Greater collaboration is being credited for a dramatic decrease this year in the number of Florida K-12 scholarship students experiencing scholarship funding delays because their names were also found on public school rolls.
According to the latest state figures, the rate of matched students in the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options was less than 1%, while the rate of students applying for the Family Empowerment Scholarship for students with Unique Abilities Scholarship was about 5%. Officials attributed the higher match percentage for FES-UA to that group’s greater mobility, given the various services available through the public school system.
In the latest quarter, fewer than 6,000 scholarship students were reported in public schools compared with 27,000 in the quarter that included the start of the 2025-26 school year.
The improvements occurred after officials at the Florida Department of Education worked with the state’s 67 school districts and Step Up For Students to improve the crosscheck process and pinpoint more students who were being double counted.
During the 25-26 school year, there are six crosschecks where the Florida DOE compares Step Up’s list of students who are on scholarship with school districts’ lists of students who were reported as attending a public school. If a student appears on both lists, Step Up For Students immediately freezes the student’s funds to ensure that public tax dollars are spent properly.
Step Up then contacts the families of these students and requests documentation showing that they were not enrolled in a district school, which is sent to the DOE. These students are funded on the scholarship only after the DOE clears them.
All scholarship accounts that were frozen from 2024-25 and the first two quarters of 2025-26 due to students appearing in a public school crosscheck have been resolved.
Step Up For Students, the nation’s largest education choice scholarship funding organization, is pleased to announce it has been renewed as an SFO for the 2026-27 school year following a unanimous vote by the Florida Board of Education.
Step Up has served Florida for more than two decades, starting with the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program. The nonprofit currently administers five programs and one stipend with over 520,000 students, and processes 10 million financial transactions.
On Feb. 1, Step Up once again set the new national record in education choice: It received a record 200,000 applications in the first three days of Season Open, and by the 10th day it had received a record 300,000 applications. It is currently nearing 400,000 applications.
“Step Up For Students is grateful for the confidence the Board of Education has shown in our ability to manage the state’s education choice programs,” said Step Up CEO Gretchen Schoenhaar. “There is no initiative of this size, scope and complexity in the country, and we are honored to serve the parents, students, schools, providers and vendors as well as to partner with the DOE and legislature in Florida.”
When Florida in 2023 made all K-12 students in the state eligible for a scholarship program and transformed the programs into education savings accounts (ESAs) that gave parents more flexibility in how they spend their children’s scholarship funds, it unleashed unprecedented demand from families. Step Up has responded with technological innovations and process improvements that have defined the customer experience.
Central to that is Step Up’s Education Market Assistant (EMA), an online platform to manage an ESA program from start to finish, including the onboarding of parents through the online application, the processing of those applications and the reporting features required by the state. EMA also serves as the platform for education service providers, vendors, and private schools to engage with parents.
EMA brings together parents and providers in an efficient marketplace and ensures all ESA funds are spent effectively and efficiently consistent with state law, including preventing fraud. The platform has influenced similar technologies across the nation.
For the second year in a row, Step Up has realized significant improvements in performance even as participation in the state’s scholarship programs continues to grow:
Step Up welcomes continued collaboration with the Florida Department of Education and the Legislature to find solutions to systemic challenges in the education choice scholarship programs.
Hurricane Helene: School officials called off classes on Thursday in Palm Beach in anticipation of Hurricane Helene. Palm Beach joined nearby Martin and St. Lucie counties, who also called off classes. School buses can't operate safely once winds reach higher than 35 mph, according to the Florida Department of Education. Of this county's nearly 189,000 students, more than 54,000 take buses that run along 500 routes daily. School officials said normal operations should resume today, and that the district will not add a day to the year's calendar to make up for the closure on Thursday. Palm Beach Post. The state's Department of Education issued a news release with a list of school districts, colleges and universities that will temporarily close due to Helene. The agency said it "works closely with school districts before, during and after natural disasters to ensure they have the resources necessary to resume normal operations as quickly as possible. It will continue collaborating with district leadership to address questions as they arise." Florida Department of Education. TC Palm. Patch. In north Florida, both Escambia and Santa Rosa County school districts announced schools would be closed on Thursday due to Helene. “We anticipate normal district operations will resume on Friday, Sept. 27,” stated Superintendent Keith Leonard. “Of course, we'll continue to work closely with local emergency operations officials to determine what is safest for our families and staff. We will always err on the side of caution when it comes to the safety of our students and employees." Pensacola News Journal. Along the Treasure Coast, Palm Beaches and Okeechobee, school plans varied. WPBF. In Polk County, schools will be closed today as they were Thursday. LKLD Now.
Legislature updates: The state Board of Education voted to ask the Legislature for $27.2 billion, up about $167 million from this fiscal year, for the 2025-26 education operating and fixed outlay budget. "The education budget — it’s one of the largest budget items where we have discretion,” Chair Ben Gibson said during the meeting. The Board unanimously approved the upcoming legislative request at a virtual meeting that lasted less than 30 minutes. Florida Trend. Politico. Tampa Bay Times. Florida Phoenix.
Court ruling: A court ruling in Disney's favor could force Orange County Public Schools to refund millions in property taxes to the company. The decision, handed down earlier this week, followed an eight-year legal battle over claims that the Orange County Property Appraiser's Office improperly calculated the taxable value of the Yacht & Beach Club, a 1,200-room Disney-owned resort and convention hotel near the Epcot theme park. Yahoo News. Orlando Sentinel.
Banned books: As Banned Books Week comes to a close, book publishers, authors and parents are continuing to fight back about the state's book bans. WMNF.
Broward: A high school counselor was told he was under investigation one day after he criticized the Broward Teachers Union president. But district administrators said it was all a misunderstanding. South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Sarasota: Security efforts are being enhanced with AI gun detection in Sarasota schools. Tampa Bay Business Journal.
Lake: School speed camera tickets in Eustis decreased after months of increasing. The Eustis Police Department became the first law enforcement agency in Florida to install and then activate school-zone speed cameras. “Everybody seems to be going pretty good right now. I’m very proud of this, I think the word is getting out," said Chief Craig Capri. WKMG.
College fair: A college fair that began in 2009 will again be held in partnership with the Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Florida. Educating students and families about the college admissions and financial aid process and helping athletes connect with prospective colleges, especially historically Black colleges and universities, is the main purpose of the fair, said Mike Powell, the main organizer of the event. The Gainesville Sun.
Colleges and universities: For the eighth year in a row, Florida was named the top state for higher education by U.S. News & World Report. The rankings take into account various factors that include graduation rates, social mobility, student debt, retention rates and academic reputation. Flagler Live. A University of Florida professor-turned-astronaut continues to work on his research collected in space during his Aug. 29 flight. Dr. Robert Ferl flew on Blue Origin’s New Shepard Rocket for a 15-minute suborbital journey – the same flight time of first American astronaut Alan B. Shepard in 1961. But Ferl had some extra baggage in tow. WUFT. College students are facing poverty and homelessness. A U.S. Department of Education survey found that around 8% of college students are unhoused, and more suffer food insecurity. WUSF.
Around the state: School grades were released across the state, gender disparities vary across colleges and universities, teachers must get permission from principals to use certain material and parents in Duval are encouraged to fill out a crucial survey. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Palm Beach: A bicycling event honored a local man who was a pioneer in the education world. Dr. Joaquin Garcia was honored on Sunday for his contributions to local schools in this county. La Vuelta Palm Beach 2023 was a community event with the first long-distance bike ride to benefit the school named in the late Garcia's honor, which opened this fall. Dozens participated in the event. WPTV. Meanwhile, voters in Palm Beach may be asked to again raise the sales tax in order pay for construction projects at public schools. State requirements for the school district to share money with charter schools and the higher cost of construction has caused a $600 million shortfall in its capital budget of the next 10 years. Palm Beach Post.
Hillsborough: In Brandon, Black and brown students learned hair care through Curls for Queens, a Tallahassee-based hair care organization. Tampa Bay Times.
Duval: To secure federal funding for schools, the school system here is calling on all parents with children enrolled to actively participate in the 2023 Federal Impact Aid Survey. The survey can significantly contribute to funding for educational materials, textbooks and staff support. Parents are strongly encouraged to participate before the deadline, which is Dec. 20. CBS 47. Meanwhile, a new center in Jacksonville will expand the clinical capacity for the diagnostic evaluation, management and treatment of children and adults with neurodevelopmental disorders. It is among 10 new projects that are receiving strategic funding at the University of Florida, according to President Ben Sasse. Linda R. Edwards, M.D., dean of the College of Medicine in Jacksonville, is optimistic that the Precision Autism Center of Excellence will have a significant effect on healthcare outcomes. “We are thrilled to be receiving this opportunity to provide additional support to individuals with autism,” Edwards said. “CBS 47. Yahoo News.
Brevard: In the past, if a teacher saw a chance to step outside the textbook and use a video, poem, art project or word problem in a math class to help students better grasp a concept, they were free to do that. Now, due to HB 1069, which places responsibility of overseeing instructional material on principals, they must get permission before using "supplemental material." The process can take weeks and the consequences could be dire, with one elementary school principal writing to her teachers in an email that if they did not request approval of the use of items like worksheets, websites or coloring pages that were not part of district adopted curriculum, they could face monetary fines, fail time or forfeiture of their teaching certificate and loss of their jobs. The inability to be flexible with lessons through the use of supplemental materials is having a profound impact on students and teachers, said Adam Tritt, an advanced placement English teacher at Bayside High School. "Any time a teachable moment comes up, which I could cover with a poem or an article or a short video, I actually have to get the permission, fill out a form and get permission through the principal, which means it has destroyed the teachable moment," Tritt said. Florida Today.
Sarasota: Attention surrounding Bridget Ziegler's life is the basis of mounting pressure for her to quit her public life with the school board. ABC Action News.
School grades: Long-awaited school grades arrived on Monday for Florida's schools. Results from the state Department of Education showed that the Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando and Pinellas school districts earned B grades overall. Pinellas Superintendent Kevin Hendrick pointed to “tremendous” results at various campuses, including Tyrone Middle, the district’s only F-rated school last year. Tyrone rose to C, one of 10 middle schools to improve their grades. “These school grades serve as a baseline for districts and provide a starting point for future achievement,” state education commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. said in a statement. Tampa Bay Times. In Alachua County, schools received a B grade. Main Street Daily News. In Miami-Dade, A grades were received. CBS Miami.
Colleges and universities: A cohort for LGBTQ students at the University of South Florida that is part of the school's "living and learning communities" celebrated five years since its creation. "The only agenda that we have here is to love each other, to respect each other, and make friends,” said Trikkha, a psychology major. WUSF. Across most college campuses in the United States, one fact has been consistent for decades: Female students outnumber male ones. The gender disparity is not the same at all Florida campuses, with the gap varying from school to school. Palm Beach Post.
Opinions on schools: The Florida Education Association estimates that there are over 5,000 teacher vacancies in Florida's public schools, which represents a critical shortage. Arthur Harley, South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Around the state: The Florida Department of Education is preparing for a review of history standards, bus drivers are being sought in Orange, some gyms in Alachua lack air conditioning, voucher funds are trickling in and school board races are heating up statewide. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Hillsborough: School board races are heating up statewide, with the qualifying deadline still eight months away for 2024 races. Issues such as content in school library books have come up as recurrent themes among a new crop of candidates. In Hillsborough, there are 10 challengers for four seats, which incumbents are planning to defend. Tampa Bay Times. Meanwhile, Hillel Academy of Tampa will open a school for the 2024-25 school year that will serve students in grades 9-12. “This marks a significant milestone in the institution’s commitment to excellence in education and holistic student development,” said Head of School Allison Oakes. Jewish Press Pinellas.
Orange: The school district here will offer bus drivers and mechanics a special sign-on bonus to attract new candidates for the jobs. Currently, there is a need for 100 new bus drivers in the district. A nationwide bus shortage has been worsened by early retirement, low driver pay and other factors that include health concerns over rising COVID-19 figures. WMFE.
Escambia: Facing book ban pressure, Michelle White, former coordinator of library services, resigned after 12 years serving the district. Pensacola News-Journal.
Leon: In an effort to improve development of young children before they start school, the Leon County School District is introducing the "Littles to Leaders" program in partnership with Capital Area Healthy Start Coalition. The initiative will support families with resources and education on the development of children from birth to 5 years old to get them prepared for school. “We are committed to doing everything we can to prepare this diverse population of young people to enter school ready to succeed, because if we can have an impact before they start school, we can spend the time (they) are in our classrooms building upon that foundation and not playing catch-up," LCS Superintendent Rocky Hanna said in a statement. Tallahassee Democrat.
Alachua: At least four Alachua County public schools have no air conditioning units in their gyms at a time when local temperatures are rising. Instead of air conditioning, gyms at Howard Bishop Middle, Westwood Middle, Mebane Middle and High Springs Community have fans, according to Jackie Johnson, schools spokesperson. Alachua County’s “Half-Cent for Schools” sales tax initiative, passed by local voters in 2018, was intended to help repair older schools, including broken-down air conditioners. But despite the massive repair work that’s followed at schools such as Howard Bishop, the added cost of installing a completely new A/C system in gyms proved prohibitive, according to Johnson. “It’s very hot. Too hot,” said Layla Robinson, a seventh grader at High Springs Community School and No. 3 on the Hawks’ varsity volleyball team. WUFT. Meanwhile, the Newberry City Commission is looking for ways to help families get students to school after the Alachua school district announced plans to cancel courtesy bus routes starting in January. Main Street Daily News.
Collier: GLSEN is a national nonprofit that provides teachers resources for LGBT-friendly classrooms. GLSEN Collier Co-Chair Chris Schmeckpeper-Kobzina said educators and students can get resources online or attend meetings in-person or virtually. "We're not going to stop coexisting with others teachers and making sure that everybody has the information that they need," Schmeckpeper-Kobzina said. Naples Daily News.
Indian River: Community members, parents and advocates brought their concerns about new African-American history standards to the school district of Indian county this week. WPTV.
Voucher money returns: School voucher funds in Florida began trickling into parent and private school accounts over the weekend after complaints surfaced that delayed payments were threatening to derail education for children. More than six weeks have passed since the fall semester began, and the delays have forced some school officials to use their own funds to keep operating. Tampa Bay Times.
History standards review: The Florida Department of Education is gearing up for a comprehensive review of academic standards that pertain to Asian-American and Pacific Islander history in accordance with recent legislative approvals. The state's education department has set the stage for a series of meetings to be held in October that constitute a "civics workgroup." The assembly's task involves reviewing and potentially crafting new standards in alignment with House Bill 1537. Yahoo News. CBS 47.
Opinions on schools: Florida school districts have added a number of students more than three times the size of the K-12 enrollment of Wyoming between 2003-21, despite the growth of choice options. Moreover, Florida's spending per pupil increased faster than inflation during this period, so more students and a higher real spending per pupil is a very odd way to "destroy" school districts. Matthew Ladner, reimaginED. Tracking is one pernicious practice that sends damaging messages to students. Katey Arrington, The 74th.
Around the state: Funding was cut at four schools Gov. Ron DeSantis alleges have communist ties, a high school marching band in Venice is headed overseas to perform, the state of Florida leads the nation in book bans and a data breach occurred in Hillsborough. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Palm Beach: Students aren't the only ones who receive report cards in this county. The school district's leaders do, too. Palm Beach Post.
Hillsborough: The protected information on 254 students has been accessed improperly as a result of a cybersecurity breach, according to a letter sent to families recently by the Hillsborough County school district. The information may include names, Social Security numbers and details about school nurse visits, among other information. Tampa Bay Times.
Sarasota: The Venice High Marching Band will perform in London for a New Year's Day parade in January 2025, the school announced recently in a press release. About 100 band students will travel to London for about a week during the district’s winter break and will perform alongside more than 8,000 performers. The event will also stream on PBS with a street audience of about half a million people, according to the release. “The kids are really excited about this. The families are excited. Our school is excited. I'm excited, as you can tell,” said Band Director David Wing. Sarasota Herald Tribune.
Bathroom rule: The governing body of the state University System of Florida is moving forward with a proposed rule that prohibits faculty from using restrooms that don't correspond to their assigned gender at birth. Gov. DeSantis signed the law in May, and the Board of Governors approved moving forward with a notice of intent to adopt a new regulation about the designation of restrooms or having unisex restrooms. “University employees who violate (the law), are subject to their university’s established disciplinary procedures, which must include disciplinary actions up to and including dismissal,” the proposed regulation said. Universities are required to provide documentation certifying their compliance with the law by April 1. Amanda Phalin, a member of the Board of Governors who also is a professor at the University of Florida, voted against moving forward with the regulation. Orlando Weekly. CBS 47. WCJB. CBS Miami. Florida Phoenix.
Book bans: Florida leads the nation in book bans according to a new report by national free speech group PEN America. The report found 3,362 instances of books banned across the nation in the 2022-23 school year, which is up 33% from the previous one. School districts in Palm Beach and Okeechobee counties have not banned any books. Jonathan Friedman, the director of education programs for the nonprofit group, calls the escalation of book bans "alarming." Tallahassee Democrat. WUSF. WPTV. WFSU.
Funding cuts: Gov. Ron DeSantis said he ordered the Florida Department of Education to suspend the availability of school choice scholarships to four private schools he says have alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party. The schools are: Lower Sagemont Preparatory School in Weston; Upper Sagemont Preparatory School in Weston; Parke House Academy in Winter Park; Park Maitland School in Maitland. In the release, DeSantis said the four schools have "direct ties to the CCP (Chinese Community Party) and their connections constitute an imminent threat to the health, safety, and welfare of these school’s students and the public." Fox 35. WKMG. WESH. Tampa Bay Times.
University and college news: The Florida Board of Governors voted to close three University of Central Florida campuses. WMFE. New College of Florida Interim President Richard Corcoran made his case to students and employees to keep his job on a permanent basis. The Board of Trustees is expected to make a decision on the president during an Oct. 3 meeting. Tampa Bay Times. WUSF. University of Florida's Rob Ferl is leading a national panel on space research. Main Street Daily News.
Opinions on schools: In a recent survey, The Wall Street Journal named University of Florida the best public college in the United States and No. 15 among all schools, both public and private. Several other state universities are also doing well, according to the WSJ, which said its rankings reject the assumption that education quality is largely dictated by how expensive it is to produce. Editorial Board, Tampa Bay Times. Young people are more active and less informed. Cortney Stewart, Citrus County Chronicle. District officials say frustration is mounting as they try to enforce new education laws championed by Florida's Republican-run government regarding race, sex, gender issues and books. Editorial Board, Tampa Bay Times.
Book review process: The school board in Brevard spent nearly two weeks debating their public comment policy, prompted by concerns that parents may disregard the book review process to fast-track getting a book off school library shelves through a loophole created by a new law. No changes were made to the policy at Tuesday's meeting, but board members discovered that some challenged books had been banned due to the loophole. House Bill 1069, which dictates what can and cannot be taught in schools, says that parents must be allowed to read from challenged books. If a school board member stops them because the content is sexually explicit, the book must come out of all schools within five days. Florida Today. In Volusia, A total of 89 books were challenged in Volusia County Schools in the 2022-2023 school year, according to data released by the Florida Department of Education. Palm Coast Observer.
Unpaid school vouchers: Florida families are saying school vouchers have been unpaid. The first disbursements in the newly-expanded program were due on Sept. 1. Lawmakers lifted the eligibility requirements for the system, which led to a doubling of participation this fall to more than 400,000 children. The disruption appears to have affected thousands of students, leaving parents and school officials unable to get answers from those in charge of the voucher system.“This year it’s been the worst,” said Maria Preston, who runs Fort Lauderdale's Diverse Abilities Center. Tampa Bay Times.
Palm Beach: School Superintendent Mike Burke spoke about issues the school district is facing and priorities for the year in front of the League of Women Voters. Palm Beach County mother Monica Baber says knowing what’s going on with her children’s education is a big priority. That’s why she came to Mounts Botanical Garden to hear Burke talk Wednesday. “I want to know that they are getting taught to tackle further challenges that will come along in higher education, and I want to make sure they're going to be well rounded," said Baber. WPEC.
Brevard: The county school board moved toward a settlement in a lawsuit over a student with Down syndrome who came home with a mask tied to her face during a school mask mandate two years ago. The board prevailed earlier this year in a $100 million federal lawsuit filed by the family of then 7-year-old Sofia Bezerra, a special needs student at Ocean Breeze Elementary in Indian Harbour Beach. Florida Today.
Seminole: Moms for Liberty, the conservative group founded in Florida, aimed to get books pulled from Seminole County Public Schools libraries by reading aloud at a school board meeting this week passages they said amounted to pornography. The Seminole County School Board on Tuesday night listened without interruption as Moms for Liberty members and supporters read short book excerpts, in almost all cases without naming the book or the author. Orlando Sentinel.
Alachua: The school board here acknowledged at its meeting earlier this week that it is investigating a student club at Gainesville High School that limits participation to Black male students. Superintendent Shane Andrew disclosed that a parent of one of the students who attended the club submitted a complaint to the school district's human resources department. The parent's issue was with the information presented to students. WUFT. Gainesville Sun.
Veterans program: Over a year after the Florida Department of Education amended its teaching requirements to give military vets an easier pathway to become certified teachers, state figures show veteran participation hasn't been stellar. “It seems like there was a lot of fanfare around this program being a huge solution to a problem. Clearly, that's not the case,” said Andrew Spar, head of the Florida Education Association (FEA), the state’s largest teacher’s union. At the start of the school year, the FEA issued a press release saying the number of teacher vacancies in the state reached nearly 7,000, "the worst in state history." ABC Action News.
Advocacy for students: A small group of parents, students and residents voiced support for LBGTQ+ students earlier this week at a Hillsborough County School Board meeting. The message: Marginalized groups deserve respect and protection. A new program launched this year by Equality Florida called "Fall into Action" helped them share the message. Spokesperson Carlos Guillermo Smith said the initiative's goal is to give people the tools needed to sign up and speak out at local school board meetings in every district in the state. WUSF.
University and college news: Florida State University College of Medicine's Orlando regional campus is celebrating its 20th graduating class. WESH. Florida Atlantic University faculty want their interim president to become permanent amid a stalled search for president as the state investigates what it called "anomalies" in the search process. The hope is that interim President Dr. Stacy Volnick, who has been serving in the role since late last year, become's the university's permanent leader. WPTV. Ben Sasse, the new president at University of Florida, talked about ideas for changing campus culture and a possible tuition hike as he made the rounds on campus recently. Tampa Bay Times. Student and dads from Florida State University schools are participating in the Walking School Bus. WXTL.
Around the state: Mentors are needed for a program in Citrus, history standards stir controversy nationwide, a change in plans at the newest high school in Palm Beach, back-to-school giveaways in Duval and Orange and new leadership in Lee. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state's districts, private schools, colleges and universities:
Broward: The new schools superintendent here is no stranger to South Florida public schools. Dr. Peter Licata grew up in Pompano Beach and spent three decades as a teacher, principal and administrator in Palm Beach County. WLRN.
Palm Beach: A change in plans for this county's newest high school will result in a new artificial turf football field for about $1.4 million. Dr. Joaquín García High will be just the fourth public high school in the district with a turf field. When the district staff made the change just six weeks before the football team's home opener, they didn't allow the normal bidding process to keep the price competitive, saying that they did not have time. Crews from Pirtle Construction were installing the base for a natural sod football field at the school — the district's first new high school in 18 years — when the school board approved the artificial turf on Wednesday. Palm Beach Post.
Orange: With school starting in a few weeks in this county, events and giveaways abound to make sure students are all set for their first day. This weekend, hundreds of families showed up at Eccleston Elementary for a literacy and book giveaway that was hosted in part by Need to Read Inc., a nonprofit that regularly hosts literacy events to emphasize the importance of reading at a young age. “We have to start early with our children because low literacy leads to all kinds of detrimental outcomes,” said Pastor Roderick Zak. WKMG.
Duval: One mother who lost her son is making sure kids have what they need to have a good school year. For the second year in a row, there will be a back-to-school giveaway in honor of Rashaud Fields, set for noon on July 29 at The Legends Center on Soutel Drive. At least 200 backpacks will be given away, as well as school supplies. There will also be food, drinks, games and a chance for kids to participate in flag football and a basketball tournament. News 4 Jax.
Lee: There are 14 new principals in Lee county schools. Ft. Myers News-Press.
Citrus: Mentors are needed for the 2023-24 school year for a program called Men Building Men and Women Building Women. The goal is to provide young men and women in Citrus with positive, influential role models who are willing and committed to giving them leadership, guidance and direction to become successful in life. “You know they’re going through a rough time, and a lot of them have poor attendance and poor grades … and for some, school just isn’t their priority because of other things that are going on,” said mentor Curtis Lewis. Citrus Chronicle.
Controversial history standards: In the wake of the Florida Department of Education's new standards on African American history that suggest slaves benefited from skills they learned while enslaved, the department issued a statement that offered examples of 16 historic figures they said fit that description. But Vice President Kamala Harris said extremists want to "replace history with lies" as she traveled to Florida on Friday. Meanwhile, the American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten and her colleague Leo Casey on Saturday issued a joint statement. Tampa Bay Times. Miami Herald. WFTV. NPR.
Shelter bill: The U.S. House last week passed a bill to bar the use of public K-12 school facilities to provide shelter for migrants seeking asylum in the United States. The bill is known as the "School Not Shelters Act," and if enacted into law, public schools and public higher education institutions would risk losing federal funding if they provide shelter to migrants who have not been admitted into the country. Florida Phoenix.
University and college news: Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Friday that Michael White was appointed to the Board of Trustees at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, or FAMU. White's confirmation is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate. White is set to replace Michael Dubose, whose term expired in January. “As a proud Rattler, I am honored to have received this distinguished appointment by Governor DeSantis. I look forward to contributing to developing the University’s policies and programs to ensure they build upon the legacy of FAMU,” said White. WXTL. University of Florida Researcher Felipe Ferrao says Florida could become a global hub for coffee research. That's why he's leading studies into the caffeinated beverage and the plants that produce it. Main Street Daily News.
Opinions on schools: Should the state's political leaders care what people in other states think of our education culture debates? Yes, and here's why. Paul Cottle, Bridge to Tomorrow.
Across the state: The State University System of Florida is investigating the presidential search at Florida Atlantic University, the Florida Board of Education is meeting this week to weigh approval of proposed rules, staffing shortages are plaguing districts across the state as the first day of school approaches and books that include the works of William Shakespeare are being debated for use in schools. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Orange: A descendant of the founders of the town of Eatonville has joined a lawsuit contesting the Orange County School District's control of property dedicated to the education of Black children. Plaintiff Bea Leach Hatler is the great-granddaughter of Robert Hungerford, whose namesake is the school built on the site. The school board attempted to sell 100 acres for the construction of a mixed-use development, but community objections forced the developer to call off the project. Now, the community hopes to develop a museum, conference center and school in honor of Zora Neale Hurston, who was born there. Florida Phoenix. Meanwhile, the district is on track to reopen Riverdale Elementary at the start of the school year. The school has been closed since Hurricane Ian hit and flooded it with 2.5 feet of floodwater, officials say. WKMG.
Pasco: A Zephyrhills math coach who supports the parental rights movement wants to serve on the Pasco school board. Clyde L. Smith has worked in Pasco schools since 2010. Tampa Bay Times.
Staffing woes: Students in Bay county will be heading back to school in less than a month. Meanwhile, district officials are hoping to be fully staffed when classes begin on Aug. 10. School officials are considering partnering with a full-tine substitute staffing company. "Over the last several years, we have experienced a sub shortage in the classroom, and on a daily basis, normally fill in about 78% of the vacancies," said Executive Director of Human Resources Holly Buchanan. WJHG. In Santa Rosa county, there are about 200 positions open. Those positions need to be filled in all 38 schools in the district. School officials say 107 of those positions are instructional, and 80 are education support positions. WEAR.
Student loan forgiveness: More than 804,000 federal student loan borrowers will soon be notified that their debts will be automatically erased. "For far too long, borrowers fell through the cracks of a broken system that failed to keep accurate track of their progress towards forgiveness," said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona in press release. NPR. CNN. WFLA. While the U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Joe Biden's widespread plan for student loan forgiveness in a 6-3 ruling, another plan that could gradually achieve similar results is in the works. Biden's plan would have provided up to $20,000 in debt relief to Pell grant recipients and $10,000 to non-Pell grant recipients. NPR. Florida Today.
University and college news: A state investigation was launched into Florida Atlantic University's presidential search, which is currently suspended. The State University System of Florida, the agency in charge of regulating the public university system, assigned its inspector general to look into the process, and FAU cancelled public forums with the three candidates. Chancellor Ray Rodrigues cited two concerns regarding the search: The search committee's use of secret ballots to narrow down candidates and a questionnaire asking about applicants sexual orientation and gender identity. "This office has received concerning information regarding anomalies that have been alleged in the Florida Atlantic University presidential search," a letter from Rodrigues said. Florida Phoenix. South Florida Sun-Sentinel. WPEC. Florida Times-Union.
Teacher recognition: Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that teachers have received recognition for their civics training. Over 11,000 teachers participated in the state Department of Education training and received over $33 million. The Summer Civics Professional Learning Series and Civics Seal of Excellence Endorsement provides teachers tools to teach civics in the classroom. The 50-hour online program had video lessons on America's history and government. Each teacher who earned the endorsement got a $3,000 stipend. DeSantis and the state Department of Education launched the Civics Seal of Excellence in January. WFTV.
School grades: This year, school grades will be delayed anywhere from late November to early January, according to an Escambia County District Schools data scientist. The reason: Florida students moved to a series of brand new state assessments called Florida Assessment of Student Thinking, or FAST, which prompted a delay in administering the grades. Pensacola News Journal.
Book challenges: Some say that the work of William Shakespeare could be at risk from being taught in state schools due to a new book challenge law, HB 1069, which took effect on July 1. Media specialists across the state are wondering if their interpretation breaks the law if they don't remove media that has certain definitions. Tallahassee Democrat.
State Board of Education rules: The Board is slated this week to weigh approval of proposed rules that include measures that would stop the use of the social media app TikTok on campuses and bar teachers from asking students their preferred pronouns. Some of the proposals, which go before the board during a Wednesday meeting in Orlando, stem from new laws that arose from the 2023 legislative session. WMNF.
Shorter school week: Some schools across the nation are moving to a four-day week, with Mondays off. The goal? Promoting self-care and quality of life for both students and teachers. About 2,100 schools across 26 states have switched to four-day weeks, data shows. Fox 35.
Best college's list: Money magazine's best colleges in America 2023 list included 17 Florida schools. The list looks at graduation rates, tuition, financial aid and alumni salaries. Patch.
Opinions on schools: One of the most insightful responses to the U.S. Supreme Court blocking affirmative action policies in university admissions came from Scott Galloway, a marketing professor at New York University. The solution, Galloway argues, is to create radically more space in top universities. Travis Pillow, reimaginED. Liberal professors leaving Florida has prompted a variety of views from residents. Tampa Bay Times. I recently received thank you notes saying I had been a good teacher. I also got an invite to a graduation party. The truth is, I don't feel like a good teacher. Yvette J. Green, Chalkbeat.
When the doors of the former Warrington Middle School open in August, students will enter a new School of Hope.
Members of the State Board of Education unanimously approved Renaissance Charter School’s application to be a School of Hope operator in Escambia County, the westernmost county of the Florida Panhandle. Renaissance, a non-profit organization, is managed by Charter Schools USA, a for-profit company based in Fort Lauderdale that serves 100 charter schools across the United States.
The approval came a week after the Escambia County School Board approved a contract with Charter Schools USA and Renaissance to take over operations at Warrington Middle School, which has struggled academically for more than a decade and has not received a state grade higher than a D during that time.
The designation, allowed by a law passed in 2017, includes several conditions that allow charter operators to be named Schools of Hope. Those include charter schools that are approved to take over struggling district schools that are in the state turnaround process. It also gives the charter operators access to additional state funding.
The most recent designation in this category was granted to Somerset Academy, Inc., which took over the Jefferson County School District in 2017 after the district’s long string of failing state grades. After its five-year contract ended, Somerset turned the schools back over to district officials.
“This is not just a name; it’s just not a designation with bragging rights,” said Adam Emerson executive director of the Florida department of Education’s Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice. “It also does come with some significant resources, startup resources, that can get help get them off the ground for a successful start this fall because the first day of school is only a few months away.”
Emerson said the state education department would take an active role in helping Renaissance Charter School as it reopens the former Warrington Middle campus and will provide updates at each monthly state Board of Education meeting.
“This has been the bane of our existence for quite some time,” board member Monesia Brown said. She pointed out that the district’s messaging during the contract negotiation process had been primarily negative and asked that future communications from the state reassure parents that “this is an investment to make sure their children get the quality of education they deserve.”
The approval of the contract between the Escambia County School District and Charter Schools USA marked the end of two months of tense negotiations over the school’s future enrollment policies, fees and long-term lease issues.
District leaders also faced the wrath of state officials and board members who criticized them for failing to make progress in reaching an agreement with the charter organization.
In a surprise move shortly after voting to approve the contract, the Escambia County School Board fired the superintendent.
Emerson said now that the contract has been signed, the community is coming together, and that a recent meeting “struck a collaborative tone to move forward.”
