Discipline disparities. Black students make up 44 percent of Duval County's student body, but account for some 80 percent of its suspensions. Florida Times-Union.
Charter school audits. State financial audits find internal weaknesses at 94 charter schools. Gainesville Sun.
Private school ordinance. A prestigious Miami-Dade private school runs afoul of a city-imposed enrollment cap. City of Pinecrest officials learned Gulliver Prep had understated its enrollment by more than 100 students. Miami Herald.
HB 7069. Pasco County school board members aren't contemplating joining a lawsuit challenging a major education law. For one thing, they worry about political consequences. At most, they're in what one member calls "wait and research mode." Tampa Bay Times. St. John's County legislators, including likely future House Speaker Paul Renner, discuss the bill at a local forum. St. Augustine Record.
School improvement. School board members call for change at two long-struggling Volusia County schools. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Follow the money. The Brevard County school district debates centralizing its bank accounts and buying an armored car. School-based bookkeepers had been caught embezzling $278,000. Florida Today.
Back to school. A charity hands out book bags and supplies to needy students. Naples Daily News. A Polk County event gives out back-to-school gear. Lakeland Ledger. Florida Times-Union readers describe how school has changed.
ESOL. A Polk County program helps students build English-language skills. Ledger.
STEM. Virtual schools are no substitute for recruiting high-caliber math teachers to rural schools. Bridge to Tomorrow.
Literacy. Sarasota County school leaders say early learning is key to developing literacy. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. The Florida Times-Union praises Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry's reading initiative in an editorial. Hillsborough schools inaugurate a dual-language initiative. Tampa Bay Times.
Charter school funding. The Heartland Institute writes up a judge's ruling that Florida law requires equal funding for different types of public schools.
Misconduct. A Lake County principal may have known about sexual misconduct long before information made its way to authorities. Daily Commercial.
Third-grade retention. A closely watched lawsuit challenging that state's law is now over. Gradebook.
Medical marijuana. Students with legitimate ailments can now use the drug in schools. What should education officials do? Bradenton Herald.
Summer vacation. A middle school teacher is using her time off to write a novel. Bradenton Herald.
Administration. Ten Palm Beach schools will begin the new year with new principals. Palm Beach Post.
