Legislation and Advocacy Update

 

TEACHERS FILE SUIT TO BLOCK CLASS SIZE AMENDMENT

 

The Florida Education Association filed a lawsuit in circuit court this morning to keep the constitutional amendment modifying class size restrictions off the November ballot.

 

If approved by 60% of the voters, the amendment would significantly lower operating costs by allowing for school averages and variances in individual classrooms, rather than the absolute limits that are currently in the state’s Constitution. However, FEA argues that the amendment essentially conceals what the union sees as a failure of the Legislature to adequately fund education.

 

Meyers, Brooks, Demma & Blohm: http://www.meyerbrookslaw.com/documents/FEA%20vs%20DOS/Complaint_-_Filed_7-23-10.pdf (PDF)

 

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FINALE FOR FINALS?

 

As Florida gears up for end-of-course examinations, the nation’s premiere private university has decided to more or less eliminate them. Beginning this fall, Harvard University will not schedule final examination slots unless specifically petitioned to do so by the instructor. The use of final examinations at Harvard has declined to the point that during the spring term, only 259 of its 1,137 undergraduate-level courses scheduled finals.

 

Harvard Magazine: http://harvardmagazine.com/2010/07/bye-bye-blue-books (Web page)