Education Issues

DeGroot Answers Critics, Offers Story Idea

Biting Back

A K-9 took a huge chunk out of Rusty Samarco's leg. The crippling bite was worse than the crime.

The Culture War Continues

A controversial character-training program was pulled from a state bill, yes. But now Broward County has to deal with it.

Hospital Index

Want to play free golf and stay at the finest hotels in the country?

Hollywood's Got the Bends

ArtsPark Village puts the city at the mercy of developers

It’s All About the Hamiltons

ArtsPark Village puts the city at the mercy of developers

Spinning Straw

Not much happening at Hollywood's HART -- except non-bill-paying developers continue to get city bucks

New Study: Many Florida Children Left Behind

Flickr.com The Hamilton, Ohio school where George W. Bush signed "No Child Left Behind" in 2001 has a statue to commemorate the glorious day. A new report says there is a more than 50% gap in reading proficiency between Black and White teenagers in America, and that only 57% of "historicall ... More >>

Bangin' in L-Dub

A half mile from Lake Worth's trendy eateries, a war is under way. With guns and cyber-graffiti.

Goy Gevalt

In Her Shoes is pretty but useless, a Prada with a broken heel

Spell, Check

In Her Shoes is pretty but useless, a Prada with a broken heel

What Really Happens in the Ladies Room

If We Are Women is an entertaining culture-clash coffee klatch for everybody. Honest.

Culture Wars

Follow this leader and your kids will obey their masters and join lockstep with God. Or else.

Lighting the Way to Literacy

BookFest

Planned Parenthood Opens Two New Clinics in Broward to Meet Growing Demand

Photo by Judith Selzer Planned Parenthood CEO Lillian Tamayo makes it official in Pembroke Pines​Douglas Marshall, director of business development for Planned Parenthood of South Florida and the Treasure Coast, has no shortage of distressing accounts of patients he has helped. After the ri ... More >>

Let’s Talk About Sex (Education)

Photo by Judith Selzer Planned Parenthood CEO Lillian Tamayo makes it official in Pembroke Pines​Douglas Marshall, director of business development for Planned Parenthood of South Florida and the Treasure Coast, has no shortage of distressing accounts of patients he has helped. After the ri ... More >>

Let's Talk About Sex Education

Photo by Judith Selzer Planned Parenthood CEO Lillian Tamayo makes it official in Pembroke Pines​Douglas Marshall, director of business development for Planned Parenthood of South Florida and the Treasure Coast, has no shortage of distressing accounts of patients he has helped. After the ri ... More >>

Plans for Land Near Hollywood's Young Circle Now in Disarray; Maybe That's a Good Thing?

Flickr: apricocoYoung Circle in Hollywood; the WSG project was to wrap around the Home tower, the tallest building on the right.​It appears that nobody in Hollywood government has a clear idea of where the city stands in its efforts to improve a big piece of property at the heart of downtown.At th ... More >>

Educating Maria

On L.A.'s Skid Row, a generational war over how to teach the American children of illegal immigrants

South Florida Universities Rank Poorly in U.S. News' Best Colleges 2011

Flickr: Brady DillsworthMany college students in South Florida aren't nearly this happy.​Welcome to South Florida! You're now living in a state where the babes are beautiful but the students are lost.U.S. News & World Report recently released its Best Colleges 2011 list, which rates the top 75 ... More >>

School Grading System Ignores one Problem: Florida Is Still Dumber Than South Dakota

He's smiling because he thinks he's going to learn something.​Good news: According to our new grading system, Florida's public schools are doing better than ever! "D" schools are "B" schools! "C" schools are "A" schools! Florida is an educational dynamo!Bad news: Our high school seniors are totall ... More >>

Humiliated for Bad Grades: Child Abuse?

Courtesy Fox 13 News​Here's an instructive tale from Tampa, Florida, where a mother has taken an admirable interest in her son's academic performance.Ronda Holder, 33, was recently confronted by the grim possibility that her son, James Mond III, might follow in her footsteps and fail to complete h ... More >>

Hello, SB 736. Goodbye, Teacher Tenure

Well, I hope Wendy Portillo is pleased with herself.Three years ago, the WPB teacher got on the bad side of one bad mutha named Melissa Barton, when she abused Mrs. Barton's autistic child in the classroom. After a year of paid leave, Portillo compounded the offense by returning to work and allegedl ... More >>

Rick Scott's Education Adviser Caught Up in Cheating Scandal

​Despite the rising contempt for Gov. Rick Scott, this one kind of flew under the radar. With the exception of the Florida Center For Investigative Reporting, our local media outlets seem determined not to notice that the credibility of Gov. Scott's education adviser has been grossly undermined by ... More >>

2,026 Broward Seniors Fail Last Chance At FCAT

​I can't find any stats on how many high school seniors attend school in Broward County, but since the school district counts 257,000 students in all thirteen grades, figure it's less than 20,000. With that number of seniors, it might be okay that over 2,000 seniors failed to pass the FCAT -- the ... More >>

Tax Money Siphoned Off To Religious Schools That Champion Theocracy

Jesus is big in Florida.​At the moment, the only proper school voucher program in Florida is the McKay Scholarship Program, which caters to special needs kids. (A proposal for a more general voucher program was struck down in the legislature six years ago.) But if you've got a non-special child, n ... More >>

FCAT Results: A Bunch of Broward and Palm Beach Third-Graders Still Can't Read

hepburnpage.comProbably how the kids are reading these days.​Chances are, 17 percent of third-graders in Broward County and 18 percent in Palm Beach County couldn't read that headline, according to the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test results released today.Only around 80 percent of the young ... More >>

Hallandale Neighbors in a Schvitz About Proposed New Charter School

Deutsch​Around 100 Hallandale Beach residents who live near the Hallandale Jewish Center have signed a petition opposing the opening of a new K-8 charter school on the site. The school would be run by the Ben Gamla Charter School, which already has locations in Hollywood and Sunrise.Broward Bulldo ... More >>

Third-Graders Who Bombed The FCAT Still Going On To Fourth Grade

hepburnpage.comWelcome to fourth grade!​According to state education rules, around 3,350 third-graders in Broward County and 2,400 in Palm Beach County are supposed to be repeating the grade due to their FCAT reading scores -- which they won't, thanks to a few "loopholes."By state standards, t ... More >>

Pembroke Pines Graduates are First to Spend Entire Lives in Charter Schools

Florida Trend Pembroke Pines Charter High School​Here in the land of educational neglect, of failing test scores and pet projects, where school districts sell advertising and diploma mills cheat the cheaters, there's a wind of change a-comin'. It's the unmistakable force of privatization.Lobbying ... More >>

Broward and Palm Beach Schools Identified in Possible FCAT Cheating

caribeexams.org​Schools in the Broward and Palm Beach school districts have been asked to determine whether cheating occurred on Florida's Comprehensive Assessment Test in their schools, according to the Florida Department of Education.Deborah Higgins, an information specialist for the Florida Dep ... More >>

Nan Rich: Florida Republicans Only Take Federal Funds if it Promotes "Extreme Agenda"

thoughttheater.comThis nice chastity belt is apparently a better investment than preventing child abuse​Florida's Senate Democratic Leader Nan Rich isn't too happy today about the state's Republican leadership rejecting $50 million in federal funds to protect people like at-risk kids and senior ci ... More >>

UPDATED: Joe Biden's Brother Is President and "P.T. Barnum" for SoFla Charter School Chain

pr.comFrank Biden (right) is president of the charter chain.UPDATE: The Palm Beach County School Board's vote on three new Mavericks schools has been postponed. Read more after the jump.When owners of a for-profit charter school chain go before the Palm Beach County School Board tomorrow night seeki ... More >>

Mavericks High Charter Schools Not Accredited

maverickshigh.comMavericks High in Homestead​Records show that the Mavericks in Education Florida charter schools, which have a high-profile lobbyist and cheerleader in Frank Biden, are not accredited high schools. This means their graduates may have trouble playing college sports or receiving fed ... More >>

Mavericks Schools Founded by Former Head of Controversial Ohio Charter Schools

maverickshigh.comMavericks High in Homestead​Mavericks in Education Florida, the Fort Lauderdale-based charter school chain promoted by Frank Biden, has ties to another for-profit charter school company that has been highly controversial in Ohio.Mark Thimmig, the founding CEO of Mavericks, is the ... More >>

Frank Biden Now Listed on State Docs as Charter School President

pr.comBiden is president of the for-profit company.​It's official. Frank Biden, brother of the man second in line for the White House, is listed on state documents as president of the for-profit Mavericks in Education Florida charter school chain based in Fort Lauderdale.Last month, when New Times ... More >>

Palm Beach School Officials "Concerned" About Mavericks Charter Schools Track Record

maverickshigh.comMavericks in Homestead graduated very few seniors.​Palm Beach County school officials are taking a closer look at the academic track record of Mavericks in Education Florida, the local for-profit charter school chain headed by Frank Biden. They have not been thrilled with their fi ... More >>

A Mavericks High Success Story

maverickshigh.comSomething is different in Kissimmee.​For weeks, the Pulp has brought you news of the academic struggles at Mavericks in Education Florida, a local for-profit charter school chain headed by Frank Biden. But among the eight Mavericks high schools in the state, one stands out in star ... More >>

Mavericks Charges Charter Schools $350K in Rent, Plus Fees

Facebook.comBiden at a recent Mavericks graduation in Fort Lauderdale.​When a private company aims to profit from a taxpayer-funded public school, the extra dough must come from somewhere. For Mavericks in Education Florida, the charter school chain headquartered in West Palm Beach, leasing agreem ... More >>

Miami Sen. Bullard Proposes Bill to Make Charter Schools More Transparent

flsenate.govBullard wants charter schools to divulge fees.​If you can't stop the for-profit charter school bonanza in Florida, at least let the public see how much dough private education companies are making. That's the basic message behind the bill Miami state Sen. Larcenia Bullard filed yesterd ... More >>

SoFla Charter School Connections to Tallahassee

maverickshigh.comMavericks is just one example of the booming charter school business.​The booming business of charter schools in South Florida is no accident. Local charter school operators such as Mavericks in Education Florida and Charter Schools USA have ties to powerful politicians in South F ... More >>

Mavericks High Schools Hope to Profit From Education – But at What Cost?

maverickshigh.comMavericks is just one example of the booming charter school business.​The booming business of charter schools in South Florida is no accident. Local charter school operators such as Mavericks in Education Florida and Charter Schools USA have ties to powerful politicians in South F ... More >>

Federal "Race to the Top" Funds Used to Build More Florida Charter Schools in Poor Areas

maverickshigh.comFederal funding will expand charters in poor neighborhoods.​This week's cover story about Mavericks in Education Florida explores the pitfalls of a for-profit charter school company that promises to help at-risk kids. Florida has been especially friendly to charter schools, a ... More >>

New Times Behind the Scenes: How We Made This Week's Cover

This week's cover story dove into the pitfalls of Mavericks High Schools -- a for-profit charter school company that hands out promises of aiding at-risk kids. Check out our behind-the-scenes look at how illustrator extraordinaire Peter Ryan made this week's cover.

The Charter Schools Agenda in Tallahassee

Scott loves charter schools.​Last year, the extensive ties between charter school advocates and Florida state politicians proved fruitful. New laws expanded "high-performing" charter schools and created virtual charter schools. Gov. Rick Scott named charter advocates to his education transition te ... More >>

Mavericks High Charter Schools Make News in New Orleans

maverickshigh.comMavericks makes news in the Big Easy.​Florida has a habit of exporting its public policies to other states, where they spread like cold sores on a drunken Himmarshee night. Grading schools and teachers based on test scores, expanding vouchers and charters schools -- the nation has ... More >>

Principal at Mavericks High in Palm Springs Not Certified to Teach in Florida

maverickshigh.comMavericks High in Palm Springs.​The principal of the Mavericks High charter school in Palm Springs is not certified to teach in Florida, according to the State Department of Education.Thomas Lockett runs a school that serves roughly 500 at-risk students and promises to help them e ... More >>

Leon County School Board Approves New Mavericks High School

maverickshigh.comMavericks High in Homestead.​Perhaps the people in Tallahassee don't read much on the interwebs. Or maybe they don't mind entrusting their kids' education to a team of real estate developers. Whatever the reason, the Leon County School Board has decided to approve a new Mavericks ... More >>

Mavericks High Assistant Principal Was Investigated for Misconduct in Kissimmee

maverickshigh.comBrandon was hired at Mavericks High in Palm Springs.​Here's the leadership team at Mavericks High School in Palm Springs: Principal Thomas Lockett is not certified to teach in Florida and has a background in pharmaceutical sales. Assistant Principal Tisa Brandon came to Palm Sprin ... More >>

Broward County Has Three of Florida's Eight Lowest-Scoring Middle Schools

​The Sun Sentinel had a cheerful story today about the state's new education rankings -- "Broward Schools land at top of state rankings," read the online headline of the story, which notes that the county has three high schools in the top 20.But what that story omits is that the county is also hom ... More >>