Surfside: Two Miami-Dade students are among the 150 missing in the Surfside condo collapse. Miami-Dade Public School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho told the Miami Herald that they have been able to connect with 15 of the 17 students living in the building. Miami Herald.
Duval: Duval County Public Schools will be getting a new chief of police. Retired Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Assistant Chief Gregory Burton gets the nod to become the next executive director of the school district’s police force. WJCT, Florida Times-Union.
Hillsborough: The Hillsborough County School District board met yesterday to defend its rejection of several charter school applications. The board claimed two schools were rejected because of financial issues and two others because of “problems related to implementation of special education.” Several parents spoke before the board to defend the rejected charter schools. “It is very disheartening to watch a School Board meeting where members suggest that I as a parent don’t know what is best for my children,” said parent Ternica Blackmon. “With all due respect, my children’s education is not your choice. It’s mine.” Tampa Bay Times.
St. Johns: St Johns county will continue contact tracing, limit stadium capacity to 75 percent and continue to ask students and guests to wear masks at games. WJXT.
Testing: Fewer students took state tests in public schools last year, but how could that impact school grades? An analysis found only four of the state’s 67 school districts made improvements during the lockdown while 55 saw declines in academic performance. Florida Phoenix.
Higher education: Cost overruns on a new dormitory almost threatened to end the 117 year existence of Bethune-Cookman University. The University was able to settle with the developer and create a new financial plan with a $108 million loan backed by the Federal department of education. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
National: Puerto Rico will be receiving nearly $4 billion to boost the islands education. Miami Herald. A new study says the method of using free and reduced-price meals program eligibility as a proxy for student poverty is wrong and outdated. Researchers believe the old method overcounts the number of students living in poverty. Education Week.
