Around the state: Florida gets the nation's top grade in education freedom but an F in sex education, a redefinition of what is a persistently low-performing school expands the potential for more charter schools through the Schools of Hope program, Martin County's school board decides the teachers union president cannot work fulltime for the union and retain her or his employment status, Sarasota's school board considers closing an underenrolled school, and the Orange, Brevard and Leon school boards approve budgets for the 2026 fiscal year. Here are details about those stories and others from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Hillsborough: A tentative contract agreement has been reached between the district and its teachers and support staff. Teachers with up to 25 years of experience would get a $350 raise by moving up one step on the salary schedule. More veteran teachers would also receive a $2,000 longevity supplement, and teachers who work at schools with the highest percentage of students in need would get another $2,000. Paraprofessionals at those high-need schools would receive $750, and instructional support staff will see percentage raises. The deal has to be approved by union members and the school board. Tampa Bay Times. Under pressure from the state, board members voted unanimously Tuesday to remove two more school library books: Blankets by Craig Thompson and Identical by Ellen Hopkins. Tampa Bay Times. WTVT. WFTS.
Orange: School board members gave their approval Tuesday to a nearly $7.5 billion budget. Declining enrollment has put downward pressure on revenue, resulting in a loss of about $28 million in state funding. District officials projected a loss of about 3,000 students, but the actual number is currently 6,627. About 40% of that decline is attributed to the government's immigration crackdown. WESH. Spectrum News 13. A substitute teacher has been banned from working in the district after being accused of threatening students. No criminal charges have been filed. WOFL.
Lee: Teachers union officials are denying a school district statement that the two sides have agreed on several issues, including a minimum starting salary and parental leave. "We made some progress last night," said union president Kevin Daly. "We narrowed down the options. We seem to be coalescing around some things, but there's no agreement there. And until there's agreement, there's no agreement." WINK. WFTX.
Brevard: A budget of almost $1.63 billion was unanimously approved Tuesday by the school board. That's a slight decline from last year's budget and reflects lower enrollment. More than $835 million will be spent on operations, with about $791 million allocated for capital projects, the special revenue and internal services funds, and debt service. Florida Today.
St. Johns: District officials have asked the school board to file a lawsuit accusing the father of a Switzerland Point Middle School student of bullying and harassing school employees. It says Matthew Ross caused "psychological and emotional distress" with vulgar name-calling. Ross says his reaction was to a teacher accusing his son of writing a racial slur on a class whiteboard. Ross also says he will sue the district and is considering running for the school board. WJAX.
Marion: A search firm has been hired to help the school district find a new superintendent. Diane Gullett resigned in July, and Danielle Brewer has been acting as the interim. School board members approved paying HYA Corp. of Illinois $56,000 to help find candidates. WCJB.
Sarasota: School board members are considering a proposal to close Wilkinson Elementary School because of declining enrollment and send its students to Brentwood, Gulf Gate, and Alta Vista elementary schools. The Wilkinson property could then be turned into administrative offices. Community meetings on the plan are set for this month and next, with a decision scheduled Nov. 18. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Leon: A $647 million budget that includes $122 million for capital projects was approved Tuesday by the school board. Vice chair Marcus Nicolas cited the half-cent sales tax for allowing the district to maintain what it has, and said its renewal next year is critical. "At this point, we just need to maintain what we have," he said. WTXL.
Martin: The president of the teachers union can no longer work fulltime for the union and maintain his or her employee status with the district, school board members decided this week in rejecting the recommendation of a special magistrate over the contract provision. "Special treatment" was cited by the board for its decision. The disputed contract will now be submitted to union members for ratification. TCPalm.
Jackson: A former Sneads High School softball coach has pleaded guilty to sexual misconduct with a student in April 2024. Michael Mader was sentenced to nine years in prison. WCTV.
Schools of Hope expansion: The state's new law redefining what a "persistently" low-performing public school is has increased the number of those schools from 51 to 267. That greatly expands the areas where charter companies can open Schools of Hope, which can receive startup funding from the state for recruiting, training and paying teachers, and for building and transportation costs. At least $320 million has been given to Schools of Hope since 2017, and the Florida Department of Education is asking for an additional $20 million in the next budget year. Politico Florida.
State's freedom, sex ed grades: Florida is first among the states in educational freedom for the fourth straight year, according to the new rankings by the Heritage Foundation. The state was judged to be first in choice, civic education, academic transparency and teacher freedom, and 15th in return on investment. Heritage Foundation. Office of the Governor. The state also was graded on sex education by the nonprofit Sex Ed for Social Change, and was one of 13 states receiving an F. "Florida has more laws prohibiting topics from being taught in sex education than laws requiring topics to be taught," the report noted. Central Florida Public Media.
Scholarship payment issues: The rapid expansion of the state's universal vouchers program has led to continuing problems tracking where students are enrolled and getting the money to the right place. A Senate bill aimed at addressing those problems in the now-$4 billion program failed to pass in the Florida House in the spring. State Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Pensacola, who is on the committee that oversees school funding, says, " If we had strong legislative oversight, which is what we provided for in the Senate bill, we wouldn't allow problems like that to occur. That's unconscionable. It's wrong and it's avoidable." WLRN.
Around the nation: The nation's Blue Ribbon Schools program honoring high-performing schools and those that narrowed achievement gaps between student groups is being killed by the Trump administration. U.S. Education Department officials said the move was "in the spirit of returning education to the states." The 74. More than 400 school shootings have been reported in the United States since the 1999 massacre of 14 people at Columbine High School in Colorado. Those assaults have spawned a school shooting industry that is now worth about $4 billion and continues to expand. NPR.
Opinions on schools: If Miami can turn around its school system, why can't the rest of Florida? Cortney Stewart, Citrus County Chronicle. There's a lot to like in Indian River State College's plan to start an osteopathic medical school, but is it realistic? Laurence Reisman, TCPalm. Forty-three states have eliminated the public high school graduation testing requirement. Florida should join them. Glades County School Board member Crystal Drake, Tallahassee Democrat. The Florida Education Department's Parent Plus Portal is an important step towards accountability through transparency. Erika Donalds and Ryan Owens, Tampa Bay Times.
