Education Slice
Become more informed in minutes....
Education Slice Logo
Florida
5th March 2026
 

THE HOT STORY

School debate bill aims to empower youth

Senator Jason Brodeur, a Republican from Sanford, advocated for SB 1062, emphasizing that promoting debate in schools can counteract the negative effects of social media on youth. "Social media rewards you with an algorithm for outrage," Brodeur said, highlighting the importance of teaching students to engage in civil discourse. The bill aims to establish the Florida Debate Initiative's partnership with school districts, ensuring the program's longevity beyond the current administration. Launched in 2014, the initiative now operates in 405 schools across 67 districts, with over 3,400 participants. The legislation also proposes the creation of a Florida Debate Hall of Fame and designates February 1-7 as speech and debate week. Funding for the program includes $2.4m in recurring general revenue. The House bill, HB 1059, awaits a vote.

STATE NEWS

Opposition grows to Florida bill allowing armed college faculty

A proposed Florida bill that would allow trained college faculty and staff to carry concealed weapons on campus is facing strong opposition from student and faculty organizations. The legislation would expand the state’s Guardian Program, created after the 2018 Parkland shooting, to public colleges and universities, enabling trained personnel to act as armed security. While the bill has already passed the House and awaits a Senate hearing, critics argue it could increase risks rather than improve safety. A coalition of student and academic groups has urged lawmakers to reject the proposal, warning that more guns on campus could escalate conflicts and lead to accidental shootings. Supporters, including the bill’s sponsors and some education officials, say the measure would strengthen campus safety and provide quicker responses to threats.

NATIONAL NEWS

Review calls for major reforms at $700m U.S. education research agency

An internal report submitted to U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has sharply criticized the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), saying the federal education research agency has become slow, fragmented, and disconnected from classroom needs. The 95-page report recommends a major restructuring of the $700m-per-year agency to make its research more relevant and timely for teachers and policymakers. The review found that IES often prioritizes academic rigor over practical impact, spreading funding across hundreds of unrelated projects and producing studies that take years to publish and rarely influence classroom practice. It recommends focusing research on three to five key national challenges, such as early literacy or algebra achievement, with stronger coordination across the agency’s research centers. The report also criticized the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) for outdated surveys, fragmented datasets, and cancelled major studies, and said federal education data often takes too long to release. Proposed reforms include automated data systems, standardized reporting, and greater use of APIs and AI tools to deliver faster insights.

Governors’ education agendas diverge

FutureEd reviewed 2026 State-of-the-State speeches from 39 governors and found school choice, higher ed affordability, early learning, and student well-being dominated education proposals. School choice drove partisan splits, with many Republican governors promoting public funding for private options, while Arizona’s Katie Hobbs called for tighter oversight. Across parties, governors emphasized literacy, public-school funding, and teacher pay, with nutrition emerging as a shared theme. GHSA-style rhetoric appeared in school safety debates too: “Illegal and deadly school bus passings are 100% preventable,” Jonathan Adkins said.

SAFETY & SECURITY

Districts confront Lifetouch rumor storm

School districts are responding to a fast-spreading social media claim alleging a tie between school photo company Lifetouch and Jeffrey Epstein, which Lifetouch says is false. Chief executive Ken Murphy said Lifetouch is not named in DOJ-released Epstein files and that student images are protected: “When Lifetouch photographers take your student's picture, that image is safeguarded for families and schools, only, with no exceptions.” Districts have canceled, paused, or reviewed contracts, while PR experts urge clear, trust-building communication and proactive misinformation strategies.

TECHNOLOGY

AI revolutionizes school assignments

Educators in Treasure Coast are increasingly adopting artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance teaching methods and lesson planning. Brian McMahon, director of accountability and research for Indian River County Schools, emphasized: "It's a tool. AI is a tool to do our work more efficiently and effectively." Teachers are shifting from traditional assignments to in-class work with AI guidance, allowing students to develop critical thinking skills.

Ducks in a Row soar at Governors Cup

Florida's Foundation Academy robotics team, Ducks in a Row, represented the state at the inaugural FIRST United States Governors Cup in Washington, D.C., held from February 20 to 21. The competition featured high school teams from all 50 states, aiming to innovate education through experiential learning. Ducks in a Row won three out of five matches, finishing 26th overall.

DISTRICTS

Proposed school rezoning frustrates Alachua County residents

Residents of Alachua County are frustrated with the proposed school rezoning, particularly concerning the potential closure of Joseph Williams Elementary School, a historic institution for Black students. The school, which opened in 1938, is criticized for its poor conditions, lack of heating and cooling, and its location on a former landfill site. While some board members recognize its legacy, others stress the importance of safe facilities. The board is moving forward with Map D, which proposes the closure of several schools and the establishment of new K-8 schools, raising concerns about funding and undercapacity issues among remaining schools.  

Community weighs in on school times

The Santa Rosa County School District is holding a public hearing on March 5 at Woodlawn Beach Middle School to discuss potential changes to start and dismissal times for seven schools, including Central School and Gulf Breeze Middle. The district has gathered input through surveys, with 1,092 responses expected to be presented at the hearing.

SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION

National plan targets bus safety

GHSA and BusPatrol released “A National Action Plan for School Bus Safety,” outlining 69 recommendations for districts, transportation leaders, law enforcement, and state highway safety offices to reduce illegal school bus passings. The report says drivers illegally pass stopped buses about 39m times per year—about once per bus every three days—putting the 20m daily student riders at risk. Developed after a December 2025 summit with nearly 500 experts, the plan stresses enforcement, training, technology, and education.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Florida House backs bill to prioritise in-state students at top universities

The Florida House has approved a bill that would further limit the number of out-of-state and international students admitted to the state’s leading universities. The proposal requires "preeminent" universities to reserve 95% of new undergraduate places for Florida residents, up from the current 90% requirement. Supporters, including the bill’s sponsor, argue the measure ensures that Florida taxpayers’ children have greater access to the state’s top institutions. However, Democrats warn the change could reduce university revenue, as out-of-state students pay higher tuition, and may make the system less attractive to top global talent. The bill also proposes limiting students from any single foreign country to no more than 5% of enrollment at each university. It now faces an uncertain future in the Senate.

INTERNATIONAL

China urged to prioritize education and training to navigate AI-driven job changes

A leading Chinese economist has called on Beijing to increase spending on early childhood education and lifelong learning to help the country’s workforce adapt to the rapid spread of artificial intelligence (AI). Cai Fang of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences said China must shift policy focus from investing primarily in capital to investing more in people, particularly as an ageing population and technological change reshape the labor market. He argued that training older workers and strengthening education systems will be crucial to maintaining employment, productivity, and social stability as AI transforms jobs rather than simply replacing them.
Industry Slice Logo

Education Slice delivers the latest, most relevant and useful intelligence to key educators, administrators, decision makers and teaching influencers, each weekday morning..

Content is selected to an exacting brief from hundreds of influential media sources and summarised by experienced journalists into an easy-to-read digest email. Education Slice enhances the performance and decision-making capabilities of individuals and teams by delivering the relevant news, innovations and knowledge in a cost-effective way.

If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities within Education Slice, please get in touch via email sales team

Follow us on FacebookFollow us on XFollow us on Linkedin

This e-mail has been sent to [[EMAIL_TO]]

Click here to unsubscribe