Because parents know it takes a village.
by Basilisa Perkins, mother of 2 and public health educator in Broward County, FL. Advocate for her girls and, at times, homeschool teacher to her daughter with special needs. We found an at-home early intervention program just after she started chemotherapy. Outside of her medical needs, we knew Katie would need a lot of help. Unlike her older […]
Earlier this month, The Leadership Conference Education Fund and Anzalone Liszt Grove Research gave us updates on a poll of Black and Latino parents’ views on how America is doing in educating our kids. Very few surprises in the sentiments: still disparities and major gaps in opportunities. The “New Educational Majority” (in other words, us), remain disappointed […]
“Mom went to work the 3am shift and thought her boys had gone to school,” Principal Sheryl Mosley tells me. “One of the brothers showed, the other didn’t. I always check up on them because of her work schedule. The third-grade brother said he thought his brother was behind him on his way to school, […]
Update to our recent post Parents and Kids are Counting on Florida to be Brave. Florida is plugging away at creating our Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan with a September deadline in its view. Our recent post implored Florida to be brave and not succumb to lower standards. Jeffery Solocheck of the Tampa Bay Times shares some insights […]
It is done! The big education budget decisions are made and will now be put in motion. Some of us are happy, and some…not so much. Florida’s teaching profession will continue to suffer because salary raises are not going to happen this year. But families who have been locked in failing schools have new hope to break free from chronic underperformance. Charter […]
Today, lawmakers in our state capital have to finalize the $83 billion state budget. Of that $20.4 billion goes to education, up from $20.2 billion last year. This is a major disappointment to districts and the senate who worked hard convince legislators to increase per pupil funding. Florida is about half of the national average, and this year’s $24 increase […]
A few months ago I got really annoyed and decided to go out on a mission. I wanted to find schools in our state who were doing it. Schools that are somehow able to educate kids at a high level regardless of their very real life circumstances which should hinder them from academically achieving as much as […]
I’m so mad I could spit nails. Today US News and World Report released the 2017 Ranking on Top Public High Schools. And all of a sudden every one is all aglow about charters dominating the list. Listen, I’m all for charter schools. I’m all for ANY quality school that meets my child’s needs and believes they can […]
by Lane Wright, editor at Education Post, a nonprofit fostering better conversation for better education. If there’s one thing that everyone can agree on in the case of the Opt-Out moms versus the state of Florida, it’s that Michelle Rhea’s daughter can read just fine. Last year, Florida education officials said she needed to be […]
The first round of ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act) plans have been submitted to the feds. Florida is not one of them, opting to wait until the fall along with more than 30 other states. So far, every state’s plan looks different due to the new choice-buffet for student performance measurement. And, honestly, it’s making me crazy-anxious. Education Week covers […]