Around the state: Average state students' SAT scores were up 22 points this year, book removals were down this past school year in Florida but the state still had the most in the country, a judge rules that the Escambia school board did not violate the authors' rights when it had their book removed from school libraries, Gov. Ron DeSantis says he'll develop his own plan to cut property taxes, and a Pinellas County teacher has been fired for a social media post she made when Charlie Kirk was killed. Here are details about those stories and others from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Broward: A custodian at Indian Ridge Middle School in Davie was arrested last week and accused of having cocaine on the school campus. Police said a bag of cocaine was found in the main hallway, and a surveillance video showed the bag falling out of the pocket of Edward Berg, 63, when he tried to put his cell phone in that pocket. WPLG. WTVJ.
Polk: Contract negotiations between the school district and the teachers union are at an impasse, district officials said this week. Union officials were asking for 5% raises, and the district offered increases of $542 for eligible teachers, plus more parental leave and an extra personal leave day. Declaring an impasse throws the dispute to a mediator, although the sides can continue to negotiate. Lakeland Ledger. A parent is accusing a teacher at Floral Avenue Elementary School in Bartow with racism after she sang a birthday song to her 6-year-old son that included the lyrics "you look like a monkey and you smell like one too." The student is black and the teacher is white. District officials are reviewing a video of the incident. Lakeland Ledger. WTSP.
Pinellas: Starkey Elementary School teacher Kathleen Ryan has been fired for writing "good riddance" on social media after the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, according to a letter written by school district attorney Laurie Dart to Republican state Rep. Berny Jacques. Another teacher, Boca Ciega High School JROTC instructor Jay S. Jackson, is also under district investigation for his remarks, Dart's letter indicated. St. Pete Catalyst.
Pasco: Conservative businesswoman Mollyanna Ward has announced her candidacy for the District 3 school board seat next year. Incumbent Cynthia Armstrong is not running for re-election to the seat she's held since 2010. Other announced candidates are Kirk Phillips and Erin Stroupe. Florida Politics.
Manatee: A substitute teacher at Abel Elementary School in Bradenton was arrested this week and accused of lewd and lascivious conduct with a student. Deputies said Malik Belvin, 26, pulled a 10-year-old girl into a closet last Friday and made an "inappropriate" request. Several students complained about Belvin's behavior when the regular teacher returned Monday, and he was arrested Tuesday. Bradenton Herald. WTSP. WWSB. WFLA.
Escambia: School board members' removal from libraries of a book about a penguin family with two dads did not violate the free speech rights of the book's authors or students, U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor ruled this week. "The Escambia County School Board has simply decided students wanting this particular book will have to get it elsewhere," Winsor wrote. Politico Florida. Two Washington High School students who were vaping on campus this week were treated at a hospital after they began acting strangely and then became unresponsive. Police said both tested positive for methamphetamine. Pensacola News Journal. WEAR.
Bay: A father has filed a federal lawsuit against the school board over the district's dress code. His 7-year-old son has autism and other disabilities, and he claims the district is violating the American Disabilities Act and discriminating against the boy by denying a request for accommodations to the code. WMBB.
Franklin: As part of the new aviation program started this year at the Franklin County School, students are partnering with Tango Flight to begin building a two-seat airplane. Making parts will take about two years, and the plane will then be assembled at the Apalachicola Airport. WJHG.
Colleges and universities: As spending continues to soar at New College of Florida since its 2023 remake as a conservative institution, its U.S. News & World Report's ranking among national liberal arts colleges has declined from 76th in 2022 to 135th this year. Inside Higher Ed. Lakeland's Southeastern University is opening a branch in Winter Haven. In-person and online classes will begin next spring in a 13,000-square-foot building in downtown. Southeastern is a private school affiliated with the Assemblies of God denomination, and has several partner sites throughout the country. Lakeland Ledger.
SAT scores up: Florida students' average SAT score rose to 970 this past spring, up 22 points from last year though it's well below the national average of 1029, and the 1017 state students recorded in 2017. Math college readiness went from 26% last year to 29% this year, and English college readiness from 53% to 59%, and the state ranked third among the 10 states that had test participation rates of at least 85%. Orlando Sentinel.
Florida book removals: The number of books removed from Florida schools was down significantly during the 2024-2025 school year, but the state still recorded the most removals in the nation for the third straight year, according to the nonprofit freedom of expression group PEN America. Nearly a third of the country's 6,870 book bans last year were in Florida, said PEN leaders, who count state-recorded book removals and others reported by the media. Florida's Department of Education reported 444 removals, down from 720 last year. Its total counts books removed after challenges that are reported by a school district. USA Today Florida Network. Florida Phoenix. WUSF.
In the Legislature: Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday that he will put together his own plan to cut property taxes before the 60-day legislative session begins Jan. 13. The governor has said his goal is to cut taxes for Florida residents who own their homes. "That’s the best way to achieve something meaningful," he said. School officials have said that cutting property taxes without making up the revenue lost would devastate district budgets. Politico Florida. Florida Politics.
Around the nation: The government shutdown isn't expected to affect K-12 schools immediately, since the national school lunch and breakfast programs have contingency funds. USA Today Florida Network. Associated Press. The 74.
Opinions on schools: Are this year’s Florida SAT results good enough? Should we stop trying now? The answers to both of these questions are clearly "no," particularly in math. Paul Cottle, Bridge to Tomorrow.
