August has a rhythm all its own. It signals the slow fade of summer, with the end of long pool days, late sunsets and impromptu adventures. As a kid, I remember dreading that shift. I never wanted summer to end. I wanted it to go on forever. But looking back, I realize that even when school was out, learning didn’t stop, it just changed form. And maybe, just maybe, some of the best lessons I’ve ever learned happened outside the classroom — when I wasn’t even aware I was learning.   The summer I became a turtle trapper I was […]

Today’s homeschooling families are as diverse as their reasons for choosing this path: dissatisfaction with the system, concerns about school safety, mental health, a desire for personalized learning or the flexibility and tools technology now offers. To all of you who have chosen this path, I commend your courage. When our family began homeschooling almost 30 years ago, things were very different. Most families weren’t motivated by fear, frustration or academic goals. It was a calling — something we felt deeply convicted about. We believed our children’s education and character development were our responsibility, not something to outsource to the […]

The Good News provides a monthly column with important content having to do with topics from the legal community. This month Tripp Scott attorney Bill Davell interviews fellow Tripp Scott attorneys Jeff Wood and Thomas Sternberg, education law specialists, to give us some “education” on a powerful and valuable option for Florida families. ————————————————————————————————– Bill Davell: Jeff, let’s start with the basics. What is a charter school?   Jeff Wood: The State of Florida defines charters as “non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations that have a contract or charter to provide the same educational services to students as district public schools.” Charters must […]