Become more informed in minutes....

The GOP's proposal to eliminate property taxes in Florida poses a significant threat to essential funding for 11 voter-approved children's services councils and trusts, which provide critical support to families. Cindy Arenberg Seltzer, president and chief executive of Children's Services Council of Broward County, warned that the loss of funding could "actually put a lot of these nonprofit organizations out of business." With a projected budget of $172m, these organizations rely heavily on property taxes to operate. Sheryl Woods, CEO of YMCA South Florida, expressed concern, stating: "I think it would be catastrophic for the children." The proposal has sparked debate, with U.S. Sen. Rick Scott emphasizing the need for reforms that do not harm communities. As the state legislature considers these changes, the future of children's services remains uncertain.

 

TCPalm

Florida's newly drawn congressional districts will remain unchanged following a ruling by Judge Joshua Hawkes of the Leon Circuit Court. The decision came after voting rights organizations, including Common Cause and Equal Ground Education Fund, challenged the map, claiming it was designed to favor Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections. Despite these claims, Hawkes stated: “To the extent the Court has to balance Florida's FDA prohibition of improper partisan intent and the United States Constitution's Equal Protection guarantees, it seems clear that the potential partisan intent in the 2026 map is the lesser of the two evils.” The groups plan to appeal the ruling, with Common Cause Florida Executive Director Amy Keith emphasizing their commitment to fighting against partisan gerrymandering. Any successful appeal would need to be expedited to impact the 2026 elections.

 

NBC Miami

More than 75% of Republican lawmakers in the Florida House have endorsed Byron Donalds for Governor, following State Rep. Danny Alvarez's support. Alvarez stated: "Florida became the greatest state in the country because conservatives stood their ground and fought for a blueprint that puts freedom, families, and opportunity first." Donalds has also received significant endorsements from President Donald Trump and other prominent figures, including Elon Musk. A recent poll indicated Donalds leads the GOP primary with 54% support among likely voters, while his fundraising has surpassed $67m. Despite some polls suggesting a potential Democratic overperformance, Donalds maintains a strong position in the race.

 

Florida Politics

David Dunn-Rankin, chief executive of D-R Media & Investments, critiques Florida's legislature for its handling of teacher salaries, saying: "If you start people at a decent salary but then give raises that can't outrun inflation, you're not rewarding them." Despite claims of increased starting pay, Florida ranks 50th in average teacher salaries, with a 12% decline in inflation-adjusted pay over the last decade. Dunn-Rankin emphasizes that without adequate raises, teachers will continue to leave.

 

Midfloridanewspapers

A new Gallup and Walton Family Foundation study found that most public school teachers receive little or no formal guidance on how to use artificial intelligence  (AI)in the classroom, despite it becoming increasingly embedded in education. The survey of more than 2,000 K-12 public school teachers found that 82% receive no formal advice on using AI at school. Nearly 69% said they receive no guidance on using AI for tutoring or one-on-one instruction, 58% lack guidance on AI-assisted grading and feedback, and 47% are not advised on using AI to create assignments or classroom materials. Teachers at lower-income schools were less likely to receive AI guidance than those at wealthier schools, highlighting disparities in support and resources. Researchers also found that schools with formal AI policies were more likely to see both teachers and students actively using the technology. Beyond AI, the report identified broader concerns around unrealistic and unclear job expectations. More than half of teachers said expectations for excellent teaching at their schools were unrealistic to some degree, while teachers reporting unclear expectations were significantly more likely to experience burnout and job dissatisfaction. Gallup researcher Andrea Malek Ash said teachers are increasingly expected to do “one-and-a-half jobs,” making clear communication from school leadership critical. The study found that teachers who viewed expectations as realistic were more likely to remain engaged at work and continue teaching the following year.

 

U.S. News

The rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI), particularly since the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022, has significantly impacted how educators and businesses approach writing. Teachers now face challenges in ensuring originality and clarity in student work, as AI-generated content can easily blur the lines of authorship. Businesses, too, must navigate quality standards and copyright issues, as AI tools can produce text that resembles existing articles. AI detection tools have emerged as a solution, analyzing text for patterns indicative of machine-generated writing. However, these tools are not foolproof; they assess the probability of AI involvement rather than providing definitive proof. 

 

Daytona Beach News Journal

Leon County Schools will begin the 2026-27 school year with reduced staffing, including fewer teachers and social workers, as outlined in a staffing plan obtained by the Tallahassee Democrat. The district is facing a $7.8m budget cut, which includes a $4.8m reduction in staffing and discretionary funds. Leon Classroom Teachers Association President Scott Mazur has expressed concerns about class sizes, noting that "class sizes are always an issue." The plan anticipates a total of 1,758 teaching units, a decrease of 72 from the previous year, primarily affecting support roles. The district aims to manage these reductions through attrition rather than layoffs, as it prepares for an estimated enrollment of 28,350 students.

 

Tallahassee.com

The Palm Beach County Classroom Teachers Association has endorsed Christina Romelus for the District 4 School Board seat, representing nearly 7,000 educators. She is running to succeed Erica Whitfield, who is leaving the board to pursue a County Commission seat.

 

Florida Politics

Graduating seniors from Volusia County are participating in a heartwarming tradition known as the "senior clap out," where they revisit their former elementary schools. On May 22, several dozen seniors from New Smyrna Beach High School returned to Indian River Elementary School, greeted with cheers and signs from current students and teachers. Principal Jennifer Holmgreen noted, "It's definitely a high-emotions day," highlighting the pride felt across the campus.

 

Daytona Beach News Journal

Ormond Beach Observer

Noah Sisson, a fourth-grade student at Highlands Grove Elementary School in Lakeland, has emerged as a winner in the America250FL art and essay contest. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced the winners during a reception at the Governor's Mansion in Tallahassee. The contest invited students to submit original artwork and essays themed “Celebrating Florida's Contributions to America,” as part of Florida's celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

 

Lakeland Ledger

In Miami-Dade County, privately operated speed cameras designed to tackle offences near schools were responsible for 68% of all speeding tickets issued in the first quarter of 2026, according to data from the Office of the Clerk and Comptroller. Out of 76,316 citations, only 25,000 were issued by police, while 51,721 originated from automated cameras.

 

The Miami Herald

Tallahassee State College (TSC) has partnered with Sterling Flight Training to introduce a Professional Aeronautics Certification (PAC) program aimed at addressing the national pilot shortage. The program allows students to earn a commercial pilot license in as little as six to nine months, with an estimated total cost of $79,903.

 

Tallahassee.com

New College of Florida is set to assume full responsibility for the University of South Florida's Sarasota-Manatee campus on December 31, 2026, as part of a budget agreement between House and Senate negotiators. The transition follows a proposal from Gov. Ron DeSantis and the House, although the Senate initially hesitated due to financial concerns. The deal includes debt payments owed by New College to USF, and USF-SM students will retain dorm rights until August 2027. Former House Speaker and USF trustee Will Weatherford expressed support for the transfer, highlighting the collaborative discussions that have taken place since September 2024. The move comes amid New College's ongoing conservative transformation and scrutiny over its spending.

 

Florida Phoenix

The number of students in Japan’s public schools requiring help learning Japanese has reached a record 84,759, according to a government survey, reflecting growing diversity in classrooms and increasing pressure on local education systems. The education ministry said the figure, recorded as of May 2025, has nearly doubled over the past decade and rose by more than 15,600 from the previous survey in 2023. Foreign nationals accounted for most of the increase, totaling 73,313 students, while 11,446 Japanese nationals were also identified as needing language support. Nearly 40% of public schools nationwide now have students requiring Japanese-language instruction. Despite expanded support efforts, almost 9,700 students identified as needing assistance were not receiving it, with shortages of staff, funding, and regional resources cited as key challenges. Experts warned that inadequate language support can leave students isolated, struggling academically, or at risk of dropping out.

 

Asia News Network

The Japan Times

The LEGO Foundation has committed $97m over five years to expand International Rescue Committee (IRC) programs that use play-based learning to help children affected by conflict recover and continue their education across East Africa and the Middle East. The partnership aims to reach 5m children in countries including Ethiopia, Lebanon, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Uganda, and the Palestinian territories, with funding designed to remain flexible as conflicts evolve. LEGO Foundation chief executive Sidsel Marie Kristensen said the initiative would focus on children in “the most dire contexts,” while IRC President David Miliband said the program was about giving conflict-affected children “the best of childhood back.” The funding will support the IRC’s PlayMatters program, which trains teachers to integrate play into lessons for children aged three to 12 who are coping with trauma and disruption. The initiative also includes radio-based educational content delivered in multiple languages to reach remote or inaccessible communities.

 

Washington Post