Florida’s Toll Lane Boom
An analysis by the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting shows that the toll lane projects began thanks to state-funded reports produced by a think tank funded in part by toll lane developers.
Standardized Testing Issues Prompt Statewide Discussion
This week alone several local school boards held serious discussions on the issue of high-stakes and high-frequency testing, which critics say improperly penalizes students and takes up valuable classroom instruction time. However, no concrete action has been taken. Most school boards are wary of being penalized by the state for being non-compliant.
More Florida Prison Guard Suspensions
As the state continues to deal with a slew of allegations of abuse and corruption in its prisons, another round of complaints have been filed and two prison guards in Florida have been suspended.
New York Times: Florida Police Aren’t Being Prosecuted For Deadly Force
The New York Times reported last week that the state of Florida is not prosecuting police when they use lethal force. In fact, according to the Times, “in the past 20 years, not a single officer in Florida has been charged with using deadly force.”
The Miami Herald Uncovers Secret Governor’s Mansion Project
Mary Ellen Klas of The Miami Herald has revealed another round of documents that shows Gov. Rick Scott’s office routinely used private email accounts, thus skirting the state’s public records laws. This time there’s a paper trail showing Scott’s people took a project out of the public eye.
Lee County Schools Becomes First District To Opt-Out of State-Mandated Testing
This week, the Lee County School board voted 3-2 to opt out of state-mandated standardized testing. The district became the first in the state, and possibly the country, to do so.