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Extra attention for laggard readers

Today is the 15th day of the 60-day session.

A bill to ramp up reading instruction to struggling students in middle school moved through the House Education K-20 Committee Monday.

Under the bill (HB 901), an individual plan would be prepared for any sixth-grade student who scored below grade level reading on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test in fifth grade.

More than 81,000 fifth-graders last year - about 42 percent of all who took the FCAT - scored below grade level on the reading portion.

Middle schools where fewer than 75 percent of the students in grades 6, 7 and 8 read at grade level would have to come up with plans to make reading a top priority and follow teaching tenets supported by the federal No Child Left Behind law.

The legislation also directs the state Department of Education to review the reading and language arts programs offered in middle schools and make recommendations for improving the courses and to conduct a general study on improving middle schools.

Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, the legislation's sponsor, said the bill adds "focus and rigor to academics in the middle grades."

Many people who want to legally change their name would have to send their fingerprints to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement under a bill the House Judiciary Committee approved.

The bill would also require people seeking name changes to disclose past arrests and criminal charges, whether they were convicted or not.

Exceptions would exist for women changing their name because of marriage or divorce, and for adoptions.

The FDLE, which favors the measure, says it would get rid of the fingerprints if the person hasn't been arrested, but file them otherwise.

The idea is that a background check meant to find criminals or terrorists shouldn't be foiled simply if "Mohamed Atta wants to come in and change his name to John Smith," said Rep. Dudley Goodlette, R-Naples.

Currently, people seeking a name change must say only whether they've been convicted of a felony, and don't have to supply a fingerprint. Judges can approve requests without background checks.

Apartment complexes and landlords couldn't bar tenants from flying American flags under most conditions under a measure approved by the House Judiciary Committee.

The bill results from a case in Boynton Beach where apartment complex residents were told to remove a flag in their window or keep it behind blinds. The tenants sued. After the media reported the case, the complex reversed its position.

But Rep. Adam Hasner, R-Delray Beach, said the law should make it clear that apartment dwellers have the right to fly the American flag. Condominium dwellers and homeowners association residents already have a law spelling out such a right.

- ASSOCIATED PRESS

- For information about legislation, call 1-800-342-1827 or 1-850-488-4371 toll-free during business hours.

The Legislature's official Web site: www.leg.state.fl.us