Statewide races: Republican Ron DeSantis, who strongly backs school choice, wants 80 percent of all education spending directed into the classroom and pledges to expand the state's K-12 scholarship programs and career and technical education opportunities, narrowly wins the governor's race over Democrat Andrew Gillum. In other statewide races, Gov. Rick Scott defeats incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, Republicans win all three Cabinet seats, and 11 of the 12 constitutional amendments are approved with the required 60 percent majority. Associated Press. Politico Florida. Orlando Sentinel. The 74.

Tax initiatives: Voters approve all eight tax increases for education in the state. Sales tax hikes for construction and repairs of schools pass or are renewed in Alachua, Hillsborough, Lee, Martin and Polk counties. In Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Charlotte counties, voters approve higher property taxes to pay for school safety and teacher salaries. Politico Florida. (more…)

School security: The Hendry and Suwannee county school boards adopt the state's guardian program and will have school employees carrying concealed weapons in all their schools next August. The school boards will decide who becomes a guardian, and the county sheriff's departments will provide the training. WBBH. Suwannee Democrat. The Pasco County School Board will be asked to approve a $2.8 million program to put armed safety officers instead of sworn school resource officers into county schools. Gradebook. Some Florida legislators predict the school safety act will be revised in the next legislative session. Florida Today. A majority of people responding to a Lake County School District survey say they do not want to arm school employees. Daily Commercial. Orlando Sentinel. A group of Duval County students share their safety concerns with legislators. WJCT. St. Johns County Superintendent Tim Forson talks about the financial challenges the district faces in adhering to the state mandate of having an armed person in every school. St. Augustine Record. Florida senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio introduce a bill to expand the Secret Service's National Threat Assessment Center as a way to protect students. Sun-Sentinel. Sunshine State News. 

Education lawsuit appeal: School boards in Lee and Bay counties vote to appeal a judge's April 4 ruling that the 2017 state education law, H.B. 7069, is constitutional. The other 11 school boards in the suit - Alachua, Broward, Clay, Duval, Hamilton, Orange, Pinellas, Polk, St. Lucie, Volusia and Wakulla - have yet to decide whether they'll join the appeal. The plaintiffs say the law is unconstitutional because it takes power away from local school boards. Fort Myers News-Press. Panama City News Herald. WJHG. The ongoing legal fight reflects the tension between local school boards, which are given the authority to oversee all public schools in their counties, and the Legislature and Florida Department of Education, which have the power to regulate that authority. redefinED.

Private schools investigated: The Florida Department of Education will investigate three private schools that hired felons as teachers. Kingsway Christian Academy and Winners Primary School near Orlando and Southland Christian School near Kissimmee have been asked for records of the employees, including proof of their background checks. State law prohibits private schools that take scholarship money from hiring employees with certain convictions, but the state relies on the schools to conduct background checks. Orlando Sentinel. (more…)

Transgender bathrooms: The Sarasota County School Board is split on issuing a district-wide policy on bathroom use by transgender students. For now, the issue will be decided case-by-case by individual schools. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Charter district: Florida Sen. Bill Nelson joins the Florida League of Women Voters in opposing a constitutional amendment that would set up a statewide charter school district. Tampa Bay Times.

Education bills: Several education bills are up for a House vote this week. News Service of Florida. WUSF. Politico Florida.

Charter schools: Orange County commissioners deny a developer's request to locate two charter schools in Avalon Park. The school district opposes the charters, citing traffic concerns. The developer says he may take the issue to court. Orlando Sentinel. A new Bay Haven Charter Academy School for K-5 will be built in Lynn Haven. The Bay County Commission agreed to issue $5.5 million in tax-exempt financing for the project. Panama City News Herald.

District repairs: The Palm Beach County School District will pay architects $175,000 to help compile a list of repairs needed at schools. Palm Beach Post.

Band gets political: Suncoast Community High School band members played Monday at a rally for Hillary Clinton in Riviera Beach. That's a violation of the Palm Beach County School District policy. Officials are investigating. Palm Beach Post. Sun-Sentinel. (more…)