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After nearly four years of legal disputes, Brevard Public Schools is set to pay approximately $568,000 in a settlement related to a lawsuit filed by the local Moms for Liberty chapter. The lawsuit, initiated in November 2021, claimed that board members infringed on their First Amendment rights during heated school board meetings addressing COVID-19 policies and LGBTQ student rights. The board had implemented a policy to limit public comment time, which led to frustrations among community members. "The lawsuit came in the midst of contentious school board meetings," highlighting the tensions surrounding these critical issues.

 

Florida Today

Build reading brains with Science of Reading instructional materials

The Science of Reading (SoR) research shows that reading and writing don’t come naturally: building a reading brain requires explicit, systematic, and cumulative instruction in key literacy elements. Over the past two decades, research has deepened our understanding of how students learn to read. What began as the foundational five pillars—phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension—has now expanded to eight. Writing, language development, and knowledge building have been added, reflecting a more comprehensive approach to literacy instruction. 

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Access free SoR classroom resources

 

The Duval County School Board is advocating for its own General Counsel, a move that has sparked controversy regarding Jacksonville's consolidated government. School Board Chair Charlotte Joyce emphasized the need for qualified legal representation in education law, stating: "When you open up an applicant pool, I think the first question that a lot of experienced attorneys in education law would look at is, why am I applying to the city of Jacksonville and not to the School Board?" The Neighborhoods, Community Services, Public Health and Safety Committee approved the resolution, but concerns were raised about potential implications for Jacksonville's governance structure.

 

Florida Politics

Laurie Breslin has taken over as the new superintendent of the School District of Manatee County, aiming to enhance student literacy, career readiness, and technology integration. With a focus on supporting teachers, parents, and students, Breslin said: “I want to make sure that our staff know that they work for a district that cares about them.” She plans to address challenges such as increasing literacy rates, with a goal of raising third-grade reading proficiency from 54% to over 60%. Additionally, she aims to tackle the teacher shortage by maintaining competitive salaries and improving resources. Breslin is committed to rebuilding community trust and ensuring student safety, emphasizing the importance of transparency and communication. “It's really important to me to rebuild any trust that has been lost,” she said. Breslin's vision includes fostering a supportive environment for both students and teachers, preparing them for future success.

 

Bradenton.com

Bradenton.com

Orange County Public Schools has reached a tentative agreement with the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association for the 2025-2026 school year, pending ratification by the CTA. The deal includes a 4.01% salary increase for teachers rated highly effective and a 3.01% increase for those rated effective. Additionally, $2m will be allocated to address pay compression for veteran teachers. The agreement also covers working conditions, including provisions for the use of artificial intelligence in instruction, guaranteed 30-minute paid lunch breaks for most teachers, and measures to address unfounded student allegations against teachers.

 

Orange Observer News

NeoCity Academy in Kissimmee is equipping students with essential skills for the tech industry, with nearly 90 students interning at 14 local companies, including Skywater Technology. Jaylon Prophet, a senior at the academy, emphasized the focus on practical application over theoretical knowledge, stating: “They are teaching us things about the manufacturing process.” Jeremiah Swartz, the experiential learning coordinator, aims to reduce the lag between education and industry needs, saying: “If I can reduce that lag time, that’s what I want to do.” Skywater’s director of business operations, Gustavo Gil, noted the academy's strong program, ensuring students are “already college level.” The curriculum is evolving to include more artificial intelligence classes, keeping students competitive in a rapidly advancing field.

 

News 13

The latest survey from Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) revealed a significant drop of nearly 7,000 students since the school year began in August. District officials are conducting this month’s survey to better understand the current student body, anticipating that more students will re-enroll after Labor Day, as is traditionally the case. The August attendance count showed 6,627 students absent, more than double the expected loss of 3,023 students due to declining birth rates and the expanding voucher program. This decline is projected to result in over $28m in lost state funding, prompting OCPS to reassign 116 teaching positions and announce 157 job vacancies due to a hiring freeze.

 

News 13

Parents, teachers, and neighbors are anxious about the delayed opening of Optima Classical Academy, which has been closed for over two years. An email from the principal last year indicated the school would open in Fall 2025, but it remains shut. A recent comment from the academy suggested a new opening date of August 2026. The Lee County School District is set to discuss a name change to Nova Classical STEM Academy and an amendment to the charter school contract in an upcoming meeting.

 

WINK News

The University of North Florida (UNF) has secured two federal grants totaling $2.8m to enhance civics education and neuroscience research. The U.S. Department of Education awarded a $2.1m grant to establish a Cultivating Comprehensive Civics Education Professional Development Program in collaboration with Duval County Public Schools and the University of Central Florida. The initiative aims to support 90 civics teachers, particularly from high-need schools, focusing on engaging students with democratic principles. Additionally, UNF received $740,000 from the National Institutes of Health to research neurodegenerative diseases, overseen by Assistant Professor Szymon Ciesielski.

 

Florida Politics

Whistleblowers have accused Full Sail University of participating in a “pay-for-play” student hiring scheme to increase federal funding, as detailed in a federal court case in California. The lawsuit, filed in 2024 and unsealed in May, also names the Los Angeles Film School, both linked to University of Florida alumnus and trustee James W. Full Sail has denied these allegations, asserting that the whistleblowers never worked for the institution.

 

Sun Sentinel

Tampa Bay Times

On October 1 2025, the Al Khoziny Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo, East Java, collapsed during afternoon prayers, resulting in the tragic loss of 61 lives. The disaster, described as the year's deadliest, left the community in grief and confusion. Mohammad Syafii, chief of the search and rescue agency, announced: "Operations due to the collapsed structure of the Al Khoziny school ... are officially closed," after all bodies were recovered. The school was part of Indonesia's extensive network of pesantren, or traditional Islamic boarding schools, of which there are more than 42,000 in Indonesia.

 

NBC News

The Jakarta Post

U.S. News