Around the state: New schools opening, an updates on challenged books, COVID-19 cases increasing before school began and how Florida's eviction rates disrupt the education of students. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Hillsborough: A memoir by a transgender YouTuber has been pulled from Hillsborough County shelves following a social media uproar from state officials. Tampa Bay Times. Tallahassee Democrat. Yahoo News.
Marion: Two new elementary schools opened in this county. WKMG. Ocala Star-Banner.
Challenged books: Last school year’s reports from the Florida Board of Education showed that a majority of the hundreds of books removed from public school libraries for review were returned with restrictions for age and parental consent. After the passing of an educational statute three years ago, school districts were left to form their own review committees and processes for addressing challenged books. The results have been mixed. Collier County pulled 316 books for review and removed three from circulation. Lee County reviewed 30 books and removed six. In Charlotte County, 78 books were reviewed but all of them were returned to circulation. WGCU.
Catholic schools: Back-to-school season for Catholic schools across South Florida. Officials welcomed 37,000 students into classrooms across its 65 schools, which continues a five-year trend of rising enrollment. Catholic school leaders say a combination of curriculum, safety measures and scholarships is driving the growth. That demand has led to the opening of new campuses, including Holy Rosary Saint Richard in Palmetto Bay. “Over 50% of our Catholic schools are at capacity with waiting lists, and the majority of those that are not full are growing,” Jim Rigg, the superintendent of the Archdiocese of Miami Schools, said. CBS Miami. WPLG.
COVID cases: Before students returned to the classroom, Orange County reported the third-highest case totals of COVID-19 in the state at the end of July, according to the Department of Health. “We've seen generally two COVID bumps during the year. We usually get our winter bump, which tends to be a little bit larger than what we see as the summer bump, and so far, that's what we're seeing right now,” said Cindy Prins, an epidemiologist from the University of Central Florida. With students back in the classroom this week, and college kids returning to universities next week, it’s hard to predict if the numbers will continue to increase, Prins said. Central Florida Public Media.
Eviction crisis: Florida’s eviction rates are rising, and the effects are reaching far beyond housing. Educators and researchers warn that the state’s growing eviction crisis is disrupting students’ education, forcing them to change schools, miss class and fall behind academically. In Orange County, more than 8,800 students are without a permanent home — a 50% increase since 2019, according to records from the district. Hillsborough County Public Schools reports 1.2% of its student population is currently experiencing homelessness. Advocates urge families to speak up about housing issues before an eviction notice arrives. Spectrum News. Orlando Sentinel.
Opinions on schools: Guided play — where teachers set up fun activities with clear learning goals — is more effective than direct instruction in promoting learning, particularly for young kids. For instance, studies have found that using activities like blocks, drawing and dramatic play to deliver literacy instruction improved children’s oral language, letter recognition and ability to sound out letter blends and words. Carly Roberts and Meghan McCormick, The 74.
