Around the state: Bills are proposed for the legislative session that would phase out property taxes and require future teachers to be trained in handling mass casualty events, Gov. Ron DeSantis says he supports firing teachers who made derogatory social media posts about Charlie Kirk's murder, Sarasota's school board approves moving its meetings from 6 p.m. to 10 a.m., and selling naming rights to a stadium isn't as lucrative as Martin County schools had hoped. Here are details about those stories and others from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Broward: School board members agreed this week to pay $41,000 to allow Fort Lauderdale and Stranahan high schools play the rest of their home football games this season at Chase Stadium. The teams have no on-campus stadiums, and their games had been shifted from Chase to Dillard High's field. But coaches from both teams said the arrangement was rocky because they "were simply not wanted" at Dillard. Sun Sentinel.
Orange: School leaders are warning that the lack of state funding for education is a threat to the district. Superintendent Maria Vazquez says the district could lose another $25 million because of falling enrollment, and pleaded, "While we believe in school choice, we want you to fund it through other dollars. Don't keep taking away the dollars that we need to be able to provide choices and opportunities for our children." School board member Stephanie Vanos echoed that message while testifying at a U.S. House subcommittee hearing. Central Florida Public Media.
Pinellas: District officials want to reduce the number of busing options they offer to high school students who are in magnet programs and phase out transportation for students to Osceola Fundamental High. Service for current Osceola students would continue, but new students would not be eligible to take the bus. Providing rides to the 221 students there costs $1.6 million a year. Tampa Bay Times.
Sarasota: School board meetings will be held at 10 a.m. instead of 6 p.m. for at least the next three months, board members decided this week. The change comes 10 months after the board agreed to cut the number of monthly meetings from two to one. Many speakers oppose the switch, saying it will reduce citizen participation. Board members urged them to reach out to the district through its "litany of different mediums." Charlotte Sun.
Escambia: When county voters decide whether to elect or appoint a superintendent is still undecided, with the school board and county commission not able to agree on the timing. The school board wants the issue on the 2026 primary ballot. But the commission voted this week to ask the state attorney general for an opinion on whether it can choose to place the question on the general election ballot next year. Commissioner Ashlee Hofberger said, "I feel as though our duty is to make sure that it gets in front of as many voters as possible. ... So I think as a service to our community, we should consider moving it from the requested ballot, which is the primary 2026 ballot, to the general 2026 ballot." Pensacola News Journal.
Martin: A naming rights deal for Martin County High School's stadium will bring in far less than a consultant predicted in March. Members of the school board approved a deal this week that will pay $60,000 in each of the next five years to rename the stadium as Napoli Orthodontics Stadium, which is just 18% of the nearly $339,000 projected when the district decided to pursue the idea. TCPalm. WPTV.
Leon: Two women who worked at a company that provided services for the Florida Prepaid College Program pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and were sentenced to prison. Julie Shuler and Taylor Bradham fraudulently accessed personal information of Florida Prepaid account owners to change the ownership. WCTV. WCJB. The county library is offering free after-school tutoring for K-8 students at several branches. Hours are Monday through Wednesday from 4-6 p.m., and students who can’t attend can use an online tutoring option from 2-11 p.m. WTXL.
Monroe: A $320.65 million budget was approved last week by the school board, which is an increase of $13.28 million over last year's spending. Florida Keys Weekly.
DeSantis supports firings: Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday that he supports firing teachers and other public servants who posted disparaging remarks about conservative activist Charlie Kirk after he was murdered last week. "No one is saying the government's going to put you in jail for doing that," he said. "But I do think it's a problem. Is that someone you want teaching your kids when they say that this is something, this assassination should be celebrated? Of course not." Central Florida Public Media. WKMG. School board members and other public office-holders say they're worried they'll be removed from office if they oppose Gov. DeSantis on an issue. "If you're a local official in Florida, you need to be careful, because if you openly defy the governor or even if you think it's an open legal question … it's possible you may find yourself being removed," said Aubrey Jewett, a University of Central Florida political science professor. Central Florida Public Media.
In the Legislature: Property taxes would be rolled back and eventually replaced under a proposal that state Rep. Ryan Chamberlin, R-Belleview, plans to introduce for the 60-day legislative session beginning Jan. 13. The bill would replace property taxes with fees and taxes, such as a new fee on real estate sales and on hotel bills for tourists, and increase the state sales tax by up to 3 percentage points. Politico Florida. Florida Phoenix. Florida Politics. A bill requiring future teachers to be trained how to handle mass casualty events has been filed for the third straight year by state Rep. Dan Daley, D-Coral Springs. Florida Politics.
Florida teacher shortages: There are 2,260 teacher vacancies around the state, Florida Education Association president Andrew Spar said this week. That's down from 5,007 during the 2024-2025 school year. Spar says the paucity of teachers is the No. 1 issue facing schools, and low pay and regulations are the biggest contributors to the shortage. Pensacola News Journal.
Around the nation: U.S. Education Department officials are proposing a "patriotic education" initiative emphasizing the role of Judeo-Christianity and religious faith in the country's founding and teaching "citizen competency and informed patriotism among ... students at all levels." Politico. NPR. Declines in 12th-graders' NAEP math test scores from 2013 to 2024 were mostly concentrated among the students who were already the lowest performing, according to an analysis of test results. Scores of the highest-performing students have been stagnant or declined slightly. The 74.
Opinions on schools: By making the SAT easier, the College Board risks undermining the value of a test that’s been remarkably effective at predicting college and career success. Dumbing down the SAT serves no one well, least of all students. Orlando Sentinel and Bloomberg.
