Education Slice
Become more informed in minutes....
Education Slice Logo
Florida
16th January 2026
Together with

THE HOT STORY

Florida graduation rates hit record high

Florida has achieved a historic milestone with a graduation rate of 92% for the class of 2025, marking the highest rate in the state's history. Jersey Ritz, a graduate from East Lee County High School, expressed her pride, saying, "I feel really proud, honestly." The Lee County School District also celebrated its highest-ever graduation rate of 89.8%, a significant increase from 85.8% the previous year. Other districts in Southwest Florida also reported improvements, with Collier County leading at 94.4%. The focus remains on innovative strategies to support student learning and achieve the goal of 100% graduation.

SAVVAS - CONNECTING MATH AND STUDENT RELEVANCE

Amplify Real-World Relevance with Place-Based Learning

Students can often feel disconnected from the world outside the walls of their math classrooms. You can transform mathematics from a classroom subject into a lens through which students see, evaluate, and describe their world.  

One new approach to make this a reality is to connect students' lived experiences with place-based learning, encouraging them to find mathematical patterns in their own communities. As students begin to recognize math in their everyday lives, they grow more curious, connect core concepts to real-world STEAM applications, and start to see math as a meaningful problem-solving tool outside the classroom.  

Watch this place-based learning webinar!

 

NATIONAL NEWS

Bipartisan bill seeks to curb screen time and algorithmic feeds for children

A Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation hearing on Thursday saw lawmakers and experts raise concerns about the harmful effects of excessive screen time and social media use among children, who now average 7.5 hours of screen exposure daily. A proposed bill from Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) would set a minimum age of 13 for social media access and ban algorithm-driven content for users under 17. The legislation also requires federally funded schools to block social media on school devices and networks. Experts urged parents to delay children's social media use, linking excessive screen time to mental health challenges and a growing "loneliness epidemic."

Project AWARE grant turmoil exposes fragility of school mental health funding

The recent turmoil surrounding the Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education) mental health grants highlights the instability in funding for school mental health programs. After the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration abruptly canceled up to $2bn in grants on January 13, advocacy from educators and bipartisan congressional members led to a swift reversal on January 15. Chris Bucher, a spokesperson for the Wisconsin Department of Education, commented: "The conflicting information creates real stress for the schools, families, and communities who depend on these services." Despite the reinstatement, many states and school districts reported uncertainty regarding their funding status. The grants, which aim to enhance mental health awareness and access to services, received $140m in the 2025 fiscal year. The situation underscores the ongoing challenges in securing consistent mental health support for students.

DISTRICTS

Brevard schools hit record graduation rate

Brevard Public Schools has achieved its highest graduation rate in history, reaching 92.7% during the 2024-2025 school year, surpassing the state average by 0.5%. This marks a 2.9% increase from the previous year's rate of 89.8%, according to the Florida Department of Education. "The graduation rate is one of the most powerful indicators of a school district's success," said BPS Superintendent Mark Rendell. Notably, West Shore Jr./Sr. High School and Edgewood Jr./Sr. High School both recorded a 100% graduation rate. Other schools, such as Merritt Island High and Satellite High, also excelled with rates above 98%. James Rehmer, chief of schools at Brevard Public Schools, emphasized that the increase reflects the dedication of educators and students, stating, "This year's 3% increase is a testament to strong support systems and a shared commitment to student success." Overall, Florida's graduation rate reached a record 92.2%.

Duval County celebrates record graduation rates

Duval County's traditional high schools achieved an impressive 97.6% graduation rate in 2025, surpassing the state average of 92.2%. The overall graduation rate for the Duval school district, including charter schools, reached 94.3%, marking a significant increase of over 30 percentage points since 2011. Superintendent Christopher Bernier emphasized the importance of consistent growth, stating: “These results reflect intentional, dedicated work from all of Team Duval.” Six of the county's 21 traditional high schools reported 100% graduation rates, with all schools achieving at least 90%. The district's performance outpaced Nassau and Baker counties, although it trailed behind St. Johns and Clay counties. Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas praised Florida's overall graduation rate as the highest in state history, attributing it to strong leadership and rigorous standards.

LEADERSHIP

New leadership on the horizon at Flagler

With anticipated retirements of Human Resources Chief Bob Ouellette and Operations Chief Dave Freeman, the Flagler County School District is revising job descriptions for these positions. Superintendent LaShakia Moore stated that the district aims to post the new roles as early as February, regardless of the school board's approval of the changes at the upcoming meeting. Joshua Walker, the district supervisor of Human Resources, emphasized that the adjustments are intended to "cast a wide net" for applicants, making qualifications more flexible. Board member Janie Ruddy suggested including specific HR certifications to attract qualified candidates, while Will Furry noted the importance of keeping the criteria broad to avoid discouraging potential applicants. Moore indicated that the district expects candidates to possess relevant certifications but is open to providing professional learning for the right candidate.

LEGISLATION

Florida Senate tackles school voucher fraud

The Florida Senate has passed a bill aimed at enhancing accountability within the state's $4bn Family Empowerment Scholarship program, following an audit that revealed significant fraud. The proposed legislation includes yearly audits, new application windows, and a shift from quarterly to monthly payments. Senator Don Gaetz said: "To disregard the auditor general's findings... would be legislative malpractice," emphasizing the need for reform. The audit uncovered millions in overspending and a lack of oversight, with fraudulent accounts identified. The bill aims to implement stricter measures to ensure funds are properly allocated and to prevent future fraud, with supporters arguing it is essential for the program's preservation.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Chinese universities climb global research rankings as U.S. institutions lose ground

Chinese universities are rapidly rising in global rankings that measure research output, overtaking many leading U.S. institutions and pushing Harvard down to third place in the latest Leiden Rankings. The shift reflects China’s sharp increase in both the volume and influence of academic publications, with Zhejiang University now ranked first and seven other Chinese universities in the global top 10 on that research-focused list. While Harvard and other major U.S. universities are still producing more research than they did two decades ago, China’s output has grown much faster, narrowing — and in some cases surpassing — the traditional dominance of American academia. Experts say this trend signals an emerging rebalancing of global research leadership, driven by heavy Chinese investment in higher education and growing emphasis on publishing in widely cited English-language journals. Although U.S. institutions continue to perform strongly in broader rankings that include reputation and teaching quality, the research-output gap is widening as China expands its academic capacity and global ambitions.

Dormitory dreams: SFSC explores options

South Florida State College (SFSC) is exploring the possibility of establishing a student dormitory on its Avon Park campus, with a focus on renovating the University Center. Emily Dabolt, SFSC Executive Director of Institutional Advancement, mentioned that the Foundation Board recently reviewed a feasibility report from Parker Mudgett Smith architects. “We talked at the last meeting about doing some master planning with college leadership, which is really our next priority for moving on,” she said. The college aims to develop a master plan by summer to guide the relocation of departments affected by the renovation. The initiative for a dormitory began in May 2021, but previous proposals were halted due to rising construction costs. Currently, SFSC provides limited off-campus housing for students at the Hotel Jacaranda, which faces maintenance challenges.

INTERNATIONAL

Mentoring programs bridge education gap for disadvantaged children in Germany

A new study by the Universities of Bonn and Cologne has found that mentoring programs significantly improve educational outcomes for children from low socio-economic backgrounds in Germany. Despite equal academic performance, these children are 22 percentage points less likely to enter the high academic track in secondary school. However, participation in a year-long mentoring initiative increased their chances by 11 percentage points, a benefit that persisted for at least five years. In this program, university student volunteers were paired with disadvantaged children in second or third grade, meeting weekly for a year to support their personal development through activities and guidance. The study also found that mentoring helped parents consider more ambitious educational paths for their children, demonstrating that role models and external encouragement can influence critical schooling decisions.
Industry Slice Logo

Education Slice delivers the latest, most relevant and useful intelligence to key educators, administrators, decision makers and teaching influencers, each weekday morning..

Content is selected to an exacting brief from hundreds of influential media sources and summarised by experienced journalists into an easy-to-read digest email. Education Slice enhances the performance and decision-making capabilities of individuals and teams by delivering the relevant news, innovations and knowledge in a cost-effective way.

If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities within Education Slice, please get in touch via email sales team

Follow us on FacebookFollow us on XFollow us on Linkedin

This e-mail has been sent to [[EMAIL_TO]]

Click here to unsubscribe