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On Wednesday afternoon, a shooting at Feather River Adventist School in Oroville, northern California, left two students wounded. The Butte County Sheriff's Office responded promptly to 911 calls received around 1:09 p.m. The injured students were transported to local hospitals, and were said on Wednesday evening to be in an "extremely critical condition." Authorities reported that the male suspect was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The investigation is still in its early stages, and the shooter has not been identified. Sheriff Kory Honea said the suspect attended a meeting with a school administrator before the shooting to discuss potentially enrolling a family member. She added that crisis counselors from the Butte County Behavioral Health Department, chaplains and representatives from the Seventh-day Adventist Church were helping address the immediate needs of students and faculty at the school.

 

CNN

EdSource

Los Angeles Times

New York Times

Get FREE Math Intervention Resources to Raise FAST Mathematics Scores

Only 56% of Florida students in grades 3-8 scored a proficient score of 3 or higher (out of a total of 5) on the 2024 Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) in Mathematics.   When it comes to summative assessment, mathematics is in some ways unique. In the seminal book Visible Learning for Mathematics, Grades K–12, John Hattie et al. explain that a “fundamental part of understanding mathematics is to realize how concepts grow and expand over time” (2016, p. 209).  Making sure students have a solid foundation in mathematical concepts like numeracy, fractions, multiplication and division is the key to algebraic readiness and success in high school.  When students struggle with math, early intervention is crucial.

This series of articles, videos, and downloadable resources has been designed specifically for math intervention educators and administrators in Florida.

Access Free Resources

 

David Moore, the superintendent of Indian River County since 2019, was named Florida's Superintendent of the Year at a recent meeting in Tampa. This prestigious recognition marks him as the first superintendent from Indian River to receive this honor. "I am deeply humbled and grateful to have been selected," Moore stated, emphasizing the collective efforts of the school district community. Under his leadership, the district has achieved two consecutive A grades from the state Department of Education and improved employee morale while addressing financial challenges. Following his accomplishments, the School Board awarded him a 22% raise, bringing his salary to $239,000. Moore is now a candidate for the national Superintendent of the Year, with the announcement set for March at the American Association of School Administrators conference.

 

TCPalm

Negotiations between the Leon County School Board and the Leon Classroom Teachers Association (LCTA) have reached an impasse. The district's offer of a $4m salary package fell short of the teachers' request, which was initially $6m but was later reduced to $5m, creating a $1m gap. Teachers have expressed their concerns about pay, with LCTA President Scott Mazur noting that salary is their top priority. The situation is particularly pressing as Florida ranks last in the nation for average teacher pay at $53,098, below the minimum livable wage of $58,970. The special magistrate from the Public Employees Relations Commission will now intervene, a process that could take months.

 

Tallahassee.com

Administrative job descriptions were amended and four books kept on shelves by the Alachua County School Board at a meeting earlier this week. In response to a question about who would be expected to carry out the duties of community engagement, Deputy Superintendent Cathy Atria stated “I think it really depends on what the content of the communication is,” while Superintendent Kamela Patton said her department would take care of all crisis communications.

 

The Independent Florida Alligator

Polk County Public Schools has removed over 30 books from its libraries following citizen challenges, in addition to six titles identified in a recent Florida Department of Education report. Notable removals include “The Handmaid’s Tale: The Graphic Novel,” “Slaughterhouse-Five,” and “Homegoing.” The challenges were initiated by Robert Goodman and Beverly Hartley, affiliated with Citizens Defending Freedom. District spokesperson Kyle Kennedy said: “If a book is removed from circulation, the book is also deleted from our online library catalog system.” The removals are part of an ongoing review process by school committees and media specialists, who assess books based on age, condition, and relevance to the school population.

 

Lakeland Ledger

Matt Susin, the Brevard School Board Vice Chair, is running for the Florida House of Representatives seat currently held by Debbie Mayfield, who is leaving to pursue a Senate seat. Susin is the third Republican candidate for the District 32 seat, joining Brian Hodgers and Bob White. His campaign focuses on expanding school safety, increasing career and technical education opportunities, and advocating for parental rights. Susin, who has a history of conservative stances, received endorsements from notable figures including Gov. Ron DeSantis. As Brevard County Supervisor of Elections Tim Bobanic stated: "We're all just kind of in a holding pattern — waiting," as the election dates for the special elections remain unannounced. Susin's political journey continues as he prepares for the upcoming challenges.

 

Florida Today

The decline in reading among children is often attributed to external factors, but Mark Campbell in the Tampa Bay Times emphasizes the importance of parental involvement, stating: "Your child's education begins at home." Dale Kitt echoes the sentiment, urging parents to foster a love for reading by engaging with their children and selecting captivating books. The article highlights that the responsibility for nurturing literacy lies primarily with parents, rather than blaming teachers or the education system. By modeling reading behavior and creating a supportive environment, parents can significantly influence their children's reading habits and overall literacy development.

 

Tampa Bay Times

Tobacco Free Florida has emphasized the importance of updated policies to maintain tobacco-free schools in Columbia County. The organization highlights that "the key to keeping schools in Columbia County tobacco free is up-to-date policies to combat new products." This initiative aims to protect students from the dangers of tobacco use and promote a healthier environment in educational institutions.

 

Lake City Reporter

AdventHealth has allocated nearly $1m to four nonprofits in Central Florida to tackle mental and behavioral health issues. One recipient, Man Up Mentoring, received a $100,000 grant for its Man Up Grace Project, which utilizes virtual reality to support youth mental health. According to the Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey, 42% of Orange County students reported feeling depressed in 2022. The initiative combines virtual reality therapy with traditional counseling, aiming to reduce juvenile re-offending rates.

 

News 13

According to research by Matthew A. Kraft from Brown University and Sarah Novacoff from Stanford University, students who spend less time in school tend to achieve lower academic results. Their findings, published in Education Next, highlight significant variations in school hours across states and types. For instance, students in Texas and Arkansas spend over 1,300 hours in class annually, while those in Hawaii and Nevada attend for less than 1,150 hours. The study also notes that students in suburban schools attend about 38 hours less than their urban and rural counterparts, and charter school students typically have 65 more hours of instruction. Additionally, students on a four-day school week attend about 85 hours less per year, leading to declines in math and reading scores. The researchers concluded that disruptions like snow days and strikes further negatively impact academic performance.

 

EdSource

The Marion County Public Schools district is hosting a Winter Career Fair today at Howard Academy Community Center in Ocala. Scheduled from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., the event will feature on-site interviews with school principals and district administrators.

 

News 13

Experts are raising alarms about "college deserts," areas where high schools are over 30 miles from community colleges, particularly affecting rural Americans and people of color. Rebecca Corbin, chief executive of the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship, noted: “You don't want segments of people left behind.” A recent study highlighted that in Texas, these deserts significantly deter students from pursuing higher education. Lois Miller, an assistant professor at the University of South Carolina, explained that while White and Asian students may opt for four-year institutions, Black and Hispanic students often forgo college entirely. The challenges are compounded by issues like school closures and unreliable internet access in rural areas. Martha Parham from the American Association of Community Colleges emphasized the need for creative solutions, such as partnerships with state colleges and offering classes in local community spaces. Addressing the digital divide is also crucial for improving access to education in these underserved regions.

 

The Hill