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Florida is collaborating with university leaders from Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas to establish a new accrediting body, the Commission for Public Higher Education, as announced by Gov. Ron DeSantis. The initiative aims to provide an alternative to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, which has faced criticism from Florida education officials. DeSantis pointed out that students need "real, serious academic rigor" and expressed concerns about the current accreditation system, which he described as a "monopoly of the woke accreditation cartels." The state has previously taken steps to distance itself from the Southern Association and is currently appealing a lawsuit dismissed by U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Becerra regarding the constitutionality of the accreditation system. DeSantis is pushing for the new commission's approval while the Trump administration is in office, warning: "If it doesn't get approved a president could come in next and potentially revoke it."

 

NBC Miami

Orlando Weekly

In a significant 6-3 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the federal E-rate program, which provides essential internet funding for schools and libraries. The case, Federal Communications Commission v. Consumers' Research, addressed the constitutionality of the $9bn Universal Service Fund's funding mechanism. In the court's majority opinion, Justice Elena Kagan wrote: “For nearly three decades, the work of Congress and the Commission in establishing universal-service programs has led to a more fully connected country. And it has done so while leaving fully intact the separation of powers integral to our Constitution.” The decision was met with dissent from Justice Neil Gorsuch, who argued it violated the Constitution's separation of powers. “Within the federal government, Congress ‘alone has access to the pockets of the people,’” he added in his dissenting opinion, which Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas joined. The ruling is crucial for the education sector, as over 106,000 schools benefited from E-rate funding, impacting more than 54m students. The decision was hailed by the Education and Libraries Networks Coalition (EdLiNC), of which the Association of School Business Officials International is member. “Expanding the E-Rate eligible services list to include Wi-Fi hot spots and services is common sense policy that will allow our schools to meaningfully address ongoing post-pandemic needs to connect students at home for homework, learning, research, and more,” said James Rowan, CAE, SFO, chief executive officer and executive director, ASBO International. “We thank the chairwoman for her continued support for and leadership on E-Rate and connectivity for students.”

 

AASA

Education Week News

K-12 Dive

Washington Post

The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of parents in a case against Maryland's Montgomery County Public Schools regarding the opt-out policy for certain storybook readings. The court's 6-3 decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor found that the school board violated parents' First Amendment rights by not allowing them to opt their children out of lessons that conflict with their religious beliefs. Justice Samuel Alito stated that the school board's actions “substantially interfere with the religious development of petitioners' children.” The ruling comes after a lawsuit from a group of Muslim, Christian, and Jewish parents who argued that mandatory participation in LGBTQ+-themed lessons constituted coercion. Dissenting Justice Sonia Sotomayor warned that the ruling could lead to chaos in public education, imposing burdens on schools to provide advance notice for every lesson that might conflict with parental beliefs.

 

The Baltimore Sun

NPR / National Public Radio

PBS

Politico

The U.S. Education Department has reinstated the original deadline for spending pandemic relief funds, allowing state education agencies and school districts until March 2026 to utilize the remaining dollars. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said: “The original intent of the policy... was to treat all states consistently,” addressing fairness issues arising from litigation. Previously, only certain states benefited from temporary court rulings that halted the deadline change. Julia Martin, director of policy and government affairs for education law firm the Bruman Group, advised states to spend their funds quickly to avoid further policy shifts. The reinstatement comes after a tumultuous period of funding disruptions that led to canceled services and layoffs in schools.

 

Education Week News

Volusia County Schools is preparing its budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, projecting a need to draw only $8m from reserves, significantly lower than the $25.15m deficit reported for 2024-2025. Chief financial officer Todd Seis emphasized that this year is a "controlled spend down," assuring that the district is not operating "in the red." The total operating budget is set at $541m, with expenditures estimated at $549.02m, reflecting a decrease of $43.58m from the current budget. School board member Ruben Colon noted that tough decisions made in previous years have led to a better financial position this year. The district will also see a slight increase in funding per student, totaling $5,372.60, despite previous repayment obligations to the state. Additionally, a new funding program aims to support academic initiatives.

 

Ormond Beach Observer

Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-MA), member of the Environment and Public Works and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committees, Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Finance Committee, have written to President Donald Trump, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), and House Speaker Mike Johnson regarding a budget reconciliation proposal to eliminate federal tax credits that fund solar infrastructure projects in schools. “More school districts are planning solar projects that will help lower energy costs and prevent state budget cuts from impacting students, educators, and staff," the letter stated. "There are at least 251 school solar projects in 26 states in various stages of planning and construction. Projects that are not able to commence construction before proposed repeals take effect risk delay, wasted local and state investments in project development, higher energy costs, and increased burden on taxpayers." James Rowan, CAE, SFO, chief executive and executive director, ASBO International, said: “Clean energy incentives help schools provide safer and healthier learning environments, lower energy costs, save taxpayer dollars, and redirect resources from paying expensive utility bills to supporting student success. We urge lawmakers to preserve these federal programs for local communities."

 

Ed Markey - Press Release

Volusia County Schools is set to implement a revised Code of Conduct for the 2024-2025 school year, aiming to clarify student behavior expectations. Mike Micallef, executive director for graduation assurance and student services, said: "It was a bunch of very broad definitions. Nothing was clear." The updated code will feature specific definitions and examples for various infractions, moving away from vague descriptions. The goal is to foster understanding among parents and students, encouraging collaboration with the school. The new policy includes a tiered response system for violations, with Level 1 infractions resulting in minor consequences and escalating for repeated offenses. More serious violations fall under Levels 2 and 3, with harsher penalties, including potential expulsion for Level 4 offenses. The changes aim to create a positive school culture and reduce disciplinary referrals, which saw an 18.5% decrease in the previous year.

 

Daytona Beach News Journal

A Brevard County teacher was not rehired after using a student's chosen name without parental consent, leading to a policy revision by the school board. The updated policy clarifies that parents must approve any name deviations for students. Melissa Calhoun, the teacher in question, was dismissed despite a recommendation for a lesser reprimand. Superintendent Mark Rendell said: "We do not want to start the 2025-2026 school year with a teacher whose license may be revoked by the state." This incident marks the first known job loss for a Florida educator due to the 2023 rule regarding name usage. The revised policy now requires parents to complete a consent form for any name other than the legal name.

 

Florida Today

The push for a nationwide private school choice program has encountered significant obstacles following a ruling by Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough. On June 27, she rejected a provision from the proposed “Big Beautiful Bill,” which aimed to allocate $5bn in federal tax credits for private school funding. MacDonough's decision, based on the Senate's Byrd Rule, requires a supermajority for such measures, complicating efforts for Senate Republicans who support the initiative. Senate Republicans have numerous options open to them, including an appeal, a rewritten proposal, or a vote to waive the Byrd Rule that made the program ineligible.

 

Education Week News

New research from the Annenberg Institute at Brown University reveals that incumbents in school board elections often run uncontested and win over 80% of the time. The study analyzed over 50,000 elections across 16 states from 2002 to 2017, highlighting that more than one-third of these races were uncontested. Vladimir Kogan, a political science professor at Ohio State University, noted that "half of the time you really don't have a choice at all," adding: “Instead, it's really decisions that candidates made about whether to run again, and that's the key mechanism through which we get changes of who's serving on school boards." The findings suggest that local democracy may not significantly influence school board composition, as many incumbents choose not to run again, leading to high turnover rates. Kogan emphasized that this turnover could disrupt student learning due to changes in policy and staffing decisions. Overall, the study raises questions about the effectiveness of school board elections in holding officials accountable for educational quality.

 

Education Week News

The rise of false information poses significant challenges for schools and districts, undermining public trust essential for effective learning and engagement. A January 2024 survey by the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) revealed that 96% of school communications officials view misinformation as a pressing issue, a notable increase from 81% in 2020. Barbara Hunter, the executive director of NSPRA, emphasizes the need for a robust communication strategy to counter misinformation, commenting:  "Districts should 'inoculate' the public against misinformation." The article outlines six strategies for addressing misinformation, including distinguishing between misinformation and disinformation, responding promptly to rumors, and establishing the district as a trusted information source. By acknowledging community concerns and maintaining transparency, schools can effectively combat the spread of false information.

 

Education Week News