Tropical Storm Helene closures and cancellations: Ahead of Tropical Storm Helene, officials across the state have announced public school closures, and Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency in many of the state’s 67 counties. Some schools are closing today and Thursday and will make decisions regarding what to do about Friday at a later time, while others have already decided to close on Friday. After school activities in many counties are canceled until further notice. The Florida Department of Education says it works closely with school districts before, during and after natural disasters to provide resources and resume normal operations. In the Panhandle, school officials are still making decisions on when school will be open. In Tampa Bay, school districts began to announce cancellations on Tuesday. Regarding colleges and universities, Florida State University’s Tallahassee campus is closed today due to T.S. Helene. Other institutions, including Florida A&M University, are following suit. ABC Action News. Florida Department of Education. Tallahassee Democrat. WJHG. BayNews9. Suncoast News. Tallahassee Democrat.
Hillsborough: Members of the school board in this county have asked leaders of D- and F-rated charter schools to present improvement plans. “We’ve had a lot of conversation around — can the school board even do anything about a D and F school?” said School Board Vice Chair Jessica Vaughn. “And over the last several years, the legislation has pretty much tied our hands from doing anything around charter schools.” Bay News 9.
Pasco: Two veteran educators are vying to be superintendent of schools in this county. Tampa Bay Times.
Seminole: A mental health services provider in this county is trying to expand its presence in the school district after finding success on eight campuses. WKMG.
Hernando: School board member Shannon Rodriguez said the board will return to removing challenged books from the shelves once it has a new majority. Suncoast News.
Best states for teachers: Wallethub released its 2024 ranking of the best states for U.S. teachers. Florida ranked No., 8 overall. WKMG.
Home education rising: More parents are opting for home education. The Florida Department of Education reported that home education jumped 58% over the last five years. Also important for parents is finding alternative ways to build necessary skills while not in a traditional classroom. CBS 12.
Student arrested: An Englewood High student was arrested on Monday after multiple guns, including an assault rifle, were found in their vehicle on campus, the principal said. Jax Today.
Colleges and universities: South Florida’s three major universities surged this year in the U.S. News & World Report’s annual ranking of the country’s best national universities. The University of Miami rose four places to 63rd nationwide, while Florida International University and Florida Atlantic University rocketed 20 or more spots each. Meanwhile, Florida’s highest-ranked schools, University of Florida and Florida State University, dropped slightly in the rankings released Tuesday. “The impressive rankings achieved by our 12 universities this year reaffirm Florida’s status as the top state for higher education,” state university system chancellor Ray Rodrigues said in a statement. “The State University System of Florida remains committed to maintaining academic excellence and delivering a high-quality education. The recognition from U.S. News & World Report highlights the successful results of our efforts.” Palm Beach Post. Tampa Bay Times. Main Street Daily News. Miami Herald. Meanwhile, more light has been shed on the many issues that plagued the FAFSA. NPR. Also, Tallahassee was named one of the best college towns in the United States, according to travel website Thrillist. GulfLive.
Opinions on schools: American military aviation strategy can teach the ESA movement a few things. Matthew Ladner, NextSteps. Home-based teaching can support student learning and reduce teacher burnout. Chad Aldeman, The 74th.
