Around the state: The state's audit of Broward County government spending may include a review of school contracts, the back-to-school tax holiday begins Friday and continues until the end of August, Leon school officials want to seize the assets of a charter school that isn't opening for the next school year, Bradford County's school board imposes a dress code on teachers, and several districts have budget discussions this week. Here are details about those stories and others from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Miami-Dade: City of Miami officials said Monday they would pay the school district up to $10,000 to continue providing free citizenship classes to help immigrants prepare for their naturalization exams. Earlier this month, the school district announced it was ending the classes because the U.S. Department of Homeland Security decided the program "no longer effectuates the program goals and the department’s priorities." Miami Herald.
Broward: In its review of Broward County government spending, Florida’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) may audit contracts awarded by the Broward County School Board. "Our office has heard concerns regarding Broward County’s large contract awards, including at the Broward County School Board," says state Attorney General James Uthmeier. "We will support DOGE’s investigation and hold any bad actors accountable." The audit is expected to be conducted Thursday or Friday. The board is scheduled to vote this week on a five-year, $115 million contract to buy laptops for students. Sun Sentinel. Caribbean National Weekly.
Duval: The dean of students at the IDEA River Bluff charter school in Arlington has been arrested and accused of sexual battery. Deputies say James Tellis, 27, solicited children off campus with his computer. School officials say the victim was not a student at the school, and that Tellis has been fired. Jacksonville Today. WJXT.
Polk: Lake Wales High School has spent $20,000 for a portable metal detection system that can be used at the school or during events such as football games. Principal Anuj Saran said the decision was not prompted by any incidents at the charter school. Lakeland Ledger.
Lee: School board members are expected to vote today on a $2.8 billion budget for the 2025-2026 school year. The millage rate is $5.32 for every $1,000 of taxable property value, and more than 3 mills of that is required taxation by the state in order to receive more than $422 million in grants. Fort Myers News-Press.
Pasco: The site of the original Gulf High School is being sold by the school board to the city of New Port Richey. School board members approved the $1.75 million sale last week. City officials have not announced what they plan to do with the property. Suncoast News.
Seminole: In her annual state of the district speech, Superintendent Serita Beamon said security measures are keeping students safe, despite some incidents, that metal detectors are not currently being considered, and that the district is again the highest-ranked in central Florida. WKMG. WFTV.
Lake: School board members are considering a district proposal to spend $156,500 to train and place 10 crossing guards at different locations near district schools. Spectrum News 13.
Leon: Superintendent Rocky Hanna is asking school board members to take legal action against Renaissance Academy, Charter School USA, over possession of the school property. The school recently announced it won't open in August, and the district wants the school assets, estimated to be as much as $16 million, returned. The school budget will also be discussed. WTXL. WCTV. Drones are being considered to upgrade security at district schools, but the projected $1 million-a-year cost is a concern. Hanna says the district is already facing budget problems. WCTV.
Gadsden: Gadsden County High School's football program has been banned from the 2025 playoffs and fined $21,500 for allowing eight ineligible players to participate with falsified or incomplete paperwork last season, when the team lost in the Class 2A state championship game. Head coach Russell Ellington has been declared ineligible to coach or attend games, and the eight players are also suspended for the season. Ellington denies the charges levied by the Florida High School Athletic Association, and says the decision will be appealed. Tallahassee Democrat. WCTV. WTXL.
Bradford: A dress code for district teachers was approved Monday by the school board. Out are leggings, jeans, flip-flops, Crocs, and vulgar tattoos, clothes and jewelry. All graphic t-shirts and hoodies that aren’t made by the school are also prohibited. WCJB.
Madison: Mold remediation protocol by a restoration company has been completed at Madison County High School, district officials say, and an inspection of the work is scheduled today. Both the high school and Madison County Central School, where traces of microbial elements were discovered in the air, are expected to be ready when teachers and staff return Thursday. WCTV.
Back-to-school tax holiday: Friday is the first day of the month-long back-to-school tax holiday. No sales tax will be levied on clothes, shoes and backpacks that cost $100 or less, school supplies that cost less than $50, learning aids that are under $30 and personal computers that cost $1,500 or less. Aug. 11 is the first day of school for most Florida school districts. News Service of Florida. Panama City News Herald. USA Today Florida Network. WKMG. WPTV. Florida Politics. How might President Trump's tariffs affect back-to-school shopping? Axios.
Around the nation: Bills that would set the minimum U.S. teacher salary at $60,000 a year and pay support employees at least $45,000 a year have been filed in Congress. Seventy percent of U.S. school districts pay starting teachers less than $50,000 annually. Education Week.
Opinions on schools: American parents want a radically different K-12 system than the one government forces them to pay for. The way forward is to allow families to partner with educators to sort through new schools and education methods. Matthew Ladner, NextSteps. In a state where education is often a political flashpoint, the continued commitment to transparent, publicly available school grades serves as a crucial anchor. It reminds us that at the heart of all policy debates and funding discussions are our children and their futures. Mark J. Rochester, Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
