Florida News

CAN $700 MILLION BRIDGE THE GAP?

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Gypsy Gallardo, a St. Petersburg activist, analyzes whether Florida’s Race to the Top funding can improve the academic performance of Black public school students – and what we should do next.

BY GYPSY GALLARDO
SPECIAL TO THE FLORIDA COURIER

In Aug. 24, we learned that Florida was selected as one of only nine second-round recipients of the Race to the Top education reform grant. That means our state will receive an estimated $700 million of the total $4.35 billion set aside from President Obama’s 2009 stimulus program for educational improvement.

We did the homework

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Time to voice your opinion with millions on the line

Editor’s note: The Florida Courier staff has compiled information about the state’s public school systems, including contact information for school superintendents in the newspaper’s circulation area. Listed are school board chairs and the Blacks on the school boards. In addition, there are school board meeting dates and what a citizen needs to do to speak at a meeting.

Predominantly Black schools on state’s critical list

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Last month, the Florida Department of Education released a list of 22 schools that were put on its most critical, "intervene,’’ list. Up from 17 last year, the ranking includes schools that have received Ds or Fs in recent years.

Foster shaped world’s concept of marching bands

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Funeral scheduled Saturday for pioneer director of FAMU’s Marching 100 FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS Dr. William P. Foster, longtime director of Florida A&M’s Marching 100 and the man who revolutionized the way marching bands perform ...

McCollum toughens talk on the issue of immigration

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BY KATHLEEN HAUGHNEY
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

TALLAHASSEE – Republican gubernatorial candidate and Attorney General Bill McCollum ratcheted up the rhetoric on immigration Wednesday, trumpeting a proposal for state agencies to use a free background check on immigration status and noting his support for an Arizona-style immigration proposal.

Florida falls short for Race to the Top funds

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Education grants going to Delaware and Tennessee

BY KATHLEEN HAUGHNEY
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

TALLAHASSEE – Despite high hopes from state officials, Florida won’t receive federal money from the U.S. Department of Education’s Race to the Top grant program – at least not yet.

Crist facing last session, last chance to create legacy

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Tribe negotiations, budget show signs of waning influence

BY KATHLEEN HAUGHNEY
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

TALLAHASSEE – Gov. Charlie Crist soon will embark on his final legislative session in Tallahassee, his last chance to push through an agenda that could be his legacy when he vacates the governor’s mansion in January 2011.

Bill calls for special election to replace U.S. senators

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2 Republican lawmakers file measure allowing voters, not governor, to make decision

Crist to agencies: Don’t ask for budget increases

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BY DAVID ROYSENEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA TALLAHASSEE – State agencies had until Thursday to get their legislative budget requests to the governor’s office, and they shouldn’t ask for any increases, the governor warns. With the state faci...

Nelson looking out for seniors in health care debate

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BY WILLIAM E. GIBSON
SUN SENTINEL/MCT