The Rotunda
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Gov. Ron DeSantis says he wants to give teachers a bonus of more than $9,000 in the coming year. It's his second big education announcement, after an executive order last week to eliminate Common Core standards from Florida schools.The proposed bonus is welcome news for cash-strapped teachers who sometimes dip into their own pockets to purchase school supplies. However, some have warned that it might be a massive and costly overhaul to remove elements of academic standards known as Common Core from the Florida Standards.
TAMPA, Fla. – A new study shows kids who attend Pre-Kindergarten programs do better in reading, writing and math as they get older than those who weren't enrolled. The Duke University study tracked the progress of students who'd been in North Carolina's pre-school program and showed gains in every group, no matter their household income, through eighth grade.
THE ROTUNDA – Tampa Bay Times political editor Adam Smith explains his decision to jump from journalism to public relations during what he thinks is an unusually slow time in Florida politics. Also, after Secretary of State Mike Ertel resigned after photos of him in blackface was leaked to the press, Gov. Ron DeSantis picks Tampa Bay judge Laurel Moore Lee to fill the vacancy. However former Leon County Supervisor of Elections Ion Sancho tells Gomes why he thinks the replacement should’ve been another elections supervisor. Gomes also interviews Coral Springs Commissioner Dan Daley about his bid for House District 97.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida's new elections chief was forced to resign on Thursday after just three weeks on the job, when a newspaper published pictures of him appearing in blackface. Secretary of State Michael Ertel resigned just hours after testifying before a state legislative committee about elections lawsuits following Florida's controversial midterms.The Tallahassee Democrat published photos of him at a Halloween party in 2005, dressed in blackface, wearing earrings, a New Orleans Saints bandanna and fake breasts, under a shirt with "Katrina Victim" written on it.
Episode 162: Changing Course Featured
THE ROTUNDA – former Republican Gov. Bob Martinez said Florida’s environment has been neglected for eight years and he's excited about the swift change of course with Gov. Ron DeSantis. Martinez also shares his concerns with seeing Florida’s public education system being starved of resources in favor of competition and suggests ways for more equitable reforms.
