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Between March 11, when the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) began reducing its staff levels, and June 27, the agency dismissed 3,424 complaints, according to court documents filed by Rachel Oglesby, who has been chief of staff at the Education Department since January. By contrast, the office dismissed 2,527 cases in the three-month period between November 2024 and January 2025 under the Biden administration. “A dismissal rate this high suggests a fundamental shift in how OCR is triaging and processing complaints,” said Jackie Gharapour Wernz, an education civil rights attorney who worked for the OCR under the Obama and first Trump administrations. “It raises serious concerns about whether civil rights issues are being meaningfully evaluated and whether the agency is adhering to its own case processing manual and relevant law in dismissing cases.” In response, Education Department spokesperson Julie Hartman said the OCR is taking actions according to federal law, regulations and the OCR case processing manual, which outlines the steps the agency must take to process complaints. 

 

K-12 Dive

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced significant academic improvements in K-12 schools, revealing that 71% of graded schools received an ‘A’ or ‘B’ grade, up from 64% last year. "That’s a really big deal," he said during a visit to Jacksonville. The increase includes 4% more elementary, 9% more middle, and 10% more high schools achieving top grades. This translates to nearly 200,000 additional students enrolled in ‘A’ and ‘B’ schools compared to the previous year. DeSantis emphasized the importance of moving away from high-stakes testing, advocating for the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) for more actionable assessments. He noted "substantial gains" in statewide assessments in English Language Arts and mathematics, crediting "progress monitoring" for improved student achievement. Anastasios Kamoutsas, the likely next Florida Department of Education Commissioner, remarked that the results reflect the hard work of teachers, parents, and students.

 

Florida Politics

Orlando Sentinel

Tampa Bay Times

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges has faced increasing tension with Florida education leaders. The state’s Board of Governors is set to consider establishing a new accrediting body, the Commission for Public Higher Education, which would serve Florida and several neighboring states. This non-profit organization aims to enhance the quality of higher education by accrediting public colleges and universities in the U.S. Gov. Ron DeSantis and officials from other states announced this initiative, which requires federal approval. The proposal states: "This corporation will serve as a higher education accreditor with the mission to advance the quality and improvement of higher education." This move reflects Florida's efforts to distance itself from the Southern Association, particularly amid ongoing disputes regarding accreditation and federal financial aid eligibility.

 

Orlando Weekly

The recent withholding of nearly $6.8 billion in federal education funding has led to significant job losses and program cuts across the nation. In Missouri, the Laclede Literacy Council has laid off 16 of its 17 staff members due to the lack of expected funds. Kevin Huffman, former Tennessee education commissioner, expressed concern, commenting: “It feels very pointless” to plan for academic outcomes when funding can be abruptly withdrawn. The U.S. Department of Education's announcement, delivered via a brief email, has drawn criticism from various state governors and education organizations. The loss of funding will affect over 600 districts, with significant impacts on low-income students and English learners. As districts scramble to create contingency plans, many fear that essential services and programs may be lost if the funding is not released soon.

 

Education Week News

Santa Rosa County District Schools has introduced the SRCDS app to enhance communication between parents and schools. Launched on June 1, the app offers multilingual support, live news updates, alerts, staff contacts, and school menus. A new feature, Rooms, will allow parents to message teachers directly starting August 4. Parents can log in using their custodial email from the FOCUS Parent Portal and can opt for alerts via phone, text, or email. The app integrates quick-access links to existing platforms like FOCUS and MySchoolBucks, enabling parents to manage grades and school meals efficiently. As of July 2, the app has been downloaded 3,181 times, serving approximately 30,000 families in the district.

 

Pensacola News Journal

Jeremy Campbell has been appointed as the new athletic director at Windermere High, succeeding Jillian Sutton, who left for a position at East River High. Campbell, who joined Windermere as Dean of Students in the 2023-24 school year, expressed his excitement, remarking: "It's an incredible honor to be named Windermere High's Athletic Director." With a background as a multi-sport athlete and experience in various coaching and administrative roles, Campbell aims to enhance the athletic programs. He emphasized his commitment to building a "championship culture grounded in integrity, hard work and unity," focusing on supporting student-athletes both on and off the field. Campbell has officially begun his role as athletic director, stepping away from his previous position.

 

Orange Observer News

Warrington Preparatory Academy has received a “D” grade for the second consecutive year, putting its charter at risk. The Florida Department of Education reported that Escambia County Public Schools earned a “B” overall, while Santa Rosa County Schools received an “A.” Warrington Prep scored 41 percentage points this year, just shy of the 44 needed for a “C” grade. If the school does not improve by the end of the 2025-2026 academic year, students may be transferred to Escambia County Schools. ECPS spokesman Cody Strother stated, "With regard to Warrington Prep, FLDOE will make that determination." Superintendent Keith Leonard emphasized the need for a contingency plan, saying, “We have to prepare for success whether Warrington Prep makes the C or higher, but we also have to be prepared if they don't.” The school currently has over 570 students enrolled.

 

Pensacola News Journal

The School District of Osceola County in Florida has partnered with Smart Radar System to enhance school bus safety using advanced 4D radar technology. This system provides real-time monitoring for pedestrians and alerts drivers through LED lights and audio alarms. The technology includes sensors that detect passengers inside the bus, significantly reducing the risk of leaving children behind. Approved by the Florida Department of Education in September 2024, the system aims to improve safety for the district's nearly 27,000 students. A district representative commented: “This collaboration reflects Osceola County’s continued commitment to investing in safe, forward-thinking transportation for its students.” Other districts have shown interest in adopting the technology.

 

School Bus Fleet

Andy Markus, the assistant facilities manager at Draper Park Middle School in Utah's Canyons school district, initiated a mentoring program in 2022 aimed at students who vandalized school property. His efforts have not only led to cleaner facilities but also improved student behavior and academic engagement. Recognized as the 2025 National Education Support Professional of the Year by the National Education Association, Markus emphasizes the importance of a positive school environment. He states, “The physical environment affects everything in these buildings. I think school pride matters.” Through his program, students have taken ownership of their school, leading to a significant cultural shift where they actively participate in maintaining cleanliness and respect for their surroundings.

 

Education Week News

New teachers often struggle with challenging conversations with students and parents. To address this, two former K-12 teachers have developed mixed-reality simulations at North Carolina Central University's School of Education. These simulations allow preservice teachers to practice social-emotional skills and navigate difficult situations in a virtual environment. Megan Lyons, an assistant professor, emphasized the importance of these exercises, adding that they help future teachers “realize their own skill sets and how to improve those competencies." The program has received positive feedback from students, who have expressed a desire to tackle more complex issues, such as bullying and sensitive family matters. Freda Hicks, the clinical experience and partnership director, noted that the simulations help teachers avoid common pitfalls, like sharing confidential information during parent meetings. Overall, the initiative aims to better prepare future educators for real classroom challenges.

 

Education Week News