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Florida’s $115.1bn budget, passed by the Republican-led Legislature, has drawn sharp criticism from the Florida Education Association (FEA) for failing to address teacher shortages, low pay, and student mental health. “Lawmakers had meaningful opportunities to strengthen public education, but many of those opportunities were missed,” said FEA President Andrew Spar. The union also opposed expanding “Schools of Hope” charter programs and $4bn for private school vouchers. Lawmakers were accused of redefining school performance metrics to favor privatization at the expense of public education.

 

WLRN

A report published on Tuesday by Hopelab and the Born This Way Foundation states that LGBTQ+ youth living in rural areas were significantly less likely to say their schools were supportive of their identities than LGBTQ+ youth in suburban and urban areas. The research also found that rural LGBTQ+ youth were more likely to find supportive communities online, which they used to both give and receive support at higher rates than their urban and suburban peers. “Rural schools can help to support their students in a wide range of ways that have been implemented elsewhere, such as by encouraging inclusive curricula, addressing in-person- and cyber-bullying among students, and promoting access to mental health services,” said Mike Parent, a principal researcher at Hopelab. “Schools can also check with their own students and faculty on ways that their specific schools might adopt practices that make the school environment feel supportive for LGBTQ+ students.” Parent noted the discontinuation of the national LGBTQ+ 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline from July 17th, calling it "a major hit" to mental health, and adding: “Rural young people may be impacted even more drastically, since their local communities typically have substantially fewer mental health service providers who can provide LGBTQ+ affirming care and the 988 lifeline provided an easily accessible support for them.”

 

K-12 Dive

A poll conducted by the Pew Research Center indicates that 52% of U.S. adults support allowing public school teachers to lead prayers referencing Jesus in class. The survey, conducted between July 17, 2023, and March 4, 2024, involved 36,908 participants. Notably, 57% of respondents believe teachers should be permitted to lead non-denominational prayers that mention God. The findings come amid ongoing Supreme Court cases regarding religion in education, with some states, particularly in the South, showing higher support for teacher-led Christian prayer. However, the Department of Education maintains that teachers cannot direct prayer in their official roles, emphasizing the need for neutrality regarding religion.

 

The Miami Herald

In a groundbreaking collaboration, Jefferson and Madison County school boards have agreed to share key administrative roles to reduce costs. Jefferson County Superintendent Jackie Pons said: “This will save us almost $160,000.” The partnership involves sharing three critical positions: the Exceptional Student Education Director, Human Resources Director, and Transportation Director. Madison County will cover 60% of the costs and receive 60% of each employee’s time, while Jefferson County will pay 40% and receive 40% of services. Pons stressed that this innovative approach is necessary due to significant budget cuts, with a reduction of $700,000 in funding. Parent Jerica Odom expressed concerns about the effectiveness of one person managing multiple districts, questioning the impact on student support. The board also appointed new principals for Jefferson K–12 and Turning Point Alternative School.

 

Tallahassee News

Christopher McFarland, coordinator of enrollment services at Escambia County Public Schools, emphasizes the importance of the School Choice application process for families. The School Choice Expo, held annually in late October or early November, marks the beginning of the application window for middle and high school students. For the 2026-2027 school year, applications will be accepted from October 27 to December 5, 2025.

 

Pensacola News Journal

Florida schools are embracing solar energy as a practical investment for their economic future. Manatee School for the Arts in Palmetto has become a pioneer by installing solar panels and battery storage, allowing it to operate independently during hurricanes. This initiative not only enhances community resilience but also significantly reduces energy costs. Tim McMurray, the school's chief financial officer, said that the school has cut annual energy expenses by $500,000, with the system expected to pay for itself in seven years.

 

Florida Politics

Brevard Public Schools is reassessing its student name policy following controversy over not renewing teacher Melissa Calhoun’s contract after she used a student’s preferred name. Superintendent Dr. Mark Rendell cited state law compliance, prompting a policy update requiring parental consent for non-legal name use. Protests have erupted in support of Calhoun, while only board member John Thomas opposed the dismissal, stating: “I think she made a mistake… she can recover from.” Calhoun’s future in teaching hinges on a state review of her certification. The board will address the issue today.

 

Click Orlando

Becca Coulter has been appointed head of school at Holy Trinity Episcopal School in Fruitland Park, marking a significant new chapter in her life following the loss of her husband, Richard, to ALS. Coulter plans on implementing a new transition program for students with individualized education plans, allowing them to continue their education until age 22.

 

Daily Commercial

The St. Johns County Education Foundation is launching its Tools 4 Schools initiative on July 1 to alleviate teachers' out-of-pocket expenses for classroom supplies. A donation event, Stuff the Bus, will take place on July 14 from 9-11 a.m. at David Weekley Homes' headquarters. Last year, INK! fulfilled 2,347 supply orders, aiding over 900 teachers and 22,500 students. The community is encouraged to contribute supplies and enjoy ice cream, courtesy of First Coast Mortgage, at the event.

 

The St. Augustine Record

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is now accepting entries for the Florida Future Chef 2025 competition, aimed at promoting culinary creativity and nutritional awareness among students. Open to Florida students aged 7-13, participants must submit a video showcasing an elevated school meal using at least one Florida commodity. “Empowering Florida’s students with hands-on culinary experience is key to cultivating nutritious eating habits,” stated Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson. The competition runs until July 11, with finalists invited to a three-day event in Tampa, where they will compete for the title of 2025 Florida Future Chef Champion and scholarships up to $5,000.

 

Miami's Community Newspapers

Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) is collaborating with Florida’s Summer BreakSpot program to provide free breakfast and lunch to children up to 18 years old during the summer. Meals are available at 198 schools in Miami-Dade County until August 1, with no income requirements or registration needed. However, meals must be consumed on-site, as grab-and-go service is no longer offered. M-DCPS emphasizes that "serving summer meals to the students when school is not in session is what makes M-DCPS your best choice."

 

Miami's Community Newspapers

Florida State University's Board of Trustees has approved $22.5m in auxiliary funds for its athletics program, aimed at covering costs related to the House Settlement, which allows revenue sharing with student athletes. This decision follows an emergency amendment by the Florida Board of Governors permitting the temporary use of auxiliary funds, typically generated from campus services. The auxiliary funding will help FSU avoid drastic budget cuts faced by other schools, as the university has generated $453m in revenue from football and men's basketball since the 2023 seasons.

 

The St. Augustine Record

Tallahassee.com

News Herald

On Monday, Judge Allison Burroughs of the US District Court in Massachusetts issued an indefinite block against President Donald Trump's attempt to restrict Harvard University from admitting international students. Burroughs ruled that the proclamation violated the university's constitutional rights, commenting: “This case is about core constitutional rights that must be safeguarded: freedom of thought, freedom of expression, and freedom of speech.” The judge's decision follows previous actions to revoke Harvard's student visa program, which would have impacted nearly 25% of its student body. Burroughs is also set to rule on a significant legal challenge regarding the Trump administration's decision to cut over $2bn in federal grants to Harvard, amid claims that the university has not aligned with the administration's priorities.

 

CNN Edition

U.S. News

Alberta Minister of Education and Childcare Demetrios Nicolaides says he expects to have a ministerial order ready by the end of the month or early July, offering school boards broad guidelines for graphic and sexual materials in school libraries. In a recent survey, almost half of parents of K-12 students are against "consistent requirements," while 43% are in favor. "Decisions about what goes in libraries need to be made by trained librarians and educators," said Laura Winton, past president of the Library Association of Alberta, a non-profit that advocates for public and school libraries alike, adding: "There are already policies and practices in place in schools and school boards across Alberta to make sure that collections are age-appropriate, and there are also processes in place to allow parents to be involved."

 

CBC News