Interim Committee Week #3: October 21-25, 2019

After being home for the weekend, the Florida Legislature will be back in Tallahassee for Interim Committee Week #3. It looks like teacher compensation and professional development will remain center stage. The House Pre-K Innovation subcommittee will continue to investigate health concerns for student athletes.

The Florida Department of Education will continue on its “Listening Tour” to get feedback regarding the new standards revision in response to Governor DeSantis’ Executive Order 19-32 to eliminate “the last vestiges of Common Core.” Each stop is scheduled for 5:30-6:30. The public will have a chance to give comments (usually restricted to 2 minutes each). More details here.  These are the stops for next week:

• October 21 – St. Johns County, Liberty Pines Academy
• October 22 – Hamilton County, Hamilton County High School
• October 23 – Walton County, Walton High School

Here is the schedule for  Week #3:

Monday, October 21

• No Education Meetings scheduled

Tuesday, October 22

1:00 PM: House Education

• Overview of Florida’s System of Teacher Professional Development The House Education Committee appears to be following the lead of the Senate Education Committee, who heard this presentation last week. In that committee, Senator Diaz hinted at concerns that teachers with alternate certificates might need more professional development to get them “up to speed.”

Wednesday, October 23

3 PM: House PreK-12 Innovation Subcommittee 

• Continuing discussion on health concerns for student athletes.
  Presentations by OPPAGA and Dr. Kris D. Stowers, M.D. This continues the Innovatoion Committee’s conversation from Week #1.

Thursday, October 24

9:30 AM PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee

• School District Presentations and Discussion on Florida Classroom Teacher Compensation:
  Scheduled panelists include:
  Mr. Larry Moore, Superintendent Jackson County Public Schools
  Dr. Debra Pace, Superintendent Osceola County Public Schools
  Mr. Tim Forson, Superintendent St. Johns County Public Schools
  Dr. Todd Bowden, Superintendent Sarasota County Public Schools

Neither the Senate Education Committee nor the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education are scheduled to meet.

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