Around the state: Superintendent Van Ayres in Hillsborough County is facing scrutiny from members of his own board, the Miami-Dade School District has launched a new mental health and wellness program, the Florida Board of Governor's voted against the confirmation of Santa Ono as University of Florida president and a salary has been proposed for Florida A&M University's new president, Marva Johnson. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Miami-Dade: The Miami-Dade School District has launched a new mental health and wellness program. The free program, in partnership with the district, is spearheaded by the Kevin Love Fund, founded by Miami Heat player Kevin Love. Mental health professionals designed the program to provide students with a deeper understanding of mental health, reduce stigma and build a culture of support in schools. WUSF.
Hillsborough: School Superintendent Van Ayres is facing scrutiny from all directions, including members of his own board. Last month, Education Commissioner Manny Diaz sent a letter calling for the removal of two books from Hillsborough shelves over content concerns. The following week, Attorney General James Uthmeier followed up with a second letter asking about more “pornographic materials in your school libraries.” Ayres wrote in a response that all titles mentioned had been removed. He also said that to “err on the side of caution,” all 600 titles that had been placed on a list for removal by any county in the state during the past two school years had been taken out of circulation and would be reviewed, even though no objections to them have risen through the existing process in Hillsborough. During a heated school board meeting this week, 10 residents questioned why the books were still allowed in the district. Tampa Bay Times.
Brevard: The founder of three charter schools in South Brevard County — who also is the newest appointee to the Brevard County Tourist Development Council — is moving forward with plans to build a large swimming complex adjacent to one of his schools. John Moran — who is the founder of three Pineapple Cove Classical Academy Charter Schools and three preschools — said, in addition to being a venue for local school swimming meets, he has hopes that the complex will help attract out-of-area schools to the Space Coast for competitions Florida Today.
Bay: A Bay District Schools bus driver was arrested for allegedly hitting a child. WMBB. WJHG.
Education department cuts: The Trump administration has released new details of its vision to wind down the U.S. Department of Education. The budget proposal for fiscal year 2026 calls for a 15% funding cut to the department and a handful of changes to key K-12 and higher education programs. Central Florida Public Media.
Chronic absenteeism: The percentage of students with good attendance fell sharply between 2019 and 2023, while the share of chronically absent students more than doubled, offering further evidence of the pandemic’s shattering effect on the nation’s classrooms. The 74th.
Colleges and universities: Santa Ono, who faced a final vote on Tuesday by the Florida Board of Governors before he could become University of Florida's next president, was not confirmed by the board. Ono faced opposition from some who say he had a record of supporting DEI initiatives. The 17-member board serves as the governing body for the state's 12 public universities. Ono's confirmation was the only action item listed on the agenda. The decision comes a week after UF's Board of Trustees unanimously approved Ono for president on May 27. Gainesville Sun. Fox 13. Miami Herald. Florida A&M University is proposing a $650,000 salary for its new president, Marva Johnson. According to a proposed contract posted on the school's website, Johnson's salary would be $150,000 more than her predecessor was making, and comes with a 3% annual raise, car and housing allowance and a faculty position at the FAMU College of Law after the end of her presidency. Johnson was named FAMU President by the school's trustees. The move was immediately derided by supporters, watchers and alumni. Johnson is a lobbyist for Charter Communications. WUWF. Tallahassee Democrat. WFSU. The state's controversial post-tenure policy has led tenure-track faculty at public institutions to leave the state, according to a new study by University of Southern California researchers. In addition, the policy resulted in no improvement in professors' productivity, researchers found. Insider Higher Ed.
Opinions on schools: June 1 marked the 100th anniversary of the United States Supreme Court’s ruling in Pierce v. Society of Sisters– effectively the first victory of America’s school choice movement. Matthew Ladner, NextSteps.
More choice, accountability: At its first meeting, Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis' education transition team urges more school choice for Florida students, more information about those choices for parents, expanded personalized learning options and increased accountability for schools. "We're moving from school choice to informed, high quality school choice," says Kim McDougal, former chief of staff and education adviser to Gov. Rick Scott. "The closer we can get to individualizing education for each child, the more success we will see," says Marva Johnson, chair of the Florida Board of Education and co-chair of the transition committee. The group meets again Dec. 19 and 28. Gradebook.
Teacher performance pay: A bill is introduced in the Legislature that would end state restrictions on the way public school teachers get paid. Rep. Rene Plasencia, R-Orlando, wants districts to be able to decide if they want to use the performance pay plans, instead of forcing them to, and to end a prohibition on using advanced degrees as a criteria when making salary schedules. "The way you pay teachers should be done at the local level," says Plasencia, who calls the current model "flawed" and "rigid." Gradebook. (more…)
BOE and Corcoran: The Florida Board of Education will consider Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis' choice of Richard Corcoran as education commissioner at its just-scheduled Monday meeting. The seven-member BOE is tasked with approving an education commissioner, and in the past has conducted national searches. But BOE chair Marva Johnson and vice-chair Andy Tuck are both on DeSantis' education transition team, and Johnson has indicated she's open to DeSantis' choice. News Service of Florida. Gradebook. Capitolist. WUSF.
School lockdown delay: Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School officials were confused over who had the authority to order a lockdown when a school shooter opened fire Feb. 14, leading to a delay of several minutes in declaring a "code red" that orders students to hide behind locked doors, according to district emails. As a result, some students were caught in hallways and shot. Sun Sentinel. Two newspapers ask a Broward County court to make witness interviews from the Parkland school shootings open to the public. Miami Herald. Sun Sentinel. Parkland shooting survivors-turned-activists are among 10 finalists for Time magazine's 2018 person of the year award. Sun Sentinel. The St. Johns County School District is adding 16 resource officers at schools next month. WJAX. (more…)
Corcoran chosen: Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis has officially nominated former House Speaker Richard Corcoran for the job of education commissioner. Corcoran is a staunch supporter of school choice, vouchers and charter schools, and former Senate president Don Gaetz says Corcoran could become the "most disruptive education reformer in our state's history." Politically liberal groups and traditional public schools advocates are reacting negatively. “Richard Corcoran has a terrible track record of putting private interests over the needs of Florida’s children,” says Scott McCoy, senior policy counsel for the Southern Poverty Law Center. The State Board of Education will have to approve the appointment. Associated Press. News Service of Florida. Orlando Sentinel. Tampa Bay Times. Politico Florida. WUSF. Florida Times-Union. Tallahassee Democrat. Florida Politics. WJXT. Florida Phoenix. DeSantis' 41-person education transition committee includes, among others, state Board of Education chairwoman Marva Johnson, Florida State University president John Thrasher, former Brevard superintendent Desmond Blackburn and John Kirtley, founder and chairman of Step Up For Students, which hosts this blog and helps administer several state K-12 scholarship programs. Sunshine State News. Florida Politics. Gradebook.
Spending on schools: Spending on K-12 schools across the United States increased for the third consecutive year, according to a report released Thursday by the National Center for Education Statistics. Across the country, $678.4 billion was collected and $596.1 billion was spent in the 2016 fiscal year. The average spent per student was $11,841, but the totals varied widely. The District of Columbia, for example, spent $27,067 per student, and New York spent $24,717, while Idaho spent $8,258 and Utah $8,408. Florida spent $9,176, which was almost identical to the two previous years and ranks 43rd among the states and D.C. Education Week.
