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A bill to restrict challenges to school library books by nonparents or guardians was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday. It follows the filing of more than 1,200 complaints about library books and other materials during the previous academic year. The comprehensive bill (HB 1285) also makes provisions to facilitate the transfer of management from failing traditional public schools to charters. The portion of the bill addressing book challenges was adopted after DeSantis and the Republican-controlled Legislature approved measures that increased monitoring of classroom supplies and library books. Currently, any Floridian can challenge however many books they want. But starting July 1st, the new law will cap the number of book challenges residents without kids in school can file to one per month, though no penalties are outlined in the law. Because those residents pay taxes, DeSantis says they should still be able to object to books even if they don't have children in school. Furthermore, the DeSantis administration on Wednesday will consider a rule that would penalize Florida school principals if the state determines they illegally prevented students from looking at library books in their schools. The punishment would include revoking or suspending their educator's certificate.

 

Florida Phoenix

The Miami Herald

Orlando Sentinel

Tampa Bay Times

Students across the U.S. are encountering issues with the new FAFSA application for federal college grants and loans. Since its "soft launch" on Dec. 31, the U.S. Department of Education has been flooded with complaints from students locked out of their accounts or unable to correct mistakes. Applications in Florida are down 33% and over 40% at the state's poorest schools. The problematic process may prevent many students from attending school this year. The new FAFSA application aims to simplify the process and increase financial aid eligibility for low- and middle-income students. However, the changes have caused difficulties, including a new student aid index, a requirement for consent to import IRS information, and expanded language options.

 

Pensacola News Journal

Dr. Peter Licata, Broward School Superintendent, has announced his retirement due to medical reasons. Dr. Licata, who was named superintendent in 2023, will retire at the end of the year. Dr. Howard Hepburn will temporarily take over as superintendent. Dr. Licata will stay with Broward Schools for a transition period while the board negotiates his severance and negotiates a 3-year contract with Hepburn.

 

NBC Miami

Pinellas County School District is expanding its child care services to include daylong child care for employees with young children. The initiative aims to address the affordability and family responsibility issues faced by teachers. The plan involves repurposing Pinellas Secondary School in Pinellas Park, which will be turned into a daycare center for children aged 12 to 48 months. The program will initially offer 160 seats and will be self-sufficient, costing about half of the average child care expense in the county. If successful, the program could be expanded and replicated in other buildings. The district is also considering partnerships with businesses to provide affordable child care. 

 

Tampa Bay Times

There could be more guns in Brevard Public Schools as the district's "Guardian Program" aims to arm certain staff members with guns. A leaked staff email has caused concern among parents and board members. The email was intended to gauge staff interest, but currently, only administrators, custodians, and non-classroom positions would be eligible for training to carry guns on campus. Teachers are not included in the program. The issue has divided the community, with some supporting the idea for increased safety and others calling for more security measures instead.

 

Fox 35 Orlando

Brevard Public School bus drivers are feeling more supported and effective in dealing with discipline issues. The district and school board have provided support and a pay raise, resulting in more people becoming drivers. Two years ago, there were incidents of fights and dangerous behavior on buses, leading to concerns for drivers' safety. However, with a new discipline policy and code of conduct, the situation has improved. Bus drivers claim that reporting incidents and processing discipline referrals are easier and faster. The district implemented a zero-tolerance policy, banned cellphones, and held students accountable, leading to a higher standard of behavior.

 

Fox 35 Orlando

Gov. Ron DeSantis is drawing attention to the low salaries of high school football coaches in Florida, highlighting the potential competitive disadvantage it creates. DeSantis argues that coaches in other states, such as Georgia, can make more money due to booster support. The average salary for high school football coaches in Florida is $35,790, nearly $11,000 below the national average and ranking 49th out of 50 states. Texas appears to offer higher salaries, with some coaches making six figures. Legislation was proposed to provide stipends of up to $22,500 for coaches in Florida, but it did not pass. The Florida Coaches Coalition advocates for coaching supplements to be attached to mandatory hours worked, rather than relying on school districts' estimates.

 

Florida Politics

A coalition of Black University of Florida graduates is calling for the school to set aside millions of dollars in private donations to reconstitute diversity programs that the school gutted last month. The coalition demands $45m from the school's endowment, the appointment of a Black UF graduate to the Board of Trustees, and increased efforts to boost Black student enrollment and hire more Black faculty. The closure of UF's diversity, equity, and inclusion programs has led to criticism from civil rights groups and prominent Black school alumni, including NFL Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith. The percentage of Black students at UF has dropped by half since 2010. The closure of DEI programs at UF is part of a larger wave of attempts to restrict such programs across the country.

 

The Gainesville Sun

News Herald

Daytona Beach News Journal

Code.org, in collaboration with the Piech Lab at Stanford University, has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) teaching assistant that can significantly reduce the time it takes for computer science teachers to grade coding projects. In a limited pilot project, the tool's assessment closely matched that of experienced computer science teachers. Code.org plans to invite an additional 300 teachers to test the tool and hopes to make it widely available by the end of the year. While some educators see the potential benefits of AI in grading, others are concerned about outsourcing subjective tasks. The AI tool is particularly useful for grading coding projects, as it can quickly and accurately determine if certain requirements are met.

 

Education Week News

Two local high schools in South Florida, Flanagan High and Stoneman Douglas High, showcased their talent at the 2024 Color Guard World Championships. Flanagan High scored 83.4 points and finished 13th in the Scholastic World Class Final, making them the second-highest scoring Winter Guard in Florida. Their performance, titled 'Ethereal Echoes', captivated the audience at the University of Dayton Arena. Stoneman Douglas High finished one place behind Flanagan with 82.7 points. The Flanagan Color Guard is directed by Nicholas Rodriguez, while Stoneman is directed by Winter Guard legend Dean Broadbent.

 

Local10