Elsa’s effect on Florida: Tropical Storm Elsa is starting to move north, just off the west coast of Florida, and will affect the state today, Wednesday, and possibly Thursday. Many coastal school districts have canceled summer schools and other activities today and tomorrow, and some districts are opening schools as shelters for people in flood-prone areas. The storm is expected to bring tropical storm force winds, heavy rain, flooding and isolated tornadoes from the Keys to the Big Bend area through Wednesday afternoon, then turn to the northeast and cross Georgia and the Carolinas. Monday, Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 15 more counties: Alachua, Columbia, Dixie, Franklin, Hamilton, Gilchrist, Jefferson, Lake, Lafayette, Madison, Marion, Sumter, Suwanee, Taylor and Wakulla, joining the 15 that were declared last weekend: Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota. News Service of Florida. Associated Press. Florida Department of Education. Tampa Bay Times. WUSF. WFLA. WTSP. WTVT. WFTS. Bay News 9. Orlando Sentinel. WKMG. Florida Times-Union. WJXT. WTLV. Florida Politics. USA Today Florida Network. Pensacola News Journal. Naples Daily News. WFTX. WBBH. Lakeland Ledger. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. WWSB. WFTX. Ocala Star-Banner. Gainesville Sun. WTXL. Daytona Beach News-Journal. Northwest Florida Daily News. Citrus County Chronicle. Charlotte Sun. WFOR.
Around the state: With 39 low-performing schools, Hillsborough County could see an increase in the number of Schools of Hope, summer camps and school learning programs are contributing to the steep increase last week in the number of coronavirus cases in Leon County and Florida, and state professors worry that a new state law offering a buy-one, get-one deal on tuition for students in STEM subjects could lead to overcrowded classrooms and students taking classes for the wrong reasons. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Hillsborough: The district, with 39 of the lowest-performing elementary schools in Florida, has become fertile ground for the state’s Schools of Hope program. The program encourages five highly regarded charter school companies to start schools in areas where neighborhood schools have been failing, with little to no input or supervision from local school boards. Some critics of the program say the proliferation of school choice, in the form of charter and magnet schools, has been drawing successful students from the neighborhood schools for years. That, they argue, has contributed to the continuing struggles of many schools. Tampa Bay Times.
Palm Beach: Thousands of dollars in grant are available to district teachers through the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County. Last year the foundation’s grants program issued $116,000 to teachers for supplies, curriculum supplements. Foundation CEO James Gavrilos said all unique, innovative ideas to enhance classrooms are considered. WPTV.
Leon: The number of coronavirus cases skyrocketed 130 percent last week, while the number of cases in the state was up 42 percent. Health officials attributed some of the increase to children’s summer activities, such as camps and summer school. “In part the increase is tied to summer camp outbreaks effecting younger children/teens,” said a spokesperson for local health department. “We encourage those eligible, to get vaccinated. We’re increasing our contact tracing efforts to attempt to contain the virus and prevent its spread further in the population.” Tallahassee Democrat.
Colleges and universities: A new state law that offers a buy-one, get-one deal on tuition for students in STEM subjects could lead to overcrowded classrooms and students taking classes for the wrong reasons, say professors. Tampa Bay Times. The University of Florida has had mixed success in making progress on 15 anti-racism goals it set a year ago. Gainesville Sun.
The coronavirus effect: Mental health experts say many young students have fallen behind academically, socially and emotionally because of the pandemic, and the effects could last years or even decades. WUSF.
Opinions on schools: The 2020-2021 school year saw a large increase in school choice reforms, charter school enrollment, a large to gigantic increase in home-schooling (estimates vary) and the emergence of a micro-schooling sector. Matthew Ladner, redefinED. Florida’s new law requiring colleges and universities to survey students and employees as a way to develop intellectual diversity is short on details and long on partisan politics. Tampa Bay Times. Having conversations about critical race theory is essential for future social workers to effectively understand the people they will serve. Darla Spence Coffey, Orlando Sentinel. As a society, we have moved on from our past, and to teach our children that systemic racism exists is in and of itself racist. Joseph P. Lorio, Daytona Beach News-Journal. I’m an LGBTQ teacher in Florida, and I don’t always feel seen, protected, or supported. Brian Kerekes, Lakeland Ledger. The Legislature could produce a buy-one, get-one program that is both equitable and sustainable by adding nursing and education to the program and then reimbursing the universities for the cost of the program. Paul Cottle, Bridge to Tomorrow. We have spelling bees. Why not reading bees? Adam Tyner, Orlando Sentinel.
