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Nationwide, there has been a surge in parents deciding to homeschool their children. Data from the Washington Post reveals a 72% increase in homeschooled students in Florida since the 2017-2018 school year. Local school districts have also seen significant increases, with Lee County experiencing a 103% rise and Collier County seeing a 62% increase. The pandemic is believed to be the main reason for this shift, as parents have concerns about school violence, bullying, teacher shortages, and curriculum changes. Experts suggest that homeschooling may peak once children reach middle or high school age, as parents may struggle to maintain the curriculum. However, homeschooling parents like Sarah Horwath and Jessica Downs emphasize that homeschooled children can still participate in social activities and extracurriculars. They believe that by the time their children reach middle or high school, they will be able to voice their preferences for learning.

 

WINK News

Create Effective Teacher Teams to Improve Student Results

Do you ever sit in a faculty meeting and ask, “How will we improve FAST scores this Spring?” or “What small wins can we implement to accelerate math or reading proficiency?” One way to plan for academic success is starting a professional learning community (PLC).  According to Polly Patrick, co-author of PLC-Powered Data Teams, “There is no 'one right approach' to how teacher teams are constructed.” When a school acts together as one larger, connected professional learning community—in turn made up of smaller, effective teacher PLCs—an effective and successful learning environment is bound to flourish. Read Polly’s 7-minute article, Strategies for Starting a Professional Learning Community in Education (hmhco.com), and learn about the five strategies for creating effective professional learning communities: Leadership, Collaborative teams, Dedicated Support, Purposeful Data, and Transparency.

 

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association highlights the positive impact of Chicago's district-run, full-day preschool programs on low-income students. The study found that these students performed significantly better in reading and math by the end of third grade compared to students in school-based half-day preschool or less. They also showed better social-emotional development and were less likely to repeat a grade. The benefits were greatest in schools where the principal, preschool teachers, and family liaisons collaborated closely to align curriculum, teacher training, and family supports. The study emphasizes the importance of leadership quality in creating a school climate for strong relationships among key stakeholders. The findings come at a time when most public elementary schools have attached preschools, but there is little guidance for principals on aligning early-childhood classes with primary grades.

 

Education Week News

School administrators in Volusia County are developing plans to rezone schools in order to accommodate rapid population growth. The proposed changes aim to keep school capacities and class sizes on target. Parents have the option to apply for variances to keep their children in the same school. However, some parents are expressing their dissatisfaction with the rezoning plans. The new attendance boundaries would move students to different schools, which has caused concern among parents. School officials explain that the rezoning is necessary due to growth from development and the need to maintain capacity and class sizes. The school board will consider input and concerns from parents before making final decisions on the rezoning changes.

 

News 13

While chronic absenteeism has impacted students from all backgrounds during the pandemic years, the greatest effect has been at schools serving more students in poverty. According to an analysis of federal data by Attendance Works, for schools where three-quarters or more of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, extreme chronic absenteeism almost tripled between the 2017-18 and 2021-22 school years, from 25% to 69%. Extreme chronic absenteeism for schools serving up to a quarter of low-income students increased nearly fivefold, from 3% to 14%, but remained at much lower levels. Overall, the report found that poverty influenced the size and scale of the pandemic’s impact on chronic absences. About a third of districts nationwide reported half their schools experiencing extreme levels of chronic absence. The Education Department has already stressed the importance of reaching out to historically underserved families, including students of color, English learners and students with disabilities, as well as those in foster care, in correctional facilities or without a home.

 

K12 Dive

Following allegations of improper student participation in sports, Florida education officials have promised serious consequences for the individuals responsible. A Broward County high school faced controversy after a transgender female athlete played volleyball during the fall season, leading to the reassignment of the school principal and four employees. In response, hundreds of students staged a peaceful walkout to protest the decision. The reassignment of the staff members has been criticized as an overreaction and a misjudgment. The state law in question, the "Fairness in Women's Sports Act," prohibits athletes who were not assigned the female gender at birth from competing in school-sponsored girls' and women's sports. The law has become a key issue for Gov. Ron DeSantis. The controversy highlights the ongoing debate surrounding transgender rights and sports participation.

 

The Miami Herald

The Hillsborough County School District is among several educational institutions being investigated by the U.S. Department of Education for discrimination based on "shared ancestry." The investigation is focused on students who are Jewish, Muslim, or Arab, given the attention on the war between Israel and Hamas. The district and the department have not provided any details about the investigation, citing privacy concerns and ongoing investigations. The University of Tampa is also included in the federal agency's list, where a family reported their son being bullied because he is Jewish. Hillsborough school board member Jessica Vaughn has expressed her commitment to not tolerate any show of hatred or demonization against a religious or ethnic group.

 

Tampa Bay Times

Lee County Schools has confirmed that their student Chromebooks were not hacked, after the district suffered a prank email that never led to any security breaches. Students received an email that sent them to a website that gave them the impression Anonymous had hacked their computer. According to the district, it’s part of a Cyber Monday prank.

 

WINK News

Evanston Township High School in Illinois has introduced race-separated affinity classes in an effort to address the academic achievement gap between Black, Latino, and white students. These optional classes, taught by teachers of the same race, aim to make students feel more comfortable and improve their performance in Advanced Placement courses. While some studies have shown positive outcomes from race-specific programs, critics argue that such classes undermine the goal of integration. Evanston's high school district, which is 44% white, has implemented the AXLE and GANAS programs for Black and Latino students, respectively, in core math and English classes. The district's focus on equity guides these decisions, with the aim of eliminating racial disparities in academic achievement. However, the district has not provided any analyses on the impact of the affinity courses on student outcomes. Supporters of the program highlight the positive experiences and sense of acceptance reported by students in these classes.

 

Wall Street Journal