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The head of the Florida Department of Education, Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr., has announced that the state will oppose the federal government's expanded interpretation of Title IX, which includes protections based on gender identity. At the direction of Governor Ron DeSantis, Diaz urged superintendents and school districts to refrain from implementing any changes related to this new interpretation. Florida is aligning with other states like Louisiana and Oklahoma in contesting these federal regulations.

 

TCPalm

Daytona Beach News Journal

Before signing a measure allowing religious chaplains in public schools into law, Gov. Ron DeSantis suggested that this initiative aligned with what the nation's founders envisioned for education. DeSantis emphasized the historical context, stating, “When education in the United States first started, every school was a religious school. That was just part of it. Public schools were religious schools.” He further remarked, “There's been things that have been done over the years that veered away from that original intent,” and expressed that the current measures were aimed at restoring the founders' sense of purpose for education. However, education historians have countered this notion, highlighting that the idea of a religion-based public schooling system is a common misconception. This perspective has gained attention amid various incidents involving the intersection of religion and public education across different states.

 

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 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced new nutrition standards for school meals, including a gradual limit on added sugars. The rules, which were revised based on public comments and listening sessions, aim to address challenges in school breakfasts and reduce sugar intake. Starting in 2025, a limit on added sugars will apply to cereals, yogurt, and milk, expanding to an overall limit of less than 10% of total calories in a week's meals by 2027. Sodium levels in breakfasts and lunches will also be reduced by 10% and 15% respectively by 2027. Schools can continue to serve flavored milks as long as they comply with sugar limits. The new rules align with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. "We are thrilled to see the USDA has followed the recommendations from a 2022 citizen petition from the American Heart Association (AHA) and other public health groups to include an added sugars standard in this final rule," commented AHA chief executive Nancy Brown, who added: “Although we are disappointed that the whole grain standard does not fully align with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and the sodium standard does not require more significant reductions, we understand recent legislation limited USDA’s ability to go further.”

 

ABC News

CNN

Education Week News

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Bay District Schools has announced changes in leadership for the upcoming academic year. It is advertising for new principals for Jinks Middle School, Mowat Middle School and Merritt Brown Middle School, after Superintendent Mark McQueen opted to non-renew the current principals. At the April 9 School Board meeting, Crystal Boyette was approved as the turnaround principal for Cedar Grove Elementary, replacing Cynthia Walker. Crystal Hudson will replace Lori Hast as the principal of Margaret K. Lewis Exceptional School after Hast retires.

 

News Herald

During an April 16 School Board meeting, Broward Public Schools Superintendent Peter Licata unexpectedly announced his decision to step down by the end of the year due to health reasons. In response, Board Chair Lori Alhadeff proposed that the board immediately mutually separate from Licata instead of waiting until December. The board voted 8-1 to terminate Licata's contract without cause, with only Daniel Foganholi dissenting. Following this decision, Howard Hepburn, who was the deputy superintendent for teaching and learning and an ally of Licata, was appointed as the new superintendent. Alhadeff will now negotiate the terms of Licata's separation and the new contract with Hepburn in an upcoming public meeting.

 

The Miami Herald

The Eastside High School Institute of Culinary Arts in Florida has won multiple awards at the SkillsUSA Florida State Leadership and Skills Conference. The students from Eastside achieved great success in various competitions, including Baking and Pastry Arts, Culinary Arts, Wedding Cake Design, and Restaurant Service. The school's students swept all three medals in one of the categories and took the top three spots in Restaurant Service for the second year in a row. Senior Travis Coe won the gold medal and a $2,000 scholarship, while senior Ian Vought won silver and a $1,000 scholarship, and junior Eli Evans took the bronze medal and a $500 scholarship. Junior Johnathan Manche and senior Allyson DiFranco also won silver medals and scholarships in their respective categories. The success of the program is attributed to the hard work and dedication of the students and the guidance of Chef Pam Bedford. The students have qualified for the national competition in Atlanta.

 

The Gainesville Sun

Marisa Medvetz Santos, a teacher at Seminole Ridge Community High School in Florida, has been named the regional winner of the 2024 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards in North America. The competition, which celebrates the achievements of teachers around the world, highlights the important role that teachers play in shaping the lives of their learners. Marisa was recognized for her commitment to her students, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic when she developed engaging instructional videos to reach students learning from home. As a regional winner, Marisa will receive $600 worth of books for her school, a trophy and will appear on a 'thank you' page in new Cambridge textbooks.

 

Midfloridanewspapers

Janet Moody, President of the Osceola County Education Association (OCEA), was inspired by Governor Ron DeSantis's expansion of paid maternity leave for Florida state employees in 2023 to push for similar benefits for district teachers. Currently, most Osceola County teachers rely on short-term disability and paid time off (PTO) for maternity leave, but these options provide only partial income coverage. For example, a teacher earning $52,000 annually could face substantial income loss during maternity leave. Moody's proposal aims to introduce eight weeks of paid maternity leave for Osceola County teachers, potentially making the district the sole public school district in Florida to offer this benefit. Moody is optimistic about the proposal's reception during negotiations with the district, citing openness from the new superintendent, Dr. Shanoff, who values educators and family-oriented policies.

 

News 13

Royal Palm Elementary School is one of 30 public elementary schools in Miami-Dade that are a part of the Food Forests for Schools program planted by the non-profit, The Education Fund. Each week, a teacher from the non-profit leads an outdoor classroom session at these schools, providing hands-on science and math lessons immersed in nature. The food forests consist of trees, vines, and shrubs, creating an outdoor learning environment for students. Beyond education, the program aims to increase canopy coverage in the neighborhood, educating students about the benefits of trees in urban environments such as cooling, oxygen production and flood prevention. What sets Miami-Dade's program apart is that the harvested produce from these food forests is used in the school cafeterias, making the initiative unique and directly benefiting the students and school community through sustainable food sources.

 

The Miami Herald

To mark Earth Day and Arbor Days, second graders at Frost Elementary School in Hillsborough County participated in a tree planting activity. “By planting trees, we provide our students with a hands-on learning experience about the vital role of trees in mitigating urban heat events and creating a more resilient community,” said Frost Elementary School Principal Temeka Grayson.

 

Tampa Bay Times

College students in Florida may soon be allowed to carry guns on campus, according to State Rep. Randy Fine. Fine plans to file new legislation in Florida, citing concerns for the safety of Jewish students. The proposal comes amidst protests at college campuses across the country over the Israel-Hamas war. If the legislation passes, training courses would be offered to students who want to learn how to use and carry a gun. Fine argues that universities are failing to keep students safe, and arming them would allow them to protect themselves.

 

Chronicle Online

Fox 35 Orlando

Fox 35 Orlando

Local10