Around the state: Florida’s falling reading and math scores contributed to an overall decline of the state’s ranking for child wellbeing, Manatee district officials are searching for a new superintendent, officials in Clay are dealing with a budget shortfall, teacher shortages continue across the U.S. and enrollment for Florida Virtual Full Time Public Schools — the state’s only fully virtual public school district — has opened for the 2025-26 school year. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Pinellas: Two Pinellas County middle schools were assigned new principals on Tuesday. The school district continued its leadership changes that were initiated earlier in the spring. Tampa Bay Times.
Manatee: Members of the school board in this county hope to make crucial steps in the hunt for the district’s next superintendent. Board members plan to choose a consulting firm that will help facilitate the search and set the timeline that the search and interview process should follow. The board is working toward having a new superintendent selected and contract signed by the time school starts on Aug. 11, officials say. “It would be nice to have somebody in by the start of the year because that way you’re kicking off the school year with new leadership,” said Charlie Kennedy, who represents District 3. “But the most important thing is getting it right.” Spectrum News. WFLA.
Marion: Officials in this district are discussing tens of millions of dollars in possible budget cuts. The superintendent sent a note to personnel about recommendations from school board members on Monday. They range from increasing class sizes to eliminating the seven-period day at three middle schools. Changes could save more than $26 million, officials say. WCJB. Meanwhile, new principals are headed to schools in this county. Ocala Star-Banner.
Clay: The Clay County School District said it is reevaluating spending as it faces a potential $10 million budget shortfall next year. News4Jax.
Alachua: During a special meeting on June 9, the school board in this county approved the charter and facilities contracts between the district and the Newberry Community School. The special meeting was called after some board members said during the board’s regularly scheduled June 3 meeting that they did not have time to review the contracts beforehand. The Gainesville Sun. Main Street Daily News.
Bay: While students are out of school, educators in Bay County are working hard to staff schools before the next school year starts. About 88% of public schools in the southern U.S. have experienced difficulty filling teacher vacancies before the start of the last school year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. In Bay county, for example, the district has 120 jobs that need to be filled. Those include instructional, administrative and support personnel jobs. WJHG.
Virtual enrollment opens: Enrollment for Florida Virtual Full Time Public Schools, the state’s only fully virtual public school district, has opened for the 2025-26 school year. It is available to Florida students in K-12. Families can apply through July 18. The first day of school for full-time students in Aug. 18. “We believe that every student deserves access to high-quality, flexible education that meets their unique needs,” said Dr. Louis Algaze, president and CEO of Florida Virtual School. “As school choice continues to expand across Florida, we’re proud to offer families a trusted, fully accredited online learning option that empowers students to thrive academically and personally — wherever they are.” MyPanhandle.
Score drop: Florida’s dropping reading and math scores contributed to an overall decline in the state’s ranking for child well being. Florida fell five spots in the 2025 Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count child wellbeing rankings. Florida ranked 35th in 2025 and 30th in 2024. The change in ranking can be attributed to eighth graders’ math proficiency dropping, as well as fourth graders’ reading, as measured by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Patch. Yahoo News. Orlando Weekly. Florida Phoenix.
Legislative update: Florida lawmakers say the state must do a better job of keeping track of students who accept education vouchers. Meanwhile, The Legislature agreed to fully fund accelerated courses for high school students that earn them college credit. Tampa Bay Times. Florida Politics.
Opinions on schools: After 2021, both interest and building costs went up for charter school construction. Interest rates of course could go down, but they could also go further up. Matthew Ladner, NextSteps. When our son Keith — affectionately known as “Deuce” — was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at age 3, we were told he might never speak beyond echolalia (the automatic repetition of words or phrases). Until age 5, echolalia was all we heard. But Deuce found his voice, and with it, a unique way of seeing the world. Keith Jacobs, NextSteps. The Florida Legislature must approve a state budget before July 1, and it should seize a golden opportunity to fix the plummeting academic standards at New College of Florida under President Richard Corcoran. Brian Cody, Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
