Florida Virtual: Virtual school enrollment has shifted from the state’s online provider to district franchises following a legislative funding change. Tallahassee Democrat. FLVS sues K12 Inc. for infringing on the Florida Virtual trademark and causing market confusion. Education Week.
Career Ed: JetBlue agrees to partner with three Polk County high schools, mentoring students interested in aviation and allowing them access to the national airlines’ training facilities in Orlando. The Ledger.
STEM: Local civic and business groups are working on outfitting Sarasota schools with technology to help promote STEM education. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Digital learning: A $20,000 grant from the Comcast Foundation will kick-start a new digital learning initiative for young people in Sarasota County. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Common Core: The Foundation for Florida’s Future and Foundation for Excellence in Education, influential supporters of the new standards, likely won’t be participating in the upcoming public meetings debating the new measures. StateImpact Florida.
Mentoring: Brevard County parents and children learn tips to maintain a balanced childhood from the father of NBA star Vince Carter. Florida Today.
Bullying: Lee County students learn life lessons from a retired New York City police officer. Fort Myers News-Press.
Conduct: A third-grader brought a loaded gun to a Sarasota elementary school. Associated Press. A Manatee County high school cafeteria manager kept his job for more than a year after having sex with a student. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
School construction: Pasco school officials consider a plan to build more schools to ease crowding. Tampa Bay Times.
Band aid: The Fort Myers community steps up to provide instruments for a struggling high school band. Fort Myers News-Press.