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The share of America's school-age children attending public schools has slightly declined from 2014 to 2022, while private schools have seen some growth, according to an analysis by Education Week. In 2022, 84% of children ages five to 17 attended public schools, while 11.8% attended private schools. The remaining percentage represents children who are not attending school or are homeschooled. The drop in public school enrollment is surprising given the growth of the private school choice movement. However, the impact of private school choice programs on enrollment is still emerging. The total number of school-age children has increased slightly, but experts predict a sharp decline in the coming years due to lower birth rates. The COVID-19 pandemic has also accelerated the decline in public school enrollment and the growth of private schools. The reasons for the decline in enrollment include homeschooling, skipping kindergarten, and missing data. The analysis highlights the ongoing competition between public and private schools in the U.S. education system.

 

Education Week News

Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a fiery speech at the American Federation of Teachers convention, criticizing former President Donald Trump's agenda as one of "chaos, fear, and hate." She contrasted her own agenda, which includes abortion and LGBTQ rights, gun control, support for organized labor, and student loan debt relief, with Trump's policies. Harris also highlighted the importance of education and thanked her first-grade teacher, Frances Wilson, for inspiring her. She urged the audience to fight for a future focused on freedom, compassion, and the rule of law. Shortly after her speech, Trump's campaign released an education plan that opposes many of the AFT's priorities. The plan calls for cutting federal funding for programs promoting Critical Race Theory and gender ideology, removing radicals from the Department of Education, and giving parents more control over schools. Harris' speech and Trump's plan offer a clear contrast in visions for the future of education in America.

 

EdSource

CNBC

More of former President Donald Trump's education platform was unveiled during the Republican National Convention last week, drawing parallels to how Gov. Ron DeSantis has shaped Florida's public school system. DeSantis and the Florida Legislature have passed controversial laws that defunded diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, banned instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation, and demanded the consideration of the Classic Learning Test (CLT) as an SAT/ACT alternative. Despite criticism, Florida's education system has been ranked highly in various areas, including college readiness and graduation rates. Republicans aim to adopt some of Florida's education ideas, such as universal school choice and patriotic standards for civics education.

 

Pensacola News Journal

The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) has made significant changes to its rules on amateurism, allowing high school athletes to earn money from their name, image, and likeness (NIL). The new rule, which has been approved by the Board of Education, aims to provide student-athletes with the opportunity to utilize their hard-earned money for college expenses. While 37 other states already permit NIL agreements, concerns have been raised about families moving to other states to take advantage of these deals. The FHSAA emphasizes that NIL agreements are similar to part-time jobs and are limited to the period of high school eligibility. However, there are restrictions on certain types of agreements, such as those involving adult entertainment, alcohol, tobacco, and political activism. The FHSAA will provide workshops and reminders to ensure compliance with the rules. Violations of the NIL rules will result in penalties, starting with a warning and escalating to ineligibility to represent any member school for one year. The FHSAA plans to establish a registration system and make a sample contract available online to address concerns about legal advice and transparency.

 

News 13

Orlando Weekly

The Center for Green Schools, together with the Association of School Business Officials, the Collaborative for High Performance Schools, and the National Rural Education Association, has released a a Readiness Check for school districts to help districts and their community partners understand if they are a good fit to pursue funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants initiative. The $2 billion program offers awards for efforts in disadvantaged communities that support climate action and pollution reduction. If, after reviewing the Readiness Check, districts decide that they are a good fit for the funding, they are invited to sign up for a short training series from August 19 to 23 to jump-start their applications. 

 

USGBC

A property tax referendum in Hillsborough County School District has been denied by county commissioners, surprising both district officials and observers across Florida. The district now faces the challenge of determining its next steps as it no longer has access to the November ballot. This decision has raised questions about counties' power to overturn school boards' property tax referendums. 

 

Tampa Bay Times

The Hillsborough County School Board has approved updates to its cell phone policy for the upcoming school year. Students are prohibited from using cell phones and wireless devices during class unless permitted by staff. Devices must remain silent and out of sight on school property and at school functions. High school students can use phones during lunch, while elementary and middle school students need principal approval. Policy violations can result in confiscation and disciplinary actions, and criminal acts involving phones may involve law enforcement. The revised policy also bans electronics use while driving on school property and taking unauthorized photos or videos, aiming to prevent the distribution of threatening or explicit content. Exceptions are available for students with documented health conditions requiring phone monitoring.

 

Tampa Bay Fl News

Escambia County Public Schools maintained a district-wide grade of B for the 2023-2024 school year. This achievement comes after the implementation of new state standards and assessments called FAST (Florida Assessment of Student Thinking), which were specifically designed for Florida students based on the new B.E.S.T. standards. The school district has consistently earned B and C grades since 2010, with significant progress in eliminating lower-performing schools. Several schools showed improvement, including Cordova Park Elementary and Brown Barge Middle School, which have earned an A grade every year since 2002. Bellview Elementary made a major jump from a D in 2022 to an A in 2024. Escambia County Public Schools' middle school acceleration rate was the fourth highest in the state, indicating proficiency in high school level courses and industry certifications. Superintendent Keith Leonard expressed pride in the hard work of the schools' administrators, teachers, and students, and emphasized the importance of continued improvement.

 

Pensacola News Journal

Polk County Public Schools received a C grade in a report issued by the Florida Department of Education. The school district reported falling just one percentage point short of a B grade. The state report listed grades based on achievement in English/language arts, math, science, and social studies, as well as overall learning gains, gains of the lowest 25% of students, middle school acceleration, graduation rate, and college and career acceleration. Polk County scored 56% on the assessment. Superintendent Fred Heid expressed excitement about the academic gains made by students and the growth in student proficiency in key subject areas. The district also provided a list of 32 schools that improved their grades this year. Polk County saw an increase in A and B schools and a decrease in C and D schools. Statewide, 38% of schools earned A grades, compared to 32% the previous year. The number of D and F schools has decreased by 80% since 2015. Florida changed its process for grading schools, moving from standardized test scores to progress monitoring.

 

Lakeland Ledger

The Osceola County School District in Florida has earned a B overall district grade for the 2023-24 academic year, according to the Florida Department of Education. Twelve schools in the county received A grades, with several schools improving their grades from the previous year. The grading scale used this year focused on five student success measures, including achievement, learning gains, graduation, acceleration success, and support for students in need. The district must test at least 95% of its students and have available data for a sufficient number of components to avoid an incomplete grade. The district superintendent, Dr. Mark Shanoff, commended the schools and educators for their commitment to excellence and continuous improvement.

 

Osceola News-Gazette

Miami-Dade Public Schools has earned top marks for the fifth year in a row, according to the Florida Department of Education. The district ranked eighth among the state's 67 districts. Overall, 99% of M-DCPS schools received School Grades of A, B, or C in 2024.

 

Local10

As the new school year approaches, two Tampa Bay area school districts report a significant decrease in teacher vacancies. Pinellas County has reduced its vacancies to 74, down from 174 last year, while Pasco County's openings have fallen below 100, roughly half the number at the start of summer and much lower than last year's figures. These improvements are largely due to higher wages funded by local-option property taxes. In contrast, Hillsborough County faces over 500 teacher vacancies, hindered by the absence of such a tax. The county commission recently rejected a proposal to introduce a local-option property tax. Despite these challenges, all three districts are committed to fostering positive school culture and strong leadership to attract and retain educators. Additionally, changes in class size requirements and the cessation of federal pandemic recovery grants have influenced teaching position numbers.

 

Tampa Bay Times

The District 4 seat on the Collier County School Board is up for election this year. Incumbent Erick Carter is running for re-election, but he faces competition from Tom Henning. Carter, a 54-year-old Republican, has lived in Naples for over 30 years and is the co-owner of a small business. He is a Lorenzo Walker Technical College alum and serves on advisory councils for entrepreneurship and cosmetology programs. The District 4 member represents several schools in the district, including Avalon Elementary, Naples High, and Lorenzo Walker Technical High School. Carter's campaign has raised approximately $50,000 so far. He emphasizes the importance of a strong school system and meeting new residents to understand the issues students face. Carter's opponent, Henning, is also a Republican.

 

Naplesnews