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The Escambia Children's Trust Board has approved a $1.1m request to support the local Head Start program, aiming to stabilize its workforce. The decision, made in a unanimous 5-0 vote, will help retain early education teachers and staff in Escambia County. Keith Leonard, Escambia County Public Schools Superintendent, emphasized the importance of this funding, stating: “We have a unique opportunity to address some significant challenges within our community.” The program, which serves 469 children aged up to five, has faced challenges due to a decline in enrollment and federal funding cuts. CAPC president Doug Brown noted that this support will prevent staff reductions and ensure uninterrupted services. The goal is to increase employee retention to 90%, up from the current 82%. Lindsey Cannon, Executive Director of Children's Trust, highlighted the program's role in kindergarten readiness and family support.

 

Pensacola News Journal

Get more 3s on the FAST ELA

According to the FLDOE, FAST ELA scores are hovering at 52% for level 3 proficiency for grades 3-5 in the 2024 and 2025 school years. 
More students reached level 3 proficiency on the FAST ELA in districts implementing HMH Into Reading Florida vs. other curricula across grades 3-5. 
Analyze prose and poetry for theme, comprehend main idea and text structure of informational texts, and build academic vocabulary to get more 3s on the FAST.  

Access free ELA resources to boost FAST scores, including SOR eBook

 

The Orange County School Board approved targeted rezonings for Chain of Lakes and Ocoee middle schools for the 2026-2027 school year. This plan will rezone 32 students from Chain of Lakes Middle School to Carver Middle School, resulting in projected enrollments of 946 and 1,616 students, respectively. The objective is to align the feeder pattern so that all students from Eccleston Elementary attend Carver Middle. Additionally, the rezoning for Ocoee and Robinswood middle schools aims to create a consistent educational path for students at Citrus Elementary, impacting 48 students and ensuring they all feed into Ocoee Middle and Ocoee High School, rather than some being zoned for Robinswood Middle. "The goal is to align the feeder pattern," said the board.

 

Orange Observer News

Florida is set to launch the nation's first state-funded drone pilot program aimed at preventing active school shootings in Broward, Volusia, and Leon counties. The initiative will utilize encrypted drones operated remotely by professional pilots based in Austin, Texas, with an investment of over $550,000 in public funds. The drones, developed by Campus Guardian Angel, will be strategically placed on school campuses and activated via remote panic buttons to assist first responders.

 

Tallahassee News

According to a study by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, students who returned to in-person school during the Covid-19 pandemic experienced significantly lower rates of mental health diagnoses, including anxiety, depression, and ADHD. The research analyzed data from 185,735 children aged 5 to 18 across 24 counties and 224 school districts in California from March 2020 to June 2021. Pelin Ozluk, the study's author, noted: "Because schools reopened on different timelines across California, this natural variation allowed us to observe differences in mental health trends." The findings revealed that children whose schools reopened were 43% less likely to be diagnosed with mental health conditions by the ninth month after reopening. Rita Hamad, professor of social epidemiology and public policy at Harvard University, emphasized the importance of in-person schooling for children's well-being, arguing that policies "should focus not only on infection control, but also on the mental well-being of children, recognizing that schools are a critical part of their support system.” The study highlights the need for prioritizing safe school reopenings in future public health emergencies.

 

EdSource

In a piece for Education Week Thomas R. Guskey, a professor emeritus in the College of Education at the University of Kentucky, addresses the challenges school leaders face in securing teacher buy-in for instructional changes. He emphasizes that traditional approaches, such as logical arguments or emotional appeals, often fail because beliefs are deeply rooted in past experiences. To foster meaningful change, he outlines four key strategies: setting realistic expectations for buy-in, providing practical support, creating collaborative opportunities, and facilitating regular feedback on student outcomes. These actions help reshape teachers' experiences, ultimately leading to genuine commitment and lasting reform.

 

Education Week News

Maria Gaspar has been appointed as the new principal of Thornebrooke Elementary in Ocoee. With a bachelor's degree in elementary education, a master's in reading education, and an Ed.D in education leadership, Gaspar brings over 20 years of experience in both elementary and secondary education. Currently serving as the assistant principal at Union Park Middle School, she expressed her enthusiasm for joining the Thornebrooke community, stating, "I am excited to support the students, families, and teachers at Thornebrooke Elementary." Gaspar's leadership is anticipated to bring positive changes to the school.

 

Orange Observer News

In a piece for Education Week, Daniel A. Sabol emphasizes the critical role of school libraries in addressing learning loss. He argues that modern libraries serve as essential recovery spaces for students, fostering confidence and engagement through diverse activities. Despite their importance, school libraries are often overlooked, with a significant decline of nearly 20% in certified librarian positions from 2010 to 2019. Sabol writes: "A well-staffed, modern library directly supports academic recovery," and cites research from the American Association of School Librarians linking certified librarians to higher reading scores, improved graduation rates, and increased student engagement. He advocates for the restoration and reimagining of libraries, highlighting their role in promoting digital equity and supporting various educational priorities, including literacy and social-emotional learning. To ensure equitable learning recovery, schools must invest in certified librarians and inclusive collections, recognizing libraries as vital infrastructure for student success.

 

Education Week News

A growing crisis of drivers illegally passing stopped school buses in the U.S., putting children's lives at risk, has prompted a nationwide crackdown using surveillance cameras and artificial intelligence (AI). At the first National School Bus Safety Summit on Tuesday in Washington, D.C., officials revealed over 39m annual violations, with enforcement increasingly driven by BusPatrol, a leading provider of AI-powered stop arm cameras now fitted to 40,000 buses. The technology captures violations, which are then reviewed and forwarded to law enforcement. Lawmakers and safety experts are calling for tougher penalties, public education, and federal legislation, including a national safety campaign, to curb this dangerous behavior. Adam Youssi, supervisor of automated enforcement at Maryland’s Howard County Police Department, said many drivers remain unclear about how to behave near stopped school buses. In response, the county launched a public awareness campaign outlining motorists’ responsibilities, sharing safety graphics on social media and including informational inserts with residents’ water bills.

 

USA Today

The establishment of the Academy of American Civic Republican Center at the University of West Florida has raised concerns among trustees regarding its name, which some believe may conflict with the board's institutional neutrality policy. Funded by a $1.55m grant from the U.S. Department of Education, the center aims to enhance civic education for K-12 educators and students while celebrating America's 250th anniversary. Heather Riddell, a Faculty Senate representative, expressed worries about the name's implications, stating, "I just don't want to get cart before the horse and do something that might signal we're not institutionally neutral." Despite the concerns, trustee Adam Kissel defended the name, calling it "very appropriate." The university plans to host events and provide civics training for K-12 teachers by 2026.

 

Florida Politics

The establishment of the Academy of American Civic Republican Center at the University of West Florida has raised concerns among trustees regarding its name, which some believe may conflict with the board's institutional neutrality policy. Funded by a $1.55m grant from the U.S. Department of Education, the center aims to enhance civic education for K-12 educators and students while celebrating America's 250th anniversary. Heather Riddell, a Faculty Senate representative, expressed worries about the name's implications, stating, "I just don't want to get cart before the horse and do something that might signal we're not institutionally neutral." Despite the concerns, trustee Adam Kissel defended the name, calling it "very appropriate." The university plans to host events and provide civics training for K-12 teachers by 2026.

 

Florida Phoenix

Austrian lawmakers have passed a ban on Muslim headscarves for girls under 14, despite concerns regarding its constitutionality. The ruling coalition, supported by the far-right Freedom Party, argues that the ban protects young girls from societal pressures. Yannick Shetty, parliamentary leader of the liberal Neos, said: "This is not about restricting freedom, but about protecting the freedom of girls up to 14." However, rights groups, including Amnesty International, have criticized the legislation, claiming it exacerbates discrimination against Muslims. Austria's Constitutional Court previously deemed a similar ban illegal, emphasizing the state's duty to remain religiously neutral. Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr highlighted the increasing pressure young girls face regarding their attire, while the Greens proposed creating interdisciplinary teams to address cultural tensions in schools.

 

Reuters

The Local

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele has announced a partnership with Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company xAI to integrate artificial intelligence into over 5,000 public schools. The initiative aims to provide personalized learning experiences for more than 1m students through the Grok chatbot, which adapts tutoring to each student's pace, preferences, and mastery level. It follows a recent collaboration with Google to offer free virtual medical consultations supported by AI.

 

ABC News