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The 2024 State of Teaching survey by Education Week reveals significant disparities between teachers and administrators regarding non-teaching duties. While 32% of principals believe teachers are not overburdened, only 14% of teachers agree. The survey, which included 1,498 teachers and 659 administrators, highlights a disconnect in perceptions of additional responsibilities, such as supervision and administrative tasks. Scott Goldstein, executive director of EmpowerEd, notes that this gap reflects a lack of awareness about daily classroom demands. He emphasizes, “If we are prioritizing adults so that they are fully well and able to pour into the students, we are absolutely prioritizing kids.” The findings suggest that without addressing these discrepancies, teacher morale and retention may continue to suffer. The next report on teacher morale is expected in early 2025.

 

Education Week News

Reclassify your ELLs sooner with targeted and explicit ELD instruction

Did you know that only 15% of Florida’s K-12 English Language Learners were proficient in English according to the ACCESS for ELLs Spring 2024 assessment?  One of the most important domains for ELLs to master is reading, so that they can acquire knowledge across the curriculum.  The resources linked below include targeted English Language Development teaching strategies including activating prior knowledge, scaffolding tools like sentence frames, building academic vocabulary with response frames, role-play activities to create opportunities for authentic language practice, formative assessments to guide instruction and targeted lesson samples for each of the four language domains—including speaking, listening, reading, and writing.

Access Free ELD Resources

 

A report from UnidosUS reveals that around 15% of Florida children face food insecurity during summer months. It urges state lawmakers to adopt the SUN Bucks program, which could provide financial assistance for food to approximately 2m children. Despite Florida's previous rejection of the program, advocates believe there is still time to opt in, especially with Gov. Ron DeSantis calling for a special session. Jared Nordlund, UnidosUS state director, emphasized: “Our families don’t have the ability to sit around and wait for session to begin in March.” The program could offer $40 per month per child, funded partly by the federal government, which estimates the total cost at $259m. Cindy Huddleston from the Florida Policy Institute warned that neglecting low-income children could have long-lasting effects on the state.

 

Orlando Weekly

As hurricanes intensify due to climate change, they pose significant threats to children's health and education. Principal Robert Kalach of Gulf Beaches Elementary described the recent Hurricane Helene as "truly something that has affected every resident on the St. Pete Beach community and island." The storm caused extensive damage, displacing students and disrupting their education. In total, 36 schools in the Tampa Bay area suffered structural damage from Helene and Hurricane Milton.

 

Tampa Bay Times

Volusia County's graduation rate reached 93.7% for the 2024 academic year, marking a 2.1% increase and placing it among Florida's top 10 districts for the second year in a row. Superintendent Carmen Balgobin emphasized: "It's a collective effort," highlighting the importance of collaboration from pre-K to grade 12. Nine out of ten high schools in the county improved their rates, with Deltona High achieving a perfect 100%.

 

Daytona Beach News Journal

The demolition of Everitt Middle School has commenced. The school sustained severe damage from Hurricane Michael in 2018, rendering the building uninhabitable. Sharon Michalik, Bay District Schools director of communications, stated: “After extensive assessments, the decision was made to move forward with demolition due to the lack of current need for another facility in this school zone.” Since the hurricane, students from the Everitt zone have been attending nearby schools, primarily Rutherford, which has sufficient capacity. Currently, there are no plans to rebuild Everitt Middle School.

 

News Herald

In April 2023, 17-year-old Kayleen Brown, a student at Atlantic Coast High School in Duval County, Florida, died after consuming Baklava at a school event, despite being assured it was nut-free. Her father is suing the Duval County School Board for $50,000, alleging negligence and failure to provide adequate care. The lawsuit claims that the school was aware of Brown's nut allergy but did not prevent the fatal incident. After consuming the dessert, Brown exhibited severe allergic reactions and sought help at a pharmacy, where her condition worsened.

 

Fox 35 Orlando

Angela Kral, founder of South Tampa Microschool, says there has been a notable shift towards microschools as families seek alternatives to traditional public education. With small class sizes of 8 to 12 students, Kral believes the model fosters hands-on learning and individualization. Originally started during the pandemic with just a few students, the school has grown to accommodate around 100 students from pre-kindergarten to middle school. The school has recently begun accepting school vouchers to assist with tuition costs, reflecting its commitment to making education accessible while maintaining a focus on creating a love for learning.

 

News 13

Senator Randy Fine of Brevard County is advocating for the repeal of a law that allows undocumented students to pay in-state tuition rates at Florida colleges. He plans to introduce legislation during a Special Session on illegal migration scheduled for January 27. Fine estimates that this measure could save taxpayers approximately $45m annually. He stated: "This is a no-brainer way to reduce the size of government and free up resources to help Floridians in need." The proposal targets a 2014 law that aimed to support upward mobility for young adults educated in Florida public schools. Fine's bill would eliminate provisions that currently allow undocumented students who attended Florida high schools for at least three years to qualify for in-state tuition. As of 2021, Florida ranked third in the nation for the number of illegal immigrants attending college.

 

Florida Politics

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL)'s contract as an adjunct professor at Florida International University (FIU) expired on December 25, 2024, and will not be renewed. Rubio began teaching at FIU in 2008 and served as a senior fellow at the FIU Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs after his election to the U.S. Senate in 2010. He disclosed earning $20,784 in the past year for his role. The university praised Rubio for shaping future diplomats, stating, “He has taught thousands of our students over the last two decades.”

 

The Miami Herald

A University of Washington student, JD Kaim, faced an academic hold after creating HuskySwap, a tool designed to help students swap class spots during enrollment. Despite taking the tool offline at the university's request, Kaim described the situation as a “soft expulsion” for developing a resource that could assist students in securing desired classes. He stated, “The website was a simple app designed to help students find partners to trade spots in critical classes after they filled up.” The university claimed the tool violated its registration policy regarding automated enrollment tools. After complying with the university's demands, Kaim announced on LinkedIn that the hold was lifted, allowing him to continue his studies and graduate next quarter. He expressed gratitude for the support he received during this challenging time.

 

Edscoop

Thousands of parents are turning to mental-health chatbots to allow their teenage children to share their concerns and stresses. Bill Brady, CEO of Troomi Wireless, which makes smartphones with a restricted internet browser, text-message monitoring and controls over contacts and screen time said of the firm's Troodi chatbot: “We believe online safety is inextricably linked to positive mental health. The goal with Troodi is to help kids work through any negative mental-health issues they’re having before they fester.” Parents have said the bot gives advice similar to their own, with the added advantage of coming from what teenagers perceive as a neutral party.

 

Wall Street Journal

Florida's preschoolers can enjoy free admission to SeaWorld Orlando and Aquatica Orlando throughout 2025. The offer is available for children aged five and under, but registration must be completed online by February 3. A similar offer is also available at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Adventure Island, requiring separate registration.

 

The Miami Herald