Articles in Category: 'Eric Smith'

By: By Kathleen Haughney The News Service of Florida | Posted: January 26, 2011 3:55 AM

Teacher layoffs. Few if any electives. School supplies that last a school only a few months.

 
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By: Kenric Ward | Posted: December 7, 2010 3:30 PM

Florida officials on Tuesday touted record numbers of high schools earning "A" and "B" grades last year, meaning more money for top-rated campuses under the state's reward systems.
 
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By: Kevin Derby | Posted: November 30, 2010 4:05 AM
 
At least one prominent Florida Democrat is encouraging state CFO Alex Sink, who narrowly lost to Rick Scott in the gubernatorial election, to remain open to making another bid for office.
 
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By: By Kathleen Haughney The News Service of Florida | Posted: August 25, 2010 4:05 AM

Florida is set to collect $700 million for its schools, the U.S. Department of Education announced Tuesday, naming the Sunshine State one of 10 winners in the second round of its $4.35 billion Race to the Top competition.

 
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By: Josh Hafenbrack News Service of Florida | Posted: August 12, 2010 4:05 AM
 
Gov. Charlie Crist’s pitch was simple: Florida is united this time, from school boards to unions, in its bid for up to $700 million in federal education stimulus funds.
 
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By: David Royse News Service of Florida | Posted: July 26, 2010 4:05 AM

The Department of Education continues to press its testing contractor for penalties for late delivery of test scores, adding more than $11 million on Friday to what it says NCS Pearson must pay for damages.

 
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By: By Kathleen Haughney The News Service of Florida | Posted: June 25, 2010 4:05 AM
The Florida Department of Education is asking for more than $3 million in damages from contractor NCS Pearson over a delay in reporting the results of the state's standardized exam, the FCAT.

“I fully realize that assessing these damages does not completely make up for the significant inconveniences being felt by students and their families, teachers and school administrators, but it does show very clearly that we are holding Pearson accountable for their failure to uphold the terms of the contract,” state Education Commissioner Eric Smith said in a release Thursday.
 
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By: Michael Peltier News Service of Florida | Posted: June 17, 2010 12:05 AM
A pair of Senate Democrats Wednesday called on the State Board of Education to investigate delays in the scoring of the state’s FCAT tests and its contract with test assessment company NCS Pearson.

But the board’s chairman said Wednesday that the board’s own investigation shows proper procurement procedures were followed, the company has taken responsibility and has gone a long way toward mending fences over delays that jeopardize its $250 million contract with the state.
 
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By: Kenric Ward | Posted: April 21, 2010 12:09 PM

Gov. Charlie Crist's veto of Senate Bill 6 didn't do Florida any favors scholastically or economically, business leaders say.

"We're very disappointed. It's critical that our students are on the cutting edge. Doing the same thing simply nets the same results," said Nancy Stephens, executive director of the Manufacturers Association of Florida.

"We need to challenge our students and we can't allow teachers to be complacent either."

 
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By: Kenric Ward | Posted: April 20, 2010 12:01 PM

Gov. Charlie Crist assailed fellow Republicans for ramming Senate Bill 6 through the Legislature like Democrats ran health-care reform through Congress.

"Quite frankly it reminds me of what happened with the health-care bill in Washington where members of my party criticized the Democrats for sort of jamming something down their throat, and then here, about a month later after that happened, the very same thing happens here in education," Crist said after vetoing the teacher performance-pay bill.

 
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