever since to make sure that such a bill never makes it to Rick Scott‘s desk. On Thursday the House Health & Human Services Committee passed a proposed bill that would allow private child-placing agencies to refuse an adoption if the placement violates their religious or moral convictions. Florida Politics Christine Jordan-Sexton reported that Committee Chairman Jason Brodeur said the bill was…

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Marion County Republican Party condemns Dennis Baxley, two other lawmakers for vote on gay adoption

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The Marion County Republican Executive Committee on Monday night approved a resolution criticizing House Republicans Dennis Baxley, Charlie Stone and Marlene O’Toole for their votes in support of an amendment last week that would repeal the 38-year ban on same-sex adoption in Florida. Committee members said that the three representatives’ support of the measure was a direct rebuke to the Republican Party of Florida platform, and they’re calling on the lawmakers to not only rescind their vote immediately, but to…

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House Education Committee talks school accountability reform

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The House Education Committee spent about an hour Monday discussing and approving an overhaul of Florida’s testing-focused school accountability program. The measure was approved on a unanimous vote. Read a staff analysis here. Chair Marlene O’Toole said last week she wanted to get the measure to the floor as quickly as possible and Monday committee members backed their chair and moved the proposal along. Representatives of the hospitality industry had couched their objections to a potentially earlier start date for…

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