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Florida
3rd February 2026
 

THE HOT STORY

Anthropic research shows AI can weaken early skill development

An Anthropic study has found that while artificial intelligence (AI) tools can assist with task completion, heavy reliance on them may weaken skill development, particularly when people are learning new technical concepts. In experiments with developers learning an unfamiliar Python library, participants using AI scored about 17% lower on measures of conceptual understanding, code reading and debugging compared with those working without AI, and showed no significant overall productivity gains. The research shows that how AI is used matters: participants who delegated most thinking to AI learned the least, while those who used AI to ask conceptual questions or seek explanations retained stronger skills. The findings raise concerns for education and workforce training, suggesting that unstructured AI use could undermine long-term competence unless learning is deliberately designed to keep humans actively engaged.

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DISTRICTS

Brevard schools warn against protests

Brevard Public Schools officials have issued a warning to students against participating in on-campus protests, particularly a planned walkout against ICE violence. Superintendent Mark Rendell and School Board Chair Matt Susin emphasized that disruptions to learning will not be tolerated, noting: "For that reason, walkouts or protests during the school day are not permitted." The warning follows a social media post promoting a student-organized walkout scheduled for February 6 at Satellite High. Both officials clarified that the protest is not affiliated with the school district and that students who participate will face disciplinary actions.

Students rally for immigrant rights

Nearly 100 students at Lincoln High School in Tallahassee staged a walkout to protest the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on February 2. Student organizer Mara Stopyak said: "At Lincoln, we have many students with families that can be targeted by ICE and are at risk of wrongful profiling." The protest reflects a growing trend of nationwide demonstrations against ICE, particularly following recent fatal incidents involving agents. Students expressed their solidarity by carrying handmade posters with messages like "Love melts ICE" and "ICE is breaking the law." Stopyak made the case for advocacy, noting: "The hate in the halls is loud, but we want to be louder." The protest occurred during lunch, ensuring no disruption to classes, and was supported by Leon County Schools spokesperson Chris Petley, who confirmed that students did not violate any school policies.

LEADERSHIP

Osceola County honors top educators

At the Osceola Heritage Park events center, nominees for the Osceola County School District Education Awards expressed their deep connection to their students and community. Kyndall Brown, the 2027 Teacher of the Year, emphasized: "Long before I became a teacher, this place was teaching me," highlighting her lifelong ties to Osceola County. She will represent the county at the Florida Department of Education's Teacher of the Year judging. Jessica Mintz, named School-Related Employee of the Year, shared her surprise at receiving the district honor after years of dedication. Principal Jeffrey Schwartz of Poinciana High School accepted the Principal of the Year award, noting the school's impressive grade improvement. Osceola School District Superintendent Dr. Mark Shanoff praised the honorees, stating their work is "Personal, rather than professional," and commended their dedication to students.

TEACHING

Dyslexia intervention shows impressive gains

Recent data from NOW! Programs®, led by Dr. Tim Conway, indicate significant academic growth in students with dyslexia who participated in evidence-based interventions. The assessment data, collected from schools in New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Missouri, showed that students improved their reading scores from below the 10th percentile to between the 50th and 80th percentiles. "We've observed clear improvements in reading fluency," said a public middle school teacher, highlighting the positive impact on classroom performance. Dr. Conway emphasized the importance of targeting root causes of dyslexia, stating, "Seeing consistent growth across multiple measures reinforces the importance of evidence-based intervention." These findings suggest that effective remediation methods can help address literacy gaps for students previously deemed "non-responsive" to intervention.

SAFETY & SECURITY

Cold snap wreaks havoc in Florida

A prolonged cold snap in Florida has led to significant disruptions in Central Florida schools, causing flooding and water outages. At the University of Central Florida (UCF), freezing temperatures resulted in malfunctioning air conditioning units, leading to flooding in dorms and forcing students to relocate to temporary hotel housing. "Maybe an inch of water, it was just all over," said UCF student Blake Ternasky. Meanwhile, Whispering Oak Elementary experienced a water outage, prompting some parents to pick up their children early due to concerns about bathroom access. Although Orange County Public Schools reported that classes began on time and emergency facilities were available, parents expressed frustration over communication delays. UCF officials are monitoring the situation and do not anticipate further disruptions.

CHARTERS

Duval County School Board to decide charter fate

The Duval County School Board is preparing to vote on a five-year contract renewal for San Jose Early College at Cecil, which has struggled with financial issues and low enrollment since its opening in 2021. Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) has shown interest in purchasing the charter school to establish a workforce training center, with Jacksonville's City Council approving $5m to assist in the acquisition. Ryan Rewey, chief executive of Bold City Education, which operates the school, acknowledged that the situation could change, clarifying: "Families would need to know if we’re going in a different direction." Despite the challenges, the school is seeking to renew its charter contract, while FSCJ remains focused on negotiating the purchase for career training purposes.

LEGISLATION

Religious freedom bill sparks debate

Religious leaders and interfaith advocates in Florida are raising alarms over the "Protection of Religious Expression in Public Schools" bill, which they argue could favor dominant religious groups like Christianity and blur church-state lines. The bill aims to protect students and staff from discrimination based on religious expression in schools, allowing for prayer groups and religious gatherings. However, opponents, including Rev. Rebekah McLeod Hutto, argue it risks privileging certain beliefs and could lead to embedding religious ideologies in classrooms. Hutto said: "Why are we trying to codify something that already exists unless you have a hidden agenda to prioritize a small section of Christianity?" The bill received overwhelming support in a recent committee vote, with concerns about its implications for educational integrity and equality among different faiths.

INTERNATIONAL

Taiwan tops global and East Asian education average

Taiwan outperformed both global and East Asian averages across multiple education indicators in 2024, according to a Ministry of Education report released in January. Completion rates reached 100% at primary level, 99.69% at lower secondary and 98.81% at upper secondary, well above global and regional norms. The share of students over-age for their grade was close to zero, far below international averages, while tertiary gross enrolment stood at 94.35%, more than double the global average and significantly ahead of East Asia. The report also showed full gender parity in completion rates across all school levels, with slightly higher female participation in tertiary education.
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