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Florida
22nd May 2026
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THE HOT STORY

Drones deployed for school safety

Eight schools in Florida and Georgia are set to pilot a new safety approach using drones to combat school shootings. Deltona High School will install 39 drones designed to distract attackers with high-pitched sounds and nonlethal pepper balls. “Quite frankly, this is the future,” said Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood during a demonstration. The drones will be activated by educators through an emergency alert system, allowing professional pilots to respond within 15 seconds. However, safety experts like Michael Dorn caution that the technology is unproven and may distract from essential safety practices. The initiative is backed by state grants, with Florida and Georgia allocating $550,000 each for the pilot programs. Critics argue that while innovative, the drones may not effectively address the complexities of real-life emergencies.

FLORIDA COMPLIANCE GUIDE

Simplify Florida Training Compliance

Florida’s evolving training mandates can be hard to track and easy to miss. This Florida compliance guide highlights key topics like bullying prevention, mental health, and mandatory reporting to help districts ensure coverage and maintain compliance with confidence.

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NATIONAL NEWS

Meta settles school district lawsuit

Meta has reached a settlement with the Breathitt County School District in Kentucky, the first of many lawsuits filed by school districts across the U.S. seeking compensation for costs related to children's social media addiction and mental health issues. The district aimed to secure over $60m for a 15-year program to address these challenges. The settlement comes as a result of a bellwether case, which was set to go to trial next month in Oakland, California. Plaintiffs' attorneys emphasized their commitment to "pursuing justice for the remaining 1,200 school districts who have filed cases.” This settlement follows earlier court losses for Meta and YouTube regarding social media harms. In March, a jury awarded $6m to a plaintiff who claimed social media addiction worsened her mental health issues.

STATE NEWS

Florida's reading scores hit rock bottom

Florida has been ranked last in academic growth for reading, according to the Education Scorecard, a collaboration between the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University and the Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University. The report highlights that Florida students are nearly 0.7 grade equivalents below 2019 levels, with reading scores declining since 2022. The Florida Department of Education criticized the findings, stating: "It's no surprise that a failing woke institution would rank Florida last whenever possible." The report also noted chronic absenteeism among students, which remains almost 9% above pre-pandemic levels. Professor Tom Kane stressed that the "learning recession" began in 2013, indicating that the pandemic is not solely to blame for the decline in student achievement.

DISTRICTS

Scholarships and AI in flagler schools

In a recent interview with Observer Now, Flagler County School Board member Lauren Ramirez discussed various topics affecting local education, including scholarship deliveries, school choice vouchers, and the integration of artificial intelligence in classrooms. Ramirez expressed excitement about the scholarship surprise deliveries, claiming: "It showed all the hard work that is put in behind the scenes." She highlighted the significant impact of voucher systems on district funding and the need for schools to remain competitive. Addressing concerns about AI, she emphasized the importance of safety and proper training for staff and students. Ramirez also noted the rising health care costs affecting teacher pay and the district's efforts to improve student outcomes, saying: "We've been going up in our FAST testing." As graduation approaches, she encouraged students to embrace their future opportunities and stay connected with the district.

Escambia Children's Trust faces potential cuts

Escambia County School Board member Kevin Adams expressed grave concerns over the potential loss of funding for the Escambia Children's Trust, stating: “I think it would be catastrophic issue for the school district in Escambia County if those funds were lost.” The Children's Trust, established in 2020, allocates over $10m annually to support children and families in need. Commissioner Mike Kohler is advocating for a referendum to potentially end the program, despite its success in providing over 30,000 direct services to students and families. Adams emphasized the positive impact of the Trust on academic performance and urged fellow board members to support its continuation, noting: “I think we should give it the rest of the time to do its work.”

Riley Elementary's reading revolution

Riley Elementary in Northwest Tallahassee has achieved its first "B" grade in 14 years, prompting educators to focus on sustaining and enhancing literacy gains. Currently, 57% of Leon County third graders read at grade level, but over 1,100 students still struggle with proficiency. Assistant Principal Candace Gautney expressed pride in the school's progress, saying: "Our kids are amazing... they work really hard to get where they are." Educators believe that improving access to books at home is crucial for enhancing reading comprehension and confidence among students. The goal now is to maintain the "B" rating and further elevate student achievement.

Bookstore saves hundreds from trash

In Fort Myers, Blinking Owl Books rescued hundreds of books from being discarded by the Lee County School District. The school's annual practice of disposing of old and damaged books prompted a customer to alert the bookstore. Owner Lucy Perkins-Wagel coordinated with the school to save as many books as possible, emphasizing that "reading is an important part of learning and kids should have access to books." The rescued titles, primarily in fantasy, horror, and science fiction, will be distributed for free throughout the community, significantly expanding the store's collection.

CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION

Historic campus gets $30m makeover proposal

MartinArts aims to transform the historic Stuart High School campus into a $30m arts and cultural center, as it was recently included in the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation's "11 to Save" list for 2026. Nancy Turrell, executive director of MartinArts, emphasized the importance of this recognition, remarkring: "I do think getting that state level of recognition ... is a really key message point." The campus, which has been vacant since October 2023, is at risk of deterioration without active stewardship. Turrell noted that if the school board decides to sell the property, MartinArts may face competition from other buyers.

CONDUCT

Teacher arrested for bizarre classroom order

A Florida middle school teacher, Judith Clark, has been arrested after allegedly instructing a student to slap a classmate during class. The incident occurred at Lee Middle School, where Clark, 64, reportedly asked the class: "Who wants to slap him?" when a sixth grader was talking out of turn. After receiving no volunteers, she directed two students to close the blinds and told another to hit the victim. The 12-year-old student complied, slapping his classmate lightly. The student later expressed fear of disobeying Clark's orders. Following the incident, the school district removed Clark from the classroom and initiated an investigation. Clark has been charged with child abuse without great bodily harm. The School District of Manatee County stated: "This incident is deeply concerning and does not reflect the standards or expectations we have for our employees."

OTHER

Steel beam honors 9/11 memories

On Tuesday, a steel beam from the World Trade Center was delivered to Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota as part of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation's "Steel Across America" tour, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Former White House Chief of Staff Andy Card, who informed President George W. Bush of the attacks during a visit to the school, attended the ceremony. "I whispered into his ear, ‘A second plane hit the second tower, America is under attack,'" Card recalled. The event also featured former students, including Natalia Jones-Pinkney, who reflected on how that day shaped their lives. "Being there, reading to the president, shaped our lives," she said. The steel beam serves as a memorial for the victims and first responders of the attacks.
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