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A group of over 100 education advocacy organizations has written to Congress to argue for the reinstatement of canceled federal grants that sought to address a shortage of qualified educators in schools. The letter comes in response to a $600m cut to teacher training grants made by the U.S. Department of Education on February 17, affecting programs such as Supporting Effective Educator Development, the Teacher Quality Partnership, and the Teacher and School Leader Incentive Program. “The loss of these grants impacts the effectiveness of our teaching workforce. Many of the programs were designed to attract people from fields outside of education who could bring their expertise into the classroom,” the letter said. “Now, those individuals may no longer have access to the support and resources they need to transition into teaching, depriving students of valuable real-world knowledge and experience.” Projects canceled to date include a $23m investment to build high-quality teacher pipeline programs for high-need schools in Louisiana, and a grant to provide over 550 teachers to New Orleans schools. 

 

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Florida senators are advancing a bill to repeal the 2023 law mandating later start times for high schools, originally aimed at ensuring students get more sleep. Bill sponsor Jennifer Bradley stated, “To date, school districts across the state have begun their analysis of the impact of these required start times... and the feedback is overwhelming.” Many districts are struggling to comply with the 2026 deadline, citing financial challenges and logistical issues, such as hiring bus drivers. While some lawmakers support the idea of later start times, others, like Sen. Lori Berman, acknowledge the difficulties faced by districts in meeting the requirements. The bill would still require districts to consider the benefits of later start times when setting their schedules. A similar bill has been filed in the House by Rep. Anne Gerwig.

 

Naplesnews

TCPalm

Orlando Weekly

Sun Sentinel

Tampa Bay Times

WPTV

The Florida House has advanced a significant education bill, HB 123, which aims to shift the decision-making power regarding charter school conversions from school boards and teachers to parents. Rep. Alex Andrade, the bill's sponsor, stated, "Who cares more about that child than that child’s parents?" The legislation requires a 50% parent vote for charter conversions and imposes restrictions on school districts regarding property acquisitions, particularly if enrollment has declined. Critics, including Democratic Rep. Angie Nixon, argue that the bill undermines public education by excluding teachers from the voting process, stating, "Schools work best when parents and teachers work together."

 

Florida Politics

Broward County Public Schools has announced its 2025 Career and Technical Education Teacher of the Year and Rookie Teacher of the Year. Regina Ferriera, a DECA teacher at Cooper City High School, received the Teacher of the Year award. She emphasized the importance of providing students with essential life skills, and said: “Giving students the life skills they need to succeed is priceless.” Seema Naik, a biology and coding teacher at Coral Springs Middle School, was named Rookie Teacher of the Year. Principal Jill Slesinski praised Naik for her significant contributions to the school's programs. Naik highlighted the value of STEM education, commenting: “CTE empowers students for the future.” Over 50 CTE teachers were recognized during the awards ceremony, marking the third year of this initiative.

 

Local10

Starting this fall, Pasco County public school teachers will have more authority to hold students accountable for homework, as outlined by Superintendent John Legg. The new guidelines, which were initially intended for implementation by March, were postponed to allow teachers time to adjust their practices. Legg acknowledged that “Implementation matters,” emphasizing the need for teachers to communicate expectations to students and parents. The plan reverses the district's previous stance that homework should not be graded, allowing grades to count for up to 20% of a course. The recommendations also suggest limits on homework time, with younger students facing a maximum of 20 minutes nightly. Union president Jeff Larsen noted that teachers feel “encouraged and optimistic” about these changes, which aim to enhance student learning outside the classroom.

 

Tampa Bay Times

Leon County Schools will delay the start of school on Wednesday, March 5th, due to severe weather forecasts. The National Weather Service predicts a strong line of storms between 3:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., prompting the decision for a one-hour delay. High schools will begin at 8:30 a.m., elementary schools at 9:30 a.m., and middle schools at 10:30 a.m. The district stated this decision was made "out of an abundance of caution" to ensure student safety.

 

Tallahassee.com

Tallahassee News

The Fort Myers Fire Department responded to a fire at Fort Myers High School on Tuesday night, with flames visible from the gym roof. According to the department's Facebook post, "As soon as crews arrived, they launched aggressive ladder operations." The fire was extinguished within minutes using multiple fire extinguishers, and additional crews entered the gym to prevent further spread. The fire was reported out by 7:45 p.m., and fortunately, no injuries were reported.

 

Naplesnews

News-Press.com

Broward teachers and school district employees will receive an average salary increase of 3% for the current school year, following a recent school board vote. The starting salary for new teachers has risen to $51,402 from $50,266, while the highest-paid teachers will now earn $88,580, up from $86,209. Anna Fusco, President of the Broward Teachers Union, expressed her support during a news conference, stating, "This raise is a step in the right direction for our educators."

 

Sun Sentinel

The Martin County School Board is contemplating the sale of naming rights for high school facilities, starting with Martin High School's stadium. Brian Siatkowski, managing partner of Tebo Partnerships, which was hired to evaluate naming rights opportunities, indicated that the stadium could generate $7,499 weekly based on community traffic and event attendance. However, the board seeks to update its naming rights policy to ensure that only appropriate companies are considered, as noted by public information director Jennifer DeShazo. "We have controversial businesses in this community, and I don't want to make it like the joke if one of them has naming rights of the stadium," said board member Brian Moriarty. The board will also decide how to allocate the revenue generated from these naming rights if approved.

 

TCPalm

A student at Miami Palmetto Senior High School has tested positive for measles, as confirmed by school officials on Tuesday. Due to HIPAA regulations, details regarding the student's age and grade level remain undisclosed. Officials clarified that the confirmation does not imply the student was present at school on the day of the announcement. The exact date of the positive test is also unknown. Meanwhile, Texas has reported nearly 160 measles cases, with a recent death of an unvaccinated child linked to the outbreak.

 

NBC Miami

NBC Miami

Tampa Bay Times

The Miami-Dade school district's bus safety program is facing significant criticism following a Miami Herald investigation. Superintendent Jose Dotres addressed concerns in a memo, directing Ivan Silva, chief of Miami-Dade Schools Police, to collaborate with the county sheriff's office to improve the citation review process. The investigation revealed that drivers received questionable tickets, with many unable to contest them. The contract with BusPatrol, which manages the program, was signed hastily without a bidding process, raising concerns about transparency. As of December 19, 120,000 drivers had received violation notices, yet no hearings have been scheduled for those contesting their citations. Jose Bueno, chief of staff for Miami-Dade County Public Schools, stated, “This is costing taxpayers zero dollars for the school system,” while acknowledging the need for drivers to have their day in court. The program has generated $19.5m, with the district receiving 30% of the revenue.

 

The Miami Herald

St. Lucie County is experiencing a significant increase in student enrollment, with the district growing from 43,612 students in the 2021-2022 school year to over 2,000 more in the following year. Deputy Superintendent Dr. Helen Wild stated, "Our schools, especially in West Port St. Lucie, are all at or near capacity." To accommodate this growth, Legacy High School is set to open in August, with enrollment already underway. Students currently in 10th and 11th grades can choose to stay at their current schools or transfer to Legacy, which offers a more convenient location. Grandparent Cindy Chaplin expressed her support for the flexibility, emphasizing the importance of friends in her granddaughter's schooling experience. While the new school will accept students from outside the county, Dr. Wild confirmed that local students will remain the priority.

 

WPTV

Florida has ended in-state tuition breaks for undocumented students, aligning with about half of U.S. states. Proponents claim this will save $40m by charging out-of-state rates, but the increased costs may drive many students out of school. Jeffrey S. Solochek, an education reporter, highlights that keeping these students out could have economic repercussions, as each student earning a bachelor's degree contributes approximately $1m in social value over their lifetime. Other education-related news includes contract agreements for Polk County teachers, a new finance officer for Jefferson County, and proposed legislation affecting school policies across the state.

 

Tampa Bay Times

Florida State University (FSU) has revised its bylaws to increase its involvement with the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, despite ongoing discussions about transferring the museum to New College of Florida. FSU President Richard McCullough and Board of Trustees Chair Peter Collins emphasized that the revisions were "totally coincidental" and unrelated to Governor Ron DeSantis' proposal. The updated bylaws now include FSU officials on the museum's board of directors, aiming for uniformity across the university's Direct Support Organizations. The Ringling has raised $2.2m in the last fiscal year and is set to receive a significant art collection from benefactors Charles M. and Robyn L. Citrin.

 

Tallahassee.com

Transport Canada has implemented new regulations requiring perimeter visibility systems on all new school buses to enhance safety. Effective December 18, 2024, these systems will be mandatory by November 1, 2027. The regulation, which is expected to cost $196m and impact over 65,000 school buses by 2036, follows recommendations from the Task Force on School Bus Safety. “The biggest safety risk for children riding a school bus isn’t inside the vehicle, it’s actually around the bus," stated The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Transport. Gatekeeper Systems Inc. supports this initiative and has been involved in pilot projects to test these technologies. Approximately 2.2m Canadian children rely on school buses daily, highlighting the importance of these safety measures.

 

School Bus Fleet