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Gov. DeSantis praises Florida’s selective civics, history education as exam scores rise

Gov. Ron DeSantis Thursday announced that Florida’s civics and history education scores have risen significantly since he put an emphasis on it in schools and began cracking down on versions he calls “distorted.”

At Crooms Academy of Information Technology, a magnet school in Sanford, DeSantis and Education Commissioner Manny Diaz laid out results of 2022 school civics literacy and history exams that showed a 5-point increase from the previous year, to a passing rate of almost 70%. Students’ passing rate in history went up by 2 points.

The improvements, the Governor and Commissioner said, were across the board and in key student demographic groups, including those who are economically disadvantaged and those with learning disabilities.

New fiscal year, new budget, new … state dessert? Here’s Part 2 of a list of laws taking effect Friday

Starting Friday, state workers will get a 5.4% pay increase, and some workers, such as state attorneys, public defenders, prison guards and law enforcement officers will see even higher pay bumps.

It’s part of the $109 billion budget that takes effect Friday, the start of the new fiscal year. It includes $24.3 billion for K-12 schools, $1.7 billion more than last year, or $8,143 per student, about $385 more. That includes $800 million to boost teacher salaries, an increase of $250 million.

Here’s Part 2 of our look at the new laws taking effect Friday (find Part 1 here):

SB 454: Increases the daily payment for former or retired Commissioners assigned to temporary duty by the Florida Commission on Offender Review from $100 to $200.

Gov. DeSantis to recommend Ray Rodrigues to lead State University System

Gov. Ron DeSantis will recommend Sen. Ray Rodrigues to be the new Chancellor for the Florida University System.

At a Thursday meeting of the Board of Governors, current Chancellor Marshall Criser announced he will retire after eight years on the job. City & State Florida editor Jim Rosica first reported the news.

The Governor on Thursday had a press conference in Sanford scheduled the same day the Board of Governors met in Sanford. But he did not formally announce any news about who should succeed Criser.

Rodrigues, an Estero Republican and longtime budget manager for Florida Gulf Coast University, chose not to run for re-election after serving just two years in the Senate. Halfway through the qualification week, news broke Rodrigues would instead likely take a position within DeSantis’ administration. Lee County Republican Party Chair Jonathan Martin filed to succeed Rodrigues in the Senate and faces only write-in opposition.

FWC sets new wildlife grants goals, seeks public’s help

It’s not a lot in terms of the state’s size and the vast need, but Florida has $2.5 million annually to give out through the State Wildlife Grants Program. Where that money goes, why it’s sent, and what’s done with it is a collaboration between the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the public.

The idea behind these grants is to intervene and prevent a species from falling onto the federal threatened or endangered lists. The money is also to help species management that might not be addressed by other conservation efforts.

“We are reaching the end of our current five-year cycle and as is typical, we circle back around and we look to see what revisions can be made to better achieve the goals of the program,” said Thomas Kuhn, an FWC wildlife and landscape biologist in Panama City who led a virtual meeting on the issue.