Around the state: Contract negotiations move forward in Duval, discussion about new schools in St. Johns, state officials are set to remove the vaccine mandate and non-lethal drones could be used in schools. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Duval: The School Board in this county has officially given officials the green light to move ahead with contract negotiations surrounding the relocation of the district's headquarters. During a meeting on Tuesday night, the school board voted 6-1 to allow DCPS Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier to proceed with negotiations. A local nonprofit has a $20 million offer on the table to buy the current riverfront property that houses the headquarters. Board members are scheduled to vote on the headquarters sale during their Oct. 7 regular meeting. The School Board must approval all major decisions regarding real estate. News4Jax. Meanwhile, a nonprofit organization offering Bible classes to students sparked a debate during the meeting. The superintendent and school board chair both confirmed that the school district does not have a partnership with LifeWise, the nonprofit that will offer Bible classes to students. Parents have the right to allow their children to take part in the off-campus classes because of a state law. First Coast News.
St. Johns: The school district here held the first of two town halls Tuesday to address updating attendance zones to accommodate two new K–8 schools set to open in the 2026–27 school year. During the town halls, the district is bringing together School Board members, staff and the public to answer questions and hear feedback. The schools are currently under construction, and the district needs the new schools to keep up with the county’s rapid growth. News4Jax.
Escambia: The second highest number of school shootings in the nation's history was in 2024, according to the K-12 School Shooting Database. Now, the company Campus Guardian Angel is targeting the threat with non-lethal drones for schools. The program is taking flight in Florida. The drones will not replace physical officers and are designed to take down active threats in schools. WEAR.
Alachua: The School Board in this county unanimously approved the second reading of several policy amendments on Tuesday, which included discussions on the use of personally owned wireless communication devices by students. During Tuesday’s regular meeting, the policy that arguably drew the most discussion amongst the board was regarding student use of WCDs. “This amendment aligns with House Bill 1105, which amends Florida Statue 1006.07 and sets forth the prohibitions for student’s use of personally owned wireless communication devices – or WCDs – for elementary, middle and high school students,” Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Deborah Terry said. Main Street Daily News.
Indian River: Schools in this county are not seeing a significant decline in student enrollment. The total enrollment for the district is down just 1.2% from the previous year. The official count for this school year is 14,073 students — down 174 kids from September of last year. WPEC.
Vaccine mandates: Florida is set to end all state vaccine mandates, state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo announced during a news conference on Wednesday. The state for decades required vaccines for kids attending school, including shots that protect against measles, mumps, rubella, polio, chickenpox and Hepatitis B. The state Health Department, Ladapo said, can scrap its own rules for some vaccine mandates, but others would require action by the Florida Legislature. Miami Herald. WFLX. CBS Miami. ABC News.
AI success: Florida Virtual School joined the University of Florida and the Concord Consortium to launch a pilot course called AI in Math this summer. The goal is to introduce middle and high school students to AI concepts using interactive lessons. Tampa Bay Times.
Opinions on schools: The school board’s decision to close six schools didn’t buy Hillsborough another five years to confront its glut of empty classrooms. It didn’t even buy three. In fact, in 2024, the first year the full closure plan took effect, Hillsborough had the same number of schools (83) operating at or below 70% capacity as it did in 2022, when discussions about closings first got underway. John Hill, Tampa Bay Times.
Around the state: The Duval School Board is voting on negotiating contracts to sell its current headquarters, interim president begins at University of Florida, enrollment drops continue in some counties and students adjust to phone restrictions at school. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Duval: The School Board in this county is set to vote on negotiating contracts to sell its current headquarters on Jacksonville's Southbank and purchase a newer building. Voting yes would authorize Superintendent Christopher Bernier to negotiate final contracts for both transactions. More votes would still be needed to complete the deals. The board is expected to act on Oct. 7 to formally approve or reject a $20 million offer from the nonprofit Fleet Landing retirement community to buy the current headquarters for a new development, the school district said in a Sept. 1 message posted on its website. The Florida Times-Union. Yahoo News.
Volusia: Teens in this county can now take a new online driver's education course to meet a recent state law requiring completing a course before getting a learner's permit. The law requires teens 15-17 to complete a driver's education course before obtaining a permit. It is part of a larger effort to lower teen crash rates. "... The better that we can educate our young drivers, the safer our roads will be,” said Florida Safety Council Executive Director Christopher Earl. WFTV.
Enrollment drop: Schools in Tampa Bay are seeing fewer students in their classrooms than last year, according to preliminary 10-day counts from the districts. A drop in enrollment was expected, but some experienced a larger decline than anticipated, which could be detrimental for school budgets. Various reasons have contributed to the decline of enrollment nationwide, which include falling birth rates and education options outside of public school. In Pinellas, for example, the school district saw its student population decline from 77,854 to 74,203. Lee Bryant, president of the Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association, said "We're actually having more of a student loss than we anticipated, which means we'll have even less money coming into the county. The less money we have, the harder it is to keep our teachers employed." WUSF.
Phones in schools: As students headed back to school in the past few weeks, some are without a particular item: their cell phones. More states than ever are banning students from using the devices during school hours. Some hope students will see the long-term benefits, while others don't agree with the idea of a ban. WUSF.
Colleges and universities: Donald Landry, a former Columbia professor, is set to serve as interim president of the University of Florida. UF's Board of Trustees tapped Landry as the new interim leader starting Sept. 1 after a year of leadership at Florida's top-ranking public university being up in the air. Before the university's trustees, Landry reinforced that his goal as UF president would be to establish neutrality, meaning that the university would only weigh in on issues when it affects the "central core interest of the university." NWF Daily News. WCJB. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Opinions on schools: The COVID crisis catapulted peripheral educational trends into the mainstream, not only creating the opportunity for new schools and spaces to emerge but, more importantly, permanently altering the way parents, teachers, and kids think about schooling and learning. The pre‑pandemic tilt toward homeschooling and microschooling has converged with five post‑pandemic trends that are profoundly reshaping American education for families and founders. Kerry McDonald, the 74th. Florida does not have a cap on charter schools. Rather than treating highly successful schools specializing in educating disadvantaged students as a public menace, Florida is rolling out the red carpet for highly effective school models. Matthew Ladner, NextSteps.
Around the state: A referendum was unveiled in Polk, college rankings released, Broward selected beta testing site for new FAFSA, security wands to be used in Citrus, a federal judge struck down part of Florida's school book law and how some district's are working to alleviate school lunch debt. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Broward: This county was selected as a beta testing site for the new FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Howard Hepburn said the county was selected in part because its students apply for FAFSA at higher rates. "We know that for many of our families, the only lever they can pull is a quality education and quality post-secondary opportunity, so the FAFSA is so important for our students to be able to take advantage of opportunities beyond high school," he said. NBC Miami.
Polk: The Polk County School Board unveiled the referendum it wants to put before voters in the next general election. Board members voted to approve tentative ballot language last week. “We’ve been working on this for a minute now. It’s nice to see it finally coming to fruition,” said Kay Fields, who represents District 5. There must be a public hearing before the ballot language can be finalized, and that will take place on Sept. 9. LKLD Now.
Citrus: The Citrus County School District is expected to begin using security wands at schools. Schools Police Chief Rachel Montgomery recently gave School Board members an overview of the procedures for their use. Citrus County Chronicle.
Book law ruling: A federal judge ruled that a key part of a 2023 Florida law that has led to books being removed from library shelves in schools is "overbroad and unconstitutional." U.S. District Judge Carlos Mendoza issued a 50-page decision in a First Amendment lawsuit filed last year against members of the State Board of Education and the school boards in Volusia and Orange counties. Under the judge’s ruling, schools should go back to a U.S. Supreme Court precedent in which the test is whether an average person would find the work prurient as a whole, whether it depicts sexual content in an offensive way and whether the work lacks literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. WLRN. Education Week. First Coast News. Orlando Sentinel. Tampa Bay Times.
Federal ruling: A federal judge on Thursday struck down two Trump administration actions aimed at eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion programs across the nation’s schools and universities. In her ruling, U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher found that the Education Department violated the law when it threatened to cut federal funding from educational institutions that continued with DEI initiatives. Associated Press. Chronicle of Higher Education.
Corporal punishment: Florida school boards must approve official policies if they want to use corporal punishment under a new state law. WCJB. WCTV.
New course: Florida students can expect to see a new subject in schools starting in 2026. A law passed last year will require public schools to teach about the history of communism. The law’s text says the subject is slated to be taught as part of a school’s social studies or language arts curriculum. WKMG.
Lunch debt: Officials across Northwest Florida say parents are still trying to catch up from the pandemic, as many no longer receive the free and reduced lunch, which is forcing schools to have tough conversations with parents. "Some of our schools at the end of the school year had over $10,000 in unpaid meal debt," said Santa Rosa County School District Superintendent Dr. Karen Barber. WEAR.
Colleges and universities: University of West Florida trustees set date for the first presidential search meeting. Board Chair Rebecca Matthews said a presidential search meeting is set for Aug. 22. Matthews also reported that Funk Associates had been hired to conduct the university’s presidential search. The Dallas-based firm has worked on more than 400 president and chancellor searches. Yahoo News. Princeton College Review released its ranking of the 391 best colleges in America, and 13 of them are in Florida. Patch.
Around the state: New schools opening, an updates on challenged books, COVID-19 cases increasing before school began and how Florida's eviction rates disrupt the education of students. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Hillsborough: A memoir by a transgender YouTuber has been pulled from Hillsborough County shelves following a social media uproar from state officials. Tampa Bay Times. Tallahassee Democrat. Yahoo News.
Marion: Two new elementary schools opened in this county. WKMG. Ocala Star-Banner.
Challenged books: Last school year’s reports from the Florida Board of Education showed that a majority of the hundreds of books removed from public school libraries for review were returned with restrictions for age and parental consent. After the passing of an educational statute three years ago, school districts were left to form their own review committees and processes for addressing challenged books. The results have been mixed. Collier County pulled 316 books for review and removed three from circulation. Lee County reviewed 30 books and removed six. In Charlotte County, 78 books were reviewed but all of them were returned to circulation. WGCU.
Catholic schools: Back-to-school season for Catholic schools across South Florida. Officials welcomed 37,000 students into classrooms across its 65 schools, which continues a five-year trend of rising enrollment. Catholic school leaders say a combination of curriculum, safety measures and scholarships is driving the growth. That demand has led to the opening of new campuses, including Holy Rosary Saint Richard in Palmetto Bay. “Over 50% of our Catholic schools are at capacity with waiting lists, and the majority of those that are not full are growing,” Jim Rigg, the superintendent of the Archdiocese of Miami Schools, said. CBS Miami. WPLG.
COVID cases: Before students returned to the classroom, Orange County reported the third-highest case totals of COVID-19 in the state at the end of July, according to the Department of Health. “We've seen generally two COVID bumps during the year. We usually get our winter bump, which tends to be a little bit larger than what we see as the summer bump, and so far, that's what we're seeing right now,” said Cindy Prins, an epidemiologist from the University of Central Florida. With students back in the classroom this week, and college kids returning to universities next week, it’s hard to predict if the numbers will continue to increase, Prins said. Central Florida Public Media.
Eviction crisis: Florida’s eviction rates are rising, and the effects are reaching far beyond housing. Educators and researchers warn that the state’s growing eviction crisis is disrupting students’ education, forcing them to change schools, miss class and fall behind academically. In Orange County, more than 8,800 students are without a permanent home — a 50% increase since 2019, according to records from the district. Hillsborough County Public Schools reports 1.2% of its student population is currently experiencing homelessness. Advocates urge families to speak up about housing issues before an eviction notice arrives. Spectrum News. Orlando Sentinel.
Opinions on schools: Guided play — where teachers set up fun activities with clear learning goals — is more effective than direct instruction in promoting learning, particularly for young kids. For instance, studies have found that using activities like blocks, drawing and dramatic play to deliver literacy instruction improved children’s oral language, letter recognition and ability to sound out letter blends and words. Carly Roberts and Meghan McCormick, The 74.
Around the state: Declining enrollment and budget concerns in central Florida districts, a reconstructed school in Polk, adjustments to safety rules in Escambia, sales tax holiday continues, superintendent search narrows in Manatee and a dip in teacher and bus driver vacancies in Tampa Bay. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Orange: Central Florida districts facing declining enrollment are pitching the virtues of public education to local families, some of whom are choosing alternate paths. By next year, Orange County Public Schools will defer new school construction in the face of declining enrollment. During this school year, OCPS anticipates about 3,100 fewer students as families opt for state-funded private school scholarships. The state expanded its school voucher program in 2023, making all students eligible for scholarships, regardless of family income. Voucher use has risen since then, while public school enrollment has dipped. Orlando Sentinel. Yahoo News. In addition to declining enrollment, the district's annual budget is a major focus as school got back into session this week. Orange County Public Schools Chief Communications Officer Scott Howat says the district is not keeping up with inflationary costs. Howat said that per student, funding over the last year has increased by 1.5%, during which inflationary costs rose by 3%. The district will do a headcount of its students in October to get a sense of what enrollment numbers look like for the remainder of the year. A final budget will be adopted on Sept. 9. Spectrum News.
Polk: Elbert Elementary School's doors reopened after a two-year, $62 million reconstruction, providing education to students closer to their homes. The expectation is for about 700 kids will attend this year, but the building was built to hold 900. "It is more convenient, it is closer than the last one he went to, so we are excited about it," says Mya Stewart, who has one 6-year-old attending Elbert this year. ABC Action News.
Manatee: As students returned to school on Monday, the district was still without a superintendent, but the Manatee County School Board on Tuesday narrowed its nationwide search down to two candidates: Dr. Laurie Breslin and Dr. Misty Mathis. A meet-and-greet for finalists will be held on Aug. 18. In May, the school board voted 3-2 to terminate former Superintendent Dr. Jason Wysong’s contract. His termination agreement states he will be employed with the district through mid-August, serving only as an administrative transitional consultant. Spectrum News. WWSB.
Escambia: With school back in session, students and staff are adjusting to new safety rules. House Bill 1471 repeals a law passed in 2023 that required all doors, hallways and gates in and around schools to be locked during school hours. Gov. Ron DeSantis says this was a push by school administrators around the state. The new law replaces the rigid requirement with more flexible provisions, like allowing doors or gates to remain unlocked if separated by a locked barrier. Teachers and administrators in Escambia say many schools in the area won't be impacted by the law since they're not equipped with a barrier. WEAR.
Citrus: The Citrus County School District has added a third in-school meal for students participating in certain after-school activities. The "Super Snack" is available for students who participate in activities like band or athletics, among others. “Each one of our super snack meals has at least 19 grams of protein, which is especially important for our athletes because they definitely need a little extra protein,” said Roy Pistone, the district's director of Food and Nutrition Services. Spectrum News.
Teacher vacancies: There has been a decline in teacher and bus driver vacancies in the Tampa Bay area, districts reported. In Pinellas, schools have a surplus of bus drivers and only 24 teacher vacancies at the start of this school year. The county’s declining student population means that the district needs fewer teachers. "We're an A district, people don't want to leave, we're getting paid fairly well and the declining population all factor into it,” said Lee Bryant, president of the Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association. In Hillsborough, spokesperson Debra Bellanti said the district has fewer vacancies at the start of this school year because of recruiting efforts and a millage referendum that passed last year. County voters approved two bumps in taxes during the election in November. Revenue from both will go toward public schools, but only the millage tax will fund teacher salaries. In Manatee, the district opened two new schools, which created over 80 positions. In Hernando, there are 88 unfilled teacher roles, but 47 are being filled by the county’s Associate Teacher Substitute Program. In Pasco, the district is starting the school year with 73 open teaching spots. In 2024, the district started with 105 openings and had 212 openings in 2023. WUSF.
Sales tax holiday continues: Florida’s annual back-to-school sales tax holiday is longer this year than usual. It began on Aug. 1 and runs through Aug. 31, instead of just lasting two weeks. Lkld Now. Fox 13.
ICE raids: The Orange County Schools Superintendent has a message for families who are worried about sending their children to school amidst ICE raids. Amidst immigration raids in Florida, and active deportations from the South Florida detention facility known as Alligator Alcatraz, some Central Florida families say they are afraid to send kids to school. Orange County Superintendent Maria Vazquez said “I believe our schools are the safest place for our children. They are able to get the education, the support services they need." The American Federation of Teachers visited the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association last year and passed out several free resources on the topic. Central Florida Public Media.
Around the state: First day of school in most counties across the state, spike in homeschooling, a new law requires K-8 schools to be prepared for allergic reactions, safety alert badges in Broward, new curriculum and schools in Pasco and enrollment woes in Miami-Dade. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Miami-Dade: For the sixth consecutive year, Miami-Dade County Public Schools earned an “A” grade, but Superintendent Jose Dotres says the district is in a fight to recruit and keep students. “We are losing enrollment like some other major school districts, and I just want to make sure that folks understand that it’s not only about, as a result of charter schools or private schools, the cost of living in Miami has increased and that has also created some departures,” Dotres said during a news conference. The district has been reaching out to families to talk about new initiatives, including four new artificial intelligence magnet programs. NBC Miami.
Broward: Students went back to school in this county on Monday, with artificial intelligence taking a role. Meanwhile, alert badges are new this year and are being implemented in case of emergencies. Speed cameras are also up and running near schools. WPLG. CBS Miami. Broward County Public Schools is expecting to lose about 8,000 students this year, so the school district is using various strategies to turn the trend of dropping enrollment around. One of them: Converting elementary schools into K-8 academies. NBC Miami.
Hillsborough: The two and a half month hiatus for summer break came to an end in Tampa Bay on Monday as nearly 400,000 children in the area returned to classrooms. Across the state, new directives were received by school officials regarding cellphone usage. Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, elementary and middle school students are not allowed to use cell phones during the school day. High school students are allowed to use their cell phones, but they are banned from using them during instructional times unless authorized by a teacher. Meanwhile, there were changes to the state's school security law. In Hillsborough County, a $178 million state-of-the-art school opened called Aquilla J. Morgan High. The school, which is expected to serve more than 1,500 students, includes programs designed to help students earn credentials. The school is named after the first Black teacher at Wimauma Elementary. Tampa Bay Times. Yahoo News. ABC Action News.
Pinellas: Officials here rolling out several science initiatives as they aim to improve student performance in that area. An Innovation Lab bus will travel to middle schools to provide hands-on STEM lessons. And school cafeterias will experiment with cooking some items from scratch with raw ingredients to improve meal quality for students. In addition, parents will be receiving more up-to-date information about their children's school bus rides while the district completes a transition to new software — set to go live in November — that will include notification capabilities. Meanwhile, the Largo area will get its first K-8 school due to the merger of Walsingham and Southern Oak elementary schools. At Gulf Beaches Elementary, students and staff returned for the first time since Hurricane Helene caused damage to the school in September. Security changes have also been made in Pinellas. “Some of the things that we were seeing and having to deal with just didn’t make sense and weren’t making people any safer and so now you don’t sacrifice safety, but you recognize common sense,” said Superintendent Kevin Hendrick. Tampa Bay Times. Yahoo News. Spectrum News.
Pasco: Elementary school officials in this county will introduce a new curriculum, and middle schools will see a new progression of courses while the district tries to get more children prepared for high-school level math. The district is also tightening up disciplinary procedures to provide teachers more control over classrooms. “We are focusing on student achievement and decreasing distractions,” said Superintendent John Legg. In addition, students in Port Richey and Lutz will be able to attend new K-8 schools this fall. Tampa Bay Times. Yahoo News.
Osceola: School officials here are moving forward with a plan to consolidate the special education department. The plan, announced earlier this year, creates special education hubs. Protests occurred at school board meetings earlier this year, calling for the district to halt or slow down the consolidation. Central Florida Public Media.
Sarasota: As childhood vaccination rates plummet and measles cases resurge nationwide, Sarasota County is facing a critical threat to public health. Roughly 82% of kindergarteners in the public school system were fully immunized against the disease this year — well below herd immunity. Across the state, kindergarten vaccination rates have also declined in recent years, but most counties remain ahead of Sarasota. About three-quarters reported higher immunization levels last school year — including nearby DeSoto at 91% and Manatee at 90%. The statewide rate was 89%. WUSF.
School choice: As school districts return to classes for the new school year across the state, there are fewer students in some of those public districts. A recent report found that districts across Florida are experiencing a decline in enrollment. Florida Politics. Meanwhile, the Florida Department of Education is developing a rule to govern distribution of Family Empowerment Scholarship payments to families, the agency noticed on Friday. If requested by the public, the department would hold a meeting on Aug. 22 “to set limits on when eligible scholarship students can receive all four quarterly scholarship payments in a year." Florida Phoenix.
Homeschool update: A growing number of students in Florida are being homeschooled. Statistics from the Florida Department of Education show more than 155,000 students were homeschooled in the 2023-24 school year. In the last five years, that number has increased by 46%. “Homeschooling is a reality,” said Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Jose Dotres. “If their children want to come to our school, let’s say for a particular class, they can come and use their voucher so they can come and participate with us.” WEAR. WPLG.
Allergic reactions: A new law requires K-8 schools to be prepared for allergic reactions. The law requires school personnel to be able to administer emergency epinephrine. “I think it’s extremely important,” said Dr. Siddarth Goyal of Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital. “I’m really glad they did this because, like I said, seconds matter in this kind of situation. And also you have a child who’s scared.” Spectrum News.
Father creates curriculum: As students head back to classes, a father in Central Florida is turning his fear into powerful lessons by creating a curriculum called Breaking the Silence, Stopping Gun Violence. It is designed for students, teachers and parents. “In this curriculum, I train the students how to understand their part that they must play in their safety and that is by creating one voice,” said Rico Sharp. Spectrum News.
Opinions on schools: It’s about time that Florida shed itself from worthless high school “completion” documentation called the “Certificate of Completion”. As of July 1, 2025, this document no longer exists, according to the Florida Department of Education. Phil Grisé, Tallahassee Democrat.
Around the state: The House and Senate have reached a consensus on a $29.5 billion K-12 education budget, a teacher initiative plan was approved in Lee, a teacher was arrested in Manatee, budget woes in Gilchrist and a win for the state teacher's union. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Broward: A new initiative in this school district is bringing artificial intelligence into the classroom. Broward schools announced a collaboration with Microsoft that brings the company's AI platform, Copilot, to teachers across grade levels. WLRN. As Broward braces for state budget decisions and declining enrollment, district leaders say they are working to preserve the arts. “We totally understand the thoughts of the parents,” said Angela Fulton, Deputy Superintendent of Teaching and Learning." WPLG.
Orange: Cypress Creek High School students and alumni rallied outside of the Orange County School Board meeting earlier this week, urging district leaders to save the college-level International Baccalaureate magnet program, which is set to be cut. Orlando Sentinel. Meanwhile, Orange County Public Schools say they hope to expand on an initiative that will give eligible school district employees access to affordable housing units. Spectrum News.
Lee: The school board in Lee approved a teacher incentive plan offering bonuses of up to $9,000 for teachers in high-need schools or in critical subject areas. The plan, called Honoring our Educations: Teacher Incentive Initiative, is designed to attract and retain teachers and to ensure that every classroom is staffed on the first day of school. But the move has drawn criticism from the district's teacher's union who says the board bypassed collective bargaining. Fort Myers News-Press.
Manatee: A teacher was fired a week after her arrest for sending a lewd photo to a middle school student. On Tuesday, the School Board of Manatee County voted unanimously to terminate the teacher from her position as an ESE teacher, calling the details of the case "alarming and contemptible for anyone serving as a school teacher." WTSP. WWSB.
Gilchrist: Officials in Gilchrist County schools say they are facing financial challenges in the district, facing a shortfall of about $1.6 million. School leaders say they are looking at their budget to make adjustments. WCJB.
Legislative update: The House and Senate have reached a consensus on a $29.5 billion K-12 education budget — a 3% increase from the current fiscal year. The budget will fund $9,130 per student. Lawmakers are also using property taxes to help fund the K-12 budget. The budget fully funds accelerated courses, such as Advanced Placement, that help high school students get college credit. The program is funded with about $597 million. “This Legislature has shown a deep commitment, not only to public education, but education as a whole," said House Appropriations Chair Lawrence McClure. Meanwhile, districts like Pinellas unexpectedly had to spend more than $50 million this school year because of hurricanes Helene and Milton, and the Legislature did not provide relief, putting additional financial pressure on the district. “If it wasn’t for the referendum, it would be a really difficult year,” Hendrick said, referring to the district’s voter-approved property tax increase in support of added teacher pay and arts initiatives. Pinellas' school board is scheduled to unveil its preliminary budget at a June 24 workshop. Public hearings are set for July 29 and Sept. 9. Florida Politics. Yahoo News. Tampa Bay Times.
Teacher's unions: The Florida Education Association, a statewide teachers union, announced earlier this week that 100 of its local unions throughout the state had successfully re-certified. That means teachers represented by those unions had voted to keep their existing union alive. Under Senate Bill 256, most public sector unions in the state must hold annual recertification elections if less than 60% of the workers they represent are full, dues-paying members. State records show that so far, more than 69,000 public employees in Florida — including blue-collar workers such as school bus drivers and state-employed nurses — have seen their unions decertified and their union contracts nullified as a result of unions failing to petition for recertification. Orlando Weekly. Creative Loafing.
Homeless students: A federal law that helps homeless students get an education could be in jeopardy. NPR.
Opinions on schools: As educators, it’s our job to provide that education — to inspire students, support their growth and give them our very best. But that doesn’t happen in a vacuum, and it doesn’t happen through educators alone. It takes communities that support children and families, schools that are properly funded, and classrooms led by highly trained professionals. Rob Kriete, Tampa Bay Times. School attendance is critical for success in the classroom, and success in school is core to health across a lifespan. Children who attend school regularly are far more likely to achieve academically and graduate from high school than those who are chronically absent. Joshua Sharfstein and Bechara Choucair, The 74th. Education savings accounts, tax-credit scholarships, vouchers, charter schools, hybrid home-schooling, tutoring, course choice, dual degrees, and microschools are transforming K–12 in profound ways. Rick Hess, Education Week.
Around the state: Florida’s falling reading and math scores contributed to an overall decline of the state’s ranking for child wellbeing, Manatee district officials are searching for a new superintendent, officials in Clay are dealing with a budget shortfall, teacher shortages continue across the U.S. and enrollment for Florida Virtual Full Time Public Schools — the state's only fully virtual public school district — has opened for the 2025-26 school year. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Pinellas: Two Pinellas County middle schools were assigned new principals on Tuesday. The school district continued its leadership changes that were initiated earlier in the spring. Tampa Bay Times.
Manatee: Members of the school board in this county hope to make crucial steps in the hunt for the district's next superintendent. Board members plan to choose a consulting firm that will help facilitate the search and set the timeline that the search and interview process should follow. The board is working toward having a new superintendent selected and contract signed by the time school starts on Aug. 11, officials say. “It would be nice to have somebody in by the start of the year because that way you’re kicking off the school year with new leadership,” said Charlie Kennedy, who represents District 3. “But the most important thing is getting it right.” Spectrum News. WFLA.
Marion: Officials in this district are discussing tens of millions of dollars in possible budget cuts. The superintendent sent a note to personnel about recommendations from school board members on Monday. They range from increasing class sizes to eliminating the seven-period day at three middle schools. Changes could save more than $26 million, officials say. WCJB. Meanwhile, new principals are headed to schools in this county. Ocala Star-Banner.
Clay: The Clay County School District said it is reevaluating spending as it faces a potential $10 million budget shortfall next year. News4Jax.
Alachua: During a special meeting on June 9, the school board in this county approved the charter and facilities contracts between the district and the Newberry Community School. The special meeting was called after some board members said during the board's regularly scheduled June 3 meeting that they did not have time to review the contracts beforehand. The Gainesville Sun. Main Street Daily News.
Bay: While students are out of school, educators in Bay County are working hard to staff schools before the next school year starts. About 88% of public schools in the southern U.S. have experienced difficulty filling teacher vacancies before the start of the last school year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. In Bay county, for example, the district has 120 jobs that need to be filled. Those include instructional, administrative and support personnel jobs. WJHG.
Virtual enrollment opens: Enrollment for Florida Virtual Full Time Public Schools, the state's only fully virtual public school district, has opened for the 2025-26 school year. It is available to Florida students in K-12. Families can apply through July 18. The first day of school for full-time students in Aug. 18. “We believe that every student deserves access to high-quality, flexible education that meets their unique needs,” said Dr. Louis Algaze, president and CEO of Florida Virtual School. “As school choice continues to expand across Florida, we’re proud to offer families a trusted, fully accredited online learning option that empowers students to thrive academically and personally — wherever they are.” MyPanhandle.
Score drop: Florida's dropping reading and math scores contributed to an overall decline in the state's ranking for child well being. Florida fell five spots in the 2025 Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count child wellbeing rankings. Florida ranked 35th in 2025 and 30th in 2024. The change in ranking can be attributed to eighth graders’ math proficiency dropping, as well as fourth graders’ reading, as measured by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Patch. Yahoo News. Orlando Weekly. Florida Phoenix.
Legislative update: Florida lawmakers say the state must do a better job of keeping track of students who accept education vouchers. Meanwhile, The Legislature agreed to fully fund accelerated courses for high school students that earn them college credit. Tampa Bay Times. Florida Politics.
Opinions on schools: After 2021, both interest and building costs went up for charter school construction. Interest rates of course could go down, but they could also go further up. Matthew Ladner, NextSteps. When our son Keith — affectionately known as “Deuce” — was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at age 3, we were told he might never speak beyond echolalia (the automatic repetition of words or phrases). Until age 5, echolalia was all we heard. But Deuce found his voice, and with it, a unique way of seeing the world. Keith Jacobs, NextSteps. The Florida Legislature must approve a state budget before July 1, and it should seize a golden opportunity to fix the plummeting academic standards at New College of Florida under President Richard Corcoran. Brian Cody, Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Around the state: A former Sumter County schools superintendent is under fire after allegations from the state, the 2025 State of the Schools address was held in Orange and the Leon County School Board is being sued by two parents of former students. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Miami-Dade: One of the first schools for Black children in south Florida, George Washington Carver Elementary, recently celebrated a milestone. "And to think that that little school has been here for 125 years," civil rights pioneer Thelma Gibson said, "it makes all the difference in the world. That’s where it all started." Miami Times.
Palm Beach: Two handgun incidents in the past eight months have not prompted Palm Beach County School Board members to move quickly to have metal detectors installed at district middle and elementary schools. School board member Edwin Ferguson raised the topic for discussion during a June 4 meeting, held three weeks after a student at Panther Run Elementary School in Wellington reported finding a loaded gun in their backpack. In September, an unloaded gun was found in a student's backpack at John F. Kennedy Middle School in Riviera Beach. The district completed the installation of metal detectors in its high schools last year. Palm Beach Post.
Orange: The 2025 State of the Schools address was held in this district on Monday at Innovation High, with leaders highlighting the importance of protecting public education. Officials say the district is expecting 3,000 fewer students in the fall and $28 million less from the state. Leaders are calling on parents and the community to defend public education in the face of declining enrollment and funding cuts. “Speak up for fully funding public education, and push back on policies that weaken it,” OCPS Superintendent Dr. Maria Vazquez said during Monday’s State of the Schools address. WESH. Click Orlando.
Lee: The school district here is continuing its attempts to engage students' parents in their children's education. Cape Coral Breeze.
Pasco: Jacob Little is one of the first two students to attend Pasco eSchool from first through 12th grades and graduate. The ceremony will be held at River Ridge High's performing arts center today, the last of Pasco County's 17 commencements for the class of 2025. Tampa Bay Times.
Leon: The Leon County School Board is being sued by two parents of former Griffin Middle School students over one of its teachers, who was charged in 2023 with allegedly sanctioning fights between students in her classroom. The parents are looking for damages from the school board for failing to protect their children from the teacher it approved for hire, and have requested a jury trial. Tallahassee Democrat.
Sumter: A state investigation found that the school district in this county falsified student data to boost some schools' scores. According to the state, this occurred while former Superintendent Richard Shirley was leading the district. The inquiry began in late 2023, when an anonymous complaint was forwarded to the Florida Department of Education's Office of Inspector General, which stated that the district, under Shirley, created “shell schools” to remove low-performing students from school grades, thereby increasing state funding. In a statement posted on the district’s social media, current Superintendent Logan Brown called the previous leadership’s alleged actions “a deliberate and unethical attempt to manipulate school performance metrics at the expense of our students.” WFTV. WKMG.
Colleges and universities: The Florida A&M University Board of Trustees approved a $650,000 salary for president-elect Marva Johnson, the largest presidential compensation package in the university's history. The decision passed in an 8-3 vote, despite sharp criticism from students, alumni and trustees who questioned the university's financial priorities. WFSU. Florida Phoenix.
Opinions on schools: Every child in our state deserves access to a world class, free public education. As educators, it’s our job to provide this education while inspiring our students to learn, supporting their growth and ensuring they receive the very best of us. Anthony Colucci, Florida Today.
Around the state: Book removal fallout continues in Hillsborough, state funding losses projected in Alachua, members of the Collier County Public Schools' board of education broke ground on what will soon be home to Ave Maria Elementary School, state Legislature extends session and Florida faces an alarming rate of student absences. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Hillsborough: Schools Superintendent Van Ayres defended how his district has removed inappropriate books from school libraries at a state Board of Education meeting last week. Ayres said books flagged by state officials were promptly removed from shelves, and that he would tighten the annual review process of materials. The discussion comes amid an ongoing crackdown on material found in Florida's school libraries. Ayres said these books will be reviewed by the end of summer, and his media specialists will be given a stipend to do so beyond their contracted hours. That will cost the district roughly $345,000. WUSF. Tampa Bay Times.
Brevard: Effective on July 1, districts employing corporal punishment will have to get parental permission before carrying it out. But not every district uses corporal punishment. In Brevard, district policy "strictly prohibits" that type of punishment, officials say. For districts using corporal punishment, the new law — House Bill 1255 — requires that parents give consent before an educator is allowed to discipline their child in that way. Florida Today.
Collier: Members of the Collier County Public Schools' board of education broke ground on what will soon be home to Ave Maria Elementary School. The school will welcome its first students at the beginning of the 2026-27 school year. The school will start with 900 students. Population growth in the county has led to demand for more nearby school options, with demand especially high in eastern Collier. "In Ave Maria, right now, we are busing kids from here to other elementary schools," said School Board Chair Kelly Mason. "They're having to spend a significant amount of time every day riding a school bus to school and home. For them to have [a school] right here, essentially in their backyard, it's going to save on all this bus time." WGCU. WINK News.
Alachua: The school board here reviewed federal, state and local funding projections, in addition to facility improvement priorities, during a budget workshop last week. The district is projected to lose $10,739,776 in state funding compared to last year, and gain $4,102,965 in local revenue. The current unfinalized estimate for incoming federal funding is around $34.5 million. The Florida Legislature on Thursday extended its session to June 18 to hammer out the state’s budget, which will run from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. Once the budget is final, the legislature waits 72 hours before taking a final vote and sending it to Gov. Ron DeSantis for final review. Main Street Daily News.
Student absences: Florida faces an alarming rate of student absences. Nearly one million Florida students missed more than three weeks of school last year. South Florida schools counted more than 154,000 of these students. Chronic absenteeism skyrocketed statewide more than 50% from 2018-19 to 2023-24, the most recent year available, a South Florida Sun Sentinel analysis found. South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Driver's ed: A Florida law requires that teens aged 15-17 take a driver's education classroom course approved by Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles before they can obtain a learner's permit. "I'm a husband and I'm a dad, and I'm going to very soon have a young man driving with a learner's license," said Sen. Jay Collins, who sponsored SB 994. "Anything that helps keep him and other kids safer on the road is something we should do." WEAR. Tampa Bay Times.
Discrimination lawsuit: Three public school parents in Florida are appealing a federal judge's dismissal of their discrimination lawsuit earlier this year where they argued that the state violated their First Amendment rights by not allowing them to challenge school board decisions to remove books. The case involves a law approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis two years ago that allows parents to use a state review process to object to when school boards decide not to remove or restrict a book. But parents say this case against the State Board of Education is discriminatory, according to a brief filed on June 4, since they can't use this same process when a school board does decide to remove or restrict books. Tallahassee Democrat.
Opinions on schools: Santa Ono’s rejection is the result of a well orchestrated campaign by activists who engaged in a conservative version of cancel culture. Miami Herald.
