Around the state: The hunt is on for a superintendent in Manatee, questions loom about who will become the state’s next education commissioner, two Bay County schools were named among America’s Canopy Schools and opponents of FAMU’s president-elect are fighting back. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Duval: School board members are considering removing diversity, equity and inclusion from its district policy handbook. Currently, the DEI language remains. The district’s executive director of policy and compliance said she does not want to risk losing federal dollars for the continuation of DEI practices. “I don’t know if we can predict when that will impact us or when these policies will be reviewed, but I do think that for us as a district, that’s something we do have to look at,” Cami Sams told board members. Action News Jax.
Manatee: As the school year winds down for teachers and students, Manatee officials will be busy finding a new superintendent. During a recent meeting, the board voted 3-2 to terminate the contract of former Superintendent Dr. Jason Wysong, who was hired in May 2023. Currently, District Chief of Staff Kevin Chapman is serving as interim superintendent. The school district is home to 42,000 students. Spectrum News.
Bay: Plans for a new school on Tyndall Air Force Base are continuing. Bay district leaders held a workshop last week to discuss the next steps for the Tyndall Academy K-8 facility. The current school was built 1950, and has undergone upgrades and reparis after Hurricane Michael. WMBB. Also, two Bay County schools were named among America’s Canopy Schools. Chautauqua Charter School and Bay High School have received the distinction by the Center on Reinventing Public Education, part of Arizona State University. The designation honors schools that go above and beyond to care for all students and the broader community, according to a news release. “From maintaining a regular homeless outreach program and serving meals in the community, to acquiring workforce skills by cleaning Bay High School, Chautauqua students are making meaningful contributions every day,” the release said. Panama City News Herald.
Spelling bee winner: Faizan Zaki won the Scripps National Spelling Bee, a year after finishing runner-up. The 13-year-old from Allen, Texas, outlasted eight other spellers to win the title on Thursday night. Next year, the competition returns to the nation’s capital at Constitution Hall near the White House. Zaki won after spelling the word “eclaircissement” correctly at the bee, which celebrated its 100th anniversary. This year, 243 kids from across the country competed, including 12 from Florida. “I know that from … my previous studying. It means enlightenment and … it comes from French. So I just knew all that in my head and, so I just got right to spelling,” Zaki said. New York Times. CNN. CBS News.
Voucher plan: The Trump administration is pushing for a national school voucher plan. NPR.
High school graduations: Lakewood High graduates celebrated commencement in Clearwater. After Hurricane Milton damaged Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, a traditional venue for Pinellas county graduates, some changes were needed. Tampa Bay Times.
Education commissioner: The wait won’t be long to find out who will be Florida’s next education commissioner. State Board of Education chairperson Ben Gibson added an item to the board’s June 4 agenda for a discussion on how to replace Manny Diaz Jr., who was chosen to lead the University of West Florida. The State Board is responsible for choosing the commissioner. Tampa Bay Times. WMNF.
Colleges and universities: Private universities are fighting back against potential funding cuts. About 22,000 students at 15 private universities are at risk of losing their state-funded grants, which some schools say could cause a ripple effect in the state’s economy and for employers in fields that are considered high-demand. School officials spoke during a press conference as they fight potential cuts to the Effective Access to Student Education grant, or EASE. Florida lawmakers must pass a budget, and funding EASE would be another issue for lawmakers to negotiate during the budget conference. “The Florida EASE grant scholarship helps students like me,” said Sophia Hilliard. “This grant is so much more than money. It’s about making my dreams, and my family’s, come true.” Florida Politics. The Ledger. Meanwhile, opponents of Florida A&M University’s new president-elect are organizing to fight back. Marva Johnson is a lobbyist for Charter Communications and a FAMU alumna. Johnson was a last-minute addition to the presidential finalist list. Alumni are threatening to boycott the school, and thousands have signed a petition opposing Johnson. WUWF.
Opinions on schools: Since debuting as the fastest-growing platform in internet history, ChatGPT has become a metonym for all that AI ails. Within two months of its launch, a survey found 90% of college students were using it for homework. Michael Serazio, Time. What’s the best way to measure a school’s quality? It depends on whom you ask. Parents, educators, employers and policymakers hold many different opinions about the goals of education and, therefore, about how to judge school performance. Lynn Olson and Thomas Toch, The 74th.
