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The new rule from President Joe Biden's administration regarding transgender students' bathroom rights has sparked a clash with state laws in Republican-controlled states. The regulation seeks to clarify Title IX, the 1972 sex discrimination law, and bars discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. However, at least 11 states have adopted laws that prohibit transgender girls and women from using girls' and women's bathrooms in public schools. The new rule opposes these policies, stating that sex separation becomes a violation of Title IX when it denies a transgender student access to a facility or activity consistent with their gender identity. The regulation also allows parental notification requirements and addresses the issue of pronoun restrictions. While the rules do not specifically mention sports participation, advocates believe they could apply. Lawsuits are expected to arise as conservative officials and organizations plan to challenge the new rule in court.

 

Florida Politics

Florida lawmakers have mandated that school districts in the state ensure that middle school classes start no earlier than 8 a.m., and high schools by 8:30 a.m. The change is aimed at addressing student health needs. However, only a few districts have made the schedule changes so far, as officials want to make careful decisions that work for the majority of people. Ryan DelliVeniri, chair of the district advisory council for Polk County Public Schools, said: “I think that the worst thing to do would be to pump out a solution that only works for a group of people and not most of the people". The new start time requirements must be implemented by fall 2026.

 

Tampa Bay Times

School Leadership’s Guide to Building an Online Learning Program

No two students learn the same way, and alternative options for education have never been more necessary than they are right now. Online learning has become an option that’s gained traction nationwide. According to a recent study, 81% of parents believe online learning helps their children better prepare for the future and 94% believe it positively impacts their children’s ability to understand courses.*

This guide will help school and district leaders like you learn more about the fundamentals of online learning and its benefits.

Topics include:

• Debunking common myths about online education
• An outline of the first steps to create and implement a new program
• Strategies for creating open communication with parents, students, and staff
• How to select the best industry partner to help develop your new program

*FlexPoint 2021 Parent Survey

Download the Guide

 

The Biden administration has unveiled a new labor rule that extends mandatory overtime pay to an estimated 4m salaried workers, going further than the previous Obama-era rule. From July 1, employers will be required to pay overtime premiums to workers who earn the equivalent of an annual salary of $43,888 when they work more than 40 hours in a week. The total will increased to $58,656 on January 1 2025. “The Department of Labor is ensuring that lower-paid salaried workers receive their hard-earned pay or get much-deserved time back with their families,” said Wage and Hour Administrator Jessica Looman. “This rule establishes clear, predictable guidance for employers on how to pay employees for overtime hours and provides more economic security to the millions of people working long hours without overtime pay.” The salary threshold will increase over time, reaching $58,656 by 2025. The new rule is expected to face legal challenges.

 

US Department of Labor

Reuters

Education Week looks into the 'Sunday Scaries,' the feeling of dread countless employees experience as they contemplate the workweek ahead. In a recent Harris Poll survey of more than 1,000 U.S. workers, 75% of respondents reported experiencing the phenomenon. Chief reasons include workloads, and finding a balance between work and personal life. Education Week asked teachers to share whether they experience the Sunday Scaries and, if so, how they cope. "Proactive coping," or engaging in practices that allow people to avoid future stressors, especially by planning ahead and setting realistic expectations, is a recommended strategy. Kathleen V. Shea, a Chicago-based psychologist whose expertise includes workplace stress and related issues, urges professionals to incorporate detailed preparation into their pre-Monday strategies. “You want to make sure your clothes are ready, your lunch is ready, your car is ready, and you have a backup plan,” she said. “You can have the best lesson plan possible, but you still have to get yourself to work on time.” Being as prepared as possible to face the workweek ahead can stave off some amount of anxiety, but it may not entirely eliminate the Sunday Scaries, experts caution. “Teachers are under a great deal of pressure to perform,” said Shea.

 

Education Week News

Broward County Public Schools' new Superintendent Howard Hepburn has announced that he will hold at least five more town hall meetings to discuss school closures. However, some School Board members have questioned his idea, citing a lack of rationale and a detailed plan. The board members expressed their desire to hear a clear plan and believe that the community wants the same. Hepburn, who recently took over as superintendent, stated that the district's next step will be to hold targeted town halls in specific "innovation zones" to better serve students. The district has already held three community meetings in February to introduce the idea of closing some schools. Hepburn and the district's chief strategy and innovation officer have grouped the schools into clusters and listed options for each cluster, including changing grade levels, school boundaries and closing schools. The board members have pushed back on this grouping, questioning the reasoning behind it. They want the process to be equitable and fair, involving all areas in Broward.

 

The Miami Herald

Pinellas County School District is considering changes to their cell phone policy. The current policy allows students to have their phones and other devices at school as long as they are off and out of view during school hours. The proposed changes would require elementary and middle school students to keep their devices off throughout the school day and school activities. However, middle school students would be allowed to use their devices before and after the official school day. The changes aim to limit distractions and promote focus on learning.

 

Tampa Bay Fl News

For the first time in a decade, Lakeland High School will see a change of principals. Arthur Martinez is retiring at the end of this academic year, and Alain Douge has been selected as his replacement, Polk County Public Schools announced. “Alain Douge is an experienced principal in our district, having served at Davenport High and Lake Gibson Middle,” PCPS Superintendent Frederick Heid said. Lakeland High will host an informal meet-and-greet event with Douge in June. Martinez became principal at Lakeland High in January 2014. He joined the district in 1990 as a teacher at Kathleen Junior High in Lakeland. After a switch to Lake Gibson High School, he became a dean there in 1996.

 

Lakeland Ledger

Orange County voters will have the opportunity to decide whether to extend a sales tax for a school construction program. The Orange County School Board voted unanimously Tuesday night to put the sales tax on the ballot this fall, although the proposed referendum still needs approval from the Orange County Commission before it can go to voters in November. Without another vote, the tax would sunset at the end of 2025. In 20 years it has raised more than $4bn for school construction, and the board meeting heard from members that the tax is vital if the district wants to continue its school building program.

 

Orlando Sentinel

Walk-through weapons detectors will be installed in every public high school in Broward County next school year. The decision comes after the successful testing of the detectors at 10 high schools. The move aims to provide a level of assurance and ensure the safety and security of students. The issue is deeply personal for two board members who lost loved ones in the Parkland school shooting. The district's chief of safety and security will begin training security staff on the new system at two pilot schools this summer. The installation of the detectors in all 31 high schools will cost $1.3m, which will be sourced from the district's capital budget.

 

Local10

The Miami Herald

NBC Miami

NBC Miami

Sun Sentinel

Students and faculty at the University of Central Florida (UCF) have staged a rally in support of faculty members who are not receiving raises this year due to budget constraints, despite the university receiving additional funds from the state. The faculty union president, Dr. Robert Cassanello, called on the administration to recognize and compensate faculty for their contributions to student success and create an environment free from political interference. UCF is the only major state university in Florida not offering base raises to full-time faculty this year, while other universities have provided raises ranging from 2% to 8.5% for union-represented faculty. Faculty members expressed financial struggles due to inflation and high living costs in the region, prompting some to consider leaving for institutions with better compensation. In response to the rally, UCF's Provost Michael Johnson announced plans to offer a salary increase in the fall, subject to collective bargaining.

 

Orlando Weekly