FLORIDA’S K-12 SCHOOLS SHIFT TO ONLINE EDUCATION, BUT STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND TEACHERS MAY NOT BE PREPARED

From Florida Phoenix

By Issac Morgan March 24, 2020

As the coronavirus pandemic expands in Florida with more than 1,400 infections and several deaths, K-12 schools are resuming education through distance learning technology until at least April 15. READ MORE

SCHOLASTIC OFFERS FREE ONLINE COURSES AS SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY SHUT DOWN DUE TO CORONAVIRUS

From The Hill

BY REBECCA KLAR - 03/16/20

Scholastic offers free online courses as schools across the country shut down due to coronavirus. The company's digital learning hub is accessible on all devices, including smartphones, and requires no sign-up, the company announced Friday.  READ MORE

FLORIDA STUDENTS WON’T BE BACK IN CLASSROOMS UNTIL AT LEAST APRIL 15 AND WON’T HAVE TO TAKE STANDARDIZED TESTS

From SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL |MAR 17, 2020

By VICTORIA BALLARD and BROOKE BAITINGER

Florida’s public school students won’t have to take standardized tests this year, and they’ll remain out of school buildings until at least April 15 because of coronavirus.

Gov. Ron DeSantis canceled Pre-K and K-12 testing, such as the Florida Standards Assessment. At a news conference in Tallahassee, he said that even if disruptions from the coronavirus have died down by next month, the state still won’t hold testing.  READ MORE

TURNAROUND SCHOOLS, STANDARDIZED TESTING BILL PASSES HOUSE

From FLAPOL

By Sarah Mueller  March 9, 2020

House lawmakers passed legislation that gives low-performing schools less time to turn themselves around. The bill advanced out of the lower chamber by a 105-11. It heads now to the Senate. The bill (HB 7079), sponsored by Rep. Vance Aloupis, helps the state achieve the goal of testing students less and...READ MORE