Around the state: Twenty-four states file a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's decision to freeze $6.8 billion for local school programs, Broward teachers emphatically vote to keep their current union, Escambia's school board will consider further tightening of the district's policy on book restrictions, Leon schools are asking a community group for $2 million to keep an after-school program alive, and about 41,000 Florida students who were awarded K-12 scholarships from the state chose not to use them. Here are details about those stories and others from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Miami-Dade: The head coach of the state champion Miami Northwestern High School football team has been suspended by the school after the Florida High School Athletic Association acknowledged it was investigating accusations that he paid for Uber rides for his players last season. Teddy Bridgewater, a 32-year-old former NFL quarterback, is not an employee of the school district. Sports Illustrated. Miami Herald. WFOR.
Broward: Teachers voted 6,228-128 to recertify the Broward Teachers Union to represent their interests, according to results announced Monday by the Florida Public Employees Relations Commission. Turnout was 48.7%, said Andrew Spar, president of the Florida Education Association. The election was required after the union failed to meet the state-required 60% of all eligible employees paying union dues and submitting membership forms. Sun Sentinel. WPLG. District officials are ending the universal free lunch program, and parents will now have to apply to see if their children are eligible for reduced or free meals. Budget cuts and the end of pandemic era funding were cited for the change in the program. WFOR. WTVJ.
Orange: The district's newest school opens Aug. 11 in Lake Nona. Luminary Elementary, which was built to accommodate 800 students and relieve overcrowding at nearby schools, is located beside Luminary Middle. The $30 million cost is being paid with revenues from the extra half-cent sales tax renewed by voters last November. WFTV.
Palm Beach: Lake Worth Community High School's swimming pool has been demolished. It had been shut down late last year because of maintenance issues and an infestation of iguanas. WPTV.
Pinellas: A new emphasis on improving the reading skills of the district's 3rd-graders is showing promise, said Superintendent Kevin Hendrick. A record number tested at grade-level or higher in the most recent state assessments, and just 14% scored at a level that put them at risk of being retained compared with 20% four years ago. Teachers are combining reading with other skills, such as math and science, to pique students' interest, get them to enjoy reading again and to understand how it will help them all through school. Tampa Bay Times.
Pasco: Schools in high-poverty areas will continue to offer all students free meals during the 2025-2026 school year, but students who attend all other schools will have to fill out application forms to determine if they're eligible for free or reduced price meals. WTSP. WFLA.
St. Lucie, Indian River: High schools in St. Lucie and Indian River counties will continue with early start times this fall. A new law allows districts to opt out of a 2023 law requiring later start times for middle and high school students. TCPalm.
Escambia: An update to the district's book challenge policy will be considered by the school board at today's meeting. The proposal would require that books removed in any Florida county also be banned from Escambia schools, prohibit materials with sexually explicit content, and require media specialists to certify in writing that "all media center purchases of books, supplemental materials and reading lists do not contain sexually explicit content." Pensacola News Journal.
Leon: A $12.5 million budget shortage has prompted Superintendent Rocky Hanna to ask the local Children’s Services Council for financial help to cover the cost of a popular after-school program. Hanna is asking for $2 million to maintain the 21st Century program, which provides after-school academic enrichment and services like drug prevention and financial literacy. WFSU.
Alachua: The school board's appeal of the conversion of Newberry Elementary to a charter school was delayed to give the charter organizers 30 days to respond, according to district spokeswoman Jackie Johnson. Florida's Charter School Review Commission approved the charter conversion application in February, and the school board filed an appeal of that decision in late March. Mainstreet Daily News.
Bay: Start and close times for district schools have been set for the 2025-2026 school year. Classes resume Aug. 11. Panama City News Herald.
Charlotte: A proposal to more closely regulate communications between school district employees and students is being considered by the school board. The changes, which include using two new apps for all communications and having staff members avoid being alone with students, were prompted by the recent arrest of a Punta Gorda Middle School teacher on federal child pornography charges. WINK.
Citrus: A financial consultant has been hired by the school board to help district officials prepare the final budget by September and advise a new finance director. The cost is $250 an hour. Citrus County Chronicle.
Flagler: School board member Lauren Ramirez is challenging a Florida Ethics Commission recommendation that would ban all public school students from enrolling in programs or camps set up by her business. Ramirez owns Salus Medical Training, which trains students and others in first aid, CPR and other health-related skills. Commissioners are expected to review and rule on the recommendation July 25. Flagler Live.
Bradford: A social studies teacher at Bradford Middle School was arrested Monday and accused of engaging in sexual activity online for a student under the age of 16 to see. Matthew Dawson Watson, 27, resigned from the district after being placed on leave in February. WCJB. WJXT. WJAX.
Jefferson: Two JROTC instructors contend that the school district violated the law when it chose not to reappoint them for the 2025-2026 school year. First Sgt. Terry Walker and Capt. Kevin White, who are both disabled veterans, cited the state law that requires public employers to give hiring and retention preference to eligible veterans. WTXL.
Colleges and universities: Construction on a $40 million State College of Florida expansion in Parrish is expected to begin Oct. 30, college officials have announced. The school's fourth campus could be open by the fall of 2027. Bradenton Herald.
Unused K-12 scholarships: About 41,000 Florida students who were awarded school choice scholarships for the past school year never used them. A survey of more than 2,700 of those students' parents showed that 34.7% chose not to use the scholarship because there was no available space at the school they wanted their students to attend. Almost 20% said the scholarship amount was inadequate, and 19.6% said they were worried about additional school costs beyond tuition and fees. NextSteps.
Around the nation: Twenty-four states and the District of Columbia have filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Trump administration's freeze on $6.8 billion in federal funds for schools that was scheduled to be released July 1. One of those states is not Florida, which stands to lose $396 million if the spending is eliminated. The money is for teacher training, after-school and summer programs, academic enrichment, supporting undocumented students, and more. Reuters. Associated Press. NPR. K-12 Dive. The U.S. Supreme Court will allow the U.S. Education Department to move ahead with plans to lay off almost 1,400 employees while a lower court considers a challenge to the firings. Associated Press. Chalkbeat. K-12 Dive.
