Schools closed for storm: Schools across north-central and northwest Florida are closing because of Hurricane Michael, which is forecast to become a major hurricane by the time it hits somewhere in the Florida Panhandle Wednesday. Schools in Leon, Franklin, Gulf and Wakulla counties are closed today through Friday, as are several charter schools and universities in the Tallahassee area. Dixie, Gadsden, Suwannee, Madison, Liberty, Calhoun, Holmes and Taylor county schools are closed today through Thursday. Okaloosa, Citrus, Jackson, Jefferson, Gilchrist, Walton and Bay county schools are closed today and Wednesday, and Levy Wednesday and Thursday. Madison County schools are closed today. Schools in Escambia, Santa Rosa and Washington counties release early today and are closed Wednesday. Associated Press. Florida Department of Education. Tallahassee Democrat. WFSU. Pensacola News Journal. Northwest Florida Daily News. Panama City News Herald. WEAR. Foster Folly News. WXSR. Citrus County Chronicle. Ocala Star-Banner. Gainesville Sun. WJHG. WTXL. NorthEscambia.com. WCJB. WMBB. The approach of Hurricane Michael prompts the cancellation of this week's scheduled meetings of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission. Stoneman Douglas resource officer Scot Peterson was scheduled to testify. The next meetings are scheduled for Nov. 14-15. Sun-Sentinel.
Medical marijuana rules: While several Florida school districts have adopted policies to allow students to get legally prescribed medical marijuana treatments at schools, a policy adviser for several districts is recommending against districts creating such rules because the Florida statute violates federal law. In a letter to his district clients, Neola president Dick Clapp, writes that "Neola is concerned that if a district adopts a policy in response to (the Florida law) and the federal government decides to strictly enforce existing federal law, the district would be in a position to lose federal grant funds." Gradebook.
ESSA criticism: U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos' approval of Florida's plan to comply with the Every Student Succeeds Act is called a "disappointment" by advocates who wanted the state to test English language-learners in their native languages and to have those students' results included into the state's larger accountability system. More than 10 percent of the state's K-12 students are considered English-learners, and in some parts of the state the percentage is as high as 25 percent. Education Week. Gradebook.
Use of restraints: The number of times restraints have been used on students with special needs by the Hernando County School District has soared from 19 in the 2014-2015 school year to 153 in 2017-2018, according to district records. Cathy Dofka, the head of the district’s Exceptional Student Education department, had planned to cut the use in half two years ago. She blames the lack of qualified special education teachers for the increase. According to the state, Hernando ranks in the middle of Florida's districts in the use of restraints. Tampa Bay Times. (more…)
