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.
