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A federal judge in Alabama has refused to block the Biden administration from enforcing new anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ students in four Republican-led states, breaking with six other judges who have said the rules are invalid. Judge Annemarie Carney Axon said the Alabama, Georgia, Florida and South Carolina attorneys general challenging the Education Department standard, which includes sexual orientation and gender identity in the list of characteristics protected under sex discrimination regulations, failed to show a substantial likelihood of success in their lawsuit. In a 122-page ruling Axon, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, said the claims by the states and several conservative groups were conclusory and not backed by court precedent, adding: "Although Plaintiffs may dislike the Department’s rules, they have failed to show a substantial likelihood of success in proving the Department’s rulemaking was unreasonable or not reasonably explained." She said nothing in Title IX limits the definition of sex to biological sex, and that the Education Department's interpretation of the law was reasonable in light of the 2020 Supreme Court decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, which held that a ban against workplace sex discrimination contained in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 covered gay and transgender workers, applied to Title IX. The case is Alabama v. Cardona, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, No. 7:24-cv-00533. 

 

Bloomberg Law

Reuters

With the 2024-2025 school year approaching, private microschools are emerging as a popular alternative to public schools. These small private institutions, serving a median of 16 children, offer full-time, part-time, or hybrid instruction. Florida is at the forefront of the microschools movement, with a new state education law allowing these schools to operate in nontraditional buildings such as libraries, movie theaters, and churches. While only 16% of microschools nationwide are state-accredited, supporters argue that the smaller, nontraditional environment provides a better education. Microschools have gained traction in over 40 states, with more than 1.5m students learning under this nontraditional umbrella. Families are drawn to microschools for the personalized attention and smaller class sizes they offer. However, critics express concerns about the lack of oversight and regulation. Don Soifer, CEO of the National Microschooling Center, compares microschools to the one-room schoolhouses of the past but with modernized pedagogies. Overall, microschools present a new education option for families seeking alternatives to traditional public schools.

 

The Hill

A 10-year forecast from Florida's Office of Economic and Demographic Research reveals that public school enrollment will decline over the next six years, followed by a slight increase, but will not return to pre-pandemic levels. The 2024-2025 school year will see 12,379 fewer students, a 0.5% drop, with further declines expected. The report excludes students in nonpublic schools and other categories. Enrollment has stabilized post-pandemic but is projected to remain nearly 100,000 students below pre-pandemic figures by 2035. Despite a growing state population, increased attendance at private and charter schools, driven by state-funded school choice programs, has contributed to the decline in public school enrollment.

 

The 74

School Leadership’s Guide to Career and Technical Education

Economic impacts are changing the employment landscape. Now more than ever it's critical to prepare students for careers in current and emerging professions through Career and Technical Education (CTE). Having developed 180+ award-winning digital courses, FlexPoint knows that CTE offerings look different for every school, based on location and student population. School and district leaders can learn how to enhance their CTE programs through the free FlexPoint guide.

In the guide, you’ll have access to:

• An overview of nationally recognized Career Clusters and Programs of Study
• Tips for selecting the best career pathways that evolve with the employment landscape
• Sample survey questions to gauge students’ interests in future career opportunities
• And more!

Download CTE Guide

 

Rick Hess, the director of Education Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute, discusses the effectiveness of "grow-your-own" (GYO) teacher programs. While some argue that these programs prioritize the needs of the system over the students, Lennon Audrain, a former national student president of Educators Rising and a teacher in a GYO program, believes that they can be beneficial if executed properly. Audrain suggests reframing GYO programs as opportunities for service learning in the education field, rather than solely focusing on teacher preparation. He emphasizes the importance of exploring education roles broadly, developing education policy literacy, and providing meaningful, role-based experiences for students. While GYO programs have shown some positive outcomes, there is room for improvement to ensure that they benefit all students, not just those who become teachers.

 

Education Week News

Angelica Salazar, senior policy advocate at Public Advocates, reflects on her experiences as a teacher and emphasizes the importance of data in tackling long-standing issues in education. Despite efforts, challenges like economic instability, declining enrollment, and teacher shortages persist. Salazar highlights the Teaching Assignment Monitoring Outcomes (TAMO) data set, which reveals disparities in teacher qualifications and assignments, particularly affecting low-income students and students of color. She advocates for using this data to drive equity-focused policies and practices, citing successful examples from districts like Oakland Unified. By leveraging comprehensive data and implementing targeted actions, Salazar believes we can better recruit, train, and retain qualified teachers to enhance student outcomes.

 

EdSource

A South Florida school district has voted to suspend an employee who allowed her transgender daughter to play on a girls' high school volleyball team, in violation of state law. Jessica Norton, an information management technician and a volunteer junior varsity volleyball coach at Monarch High School, will be suspended for 10 days and then moved to a different job. The suspension was approved in a 5-4 vote by the Broward County school board. Norton's daughter, who now attends school virtually, has been banned from playing sports until November 2024. The Florida High School Athletic Association accused Monarch High School of violating the Fairness in Women's Sports Act by allowing the transgender girl to play on the girls' volleyball team. Florida's law requires public school sports teams to be designated based on "biological sex." This case is part of a larger legal backlash against transgender students' participation in school sports.

 

CNN Edition

Florida Politics

The school boards in Pasco and Pinellas counties have given initial approval to cut tax rates for local property owners. The rates are lower than last year due to increases in property values. Pinellas values rose 7.4% and are projected to generate $841.9m, while Pasco saw a 12.1% increase, expected to bring in $313m. The extra revenue from local-option property taxes will help pay for teacher salary bonuses. The Pinellas district is receiving $124m, allocated to students receiving private school and homeschool state vouchers. Pasco budgeted $51.2m for voucher students and $84.5m for required charter school fund sharing. The Pinellas school board proposed its lowest tax rate in 50 years, while Pasco's overall budget is proposed at $2.28bn. The proposed tax rate for Pasco is $6.331 per $1,000 of taxable value. Superintendent Kurt Browning said that although the district is getting new revenue, much of it is claimed for increasing costs. The budget also includes a percentage for employee raises.

 

Tampa Bay Times

Supporters of a proposed referendum in Hillsborough County are launching the "Vote Yes for Students" campaign to secure $177m per year for the state's third largest School District. The funding, which would come from a new property tax assessment, aims to provide $6,000 supplements for teachers and administrators and $3,000 for support staff. However, the fate of the referendum is uncertain after Hillsborough County Commissioners voted to postpone it. Governor Ron DeSantis opposes the measure, arguing that the district should live within its existing fiscal means. If the measure proceeds and receives approval, it would fund supplements for four years, after which voters would be asked to reauthorize the property tax assessment. The campaign launch comes amidst ongoing debate and legal proceedings surrounding the referendum.

 

Florida Politics

During an active assailant training exercise at Flagler-Palm Coast High School, Flagler County first responders demonstrated their preparedness and readiness. The exercise involved neutralizing an armed assailant with school access, simulating a real-life scenario. The training scenario aimed to test the unified response of law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services, as well as the process of reuniting family members with students after a mass casualty event. Various agencies, including Flagler County Sheriff's Office, Flagler County Fire Rescue, and Flagler Schools, collaborated in the drill. The exercise allowed for realistic conditions, with volunteer actors playing the roles of victims. Despite the chaos caused by swatting calls in May, Flagler County's active assailant policies remained unchanged. Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly emphasized the importance of the community understanding the preparedness of the school district, law enforcement, and fire departments. The training exercise served as a learning opportunity, with participants debriefing to identify any potential gaps in their response capabilities.

 

PalmCoastObserver.com

Ormond Beach Observer

Police departments in Florida are being encouraged to apply for a $5m grant aimed at improving security in private schools. The Private School Security Assessment Grant Program was announced at a meeting of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Safety Commission. The grant would reimburse law enforcement agencies for conducting security assessments, developing response protocols, implementing drills, and providing guidance for private schools. Currently, private schools in Florida are not required to have threat management teams, unlike public schools. The program aims to address this disparity and ensure that private schools are adequately prepared for potential threats. Applications for the grant will be available from September to June 2025.

 

Orlando Sentinel

The Seminole County School District, led by Superintendent Serita Beamon, remains one of the top 12 districts in the state and has maintained its A rating. The district is committed to student safety, with each school having at least one assigned officer and high schools having two. The district's K-9 unit specializing in weapons detection has had a successful first year. Superintendent Beamon also addressed a cybersecurity breach from last year, where $1.3m was stolen, but the rate of recovery has been impressive due to law enforcement action. The district is launching the "Student Success Express," a renovated school bus that will provide assistance to homeless students with registration, health services, and employment. "Because of law enforcement action, I’ve been told that rate of recovery is almost unheard of," said Superintendent Beamon.

 

Fox 35 Orlando

Fox 35 Orlando

In the midst of the primary election season, Pasco County school board candidate Jessica Wright sent a text message to thousands of registered voters, accusing incumbent Alison Crumbley and the entire board of denying her parental rights and ignoring court orders related to her son's 2022 playground injury. Wright's message claimed that the board had mishandled her civil lawsuit seeking damages, a charge refuted by Crumbley and other board members who stated the board never took action on the case. Superintendent Kurt Browning clarified that the case was handled by lawyers and the administration without board involvement. Despite these denials, Wright's accusations have intensified the campaign, originally expected to be low-key, by highlighting differing positions on key issues and drawing personal attacks on social media.

 

Tampa Bay Times

The Martin County School Board candidate, Sydney Thomas, is facing false accusations that she is a radical left democrat from California. However, Thomas was born and raised in Indiana and lived in a conservative area in northern California. She is also not registered with any political party. The Martin County Republican Executive Committee sent out texts attacking Thomas and endorsing her opponent, Marsha Powers. In Florida, school board elections are nonpartisan races. Political experts say that these attacks can influence voter turnout and votes, even in down ballot elections. It is important for voters to be skeptical and fact-check the information they receive. Dr. Luzmarina Garcia, an assistant professor of political science at Florida Atlantic University, advises voters to question the messages and not rely solely on them.

 

WPTV

This month marks the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the historic Milliken v. Bradley case, which turned back the clock on efforts to desegregate schools. The court's decision overturned lower court rulings that would have implemented a cross-district busing plan to integrate schools. The ruling sparked controversy and protests, with the court stating that while Detroit schools were segregated, there was no evidence that suburban schools were responsible for the segregation. The case highlighted the challenges of achieving integration in a district affected by white flight and redlining. The ruling had a significant impact on school desegregation efforts and continues to be a topic of discussion today.

 

Chalkbeat