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Florida
18th February 2026
 

THE HOT STORY

Florida tops nation in workforce education

Florida has been recognized as the top state for workforce education, according to state officials. Gov.r Ron DeSantis emphasized the importance of vocational training, claiming: "When I became governor, I made the point very strongly that there's more than one way you can succeed as a young person." The state achieved this ranking due to its leading position in talent attraction, college graduation rates, and education freedom. Titusville High's Principal Jennifer Gonzalez noted that the career and technical education pathway has made education "relevant, engaging and purposeful." Florida's Commissioner of Education, Anastasios Kamoutsas, praised the increase in career and technical education participation, highlighting that there are over 818,000 K-12 CTE students in the state. The meeting also addressed recent student walkouts, which Kamoutsas condemned as disruptive.

STATE NEWS

Florida's grading system under fire

Florida's school grading system has come under scrutiny for oversimplifying student performance. Lancy Lawther, a Florida PTA legislative advocate, said: "A single grade makes it easy to understand, but it doesn't convey complexity." The system primarily evaluates schools based on overall student outcomes, neglecting the performance of specific subgroups, such as students with disabilities and Black students. For instance, Morningside Elementary received an A grade, but its subgroup for students with disabilities scored only a C. Lawther emphasized that the grading system fails to account for the diverse backgrounds of students, noting: "Inputs don't matter in Florida, only outputs." Recent legislative attempts to reform the grading system, including HB 1483 introduced by State Rep. Susan L. Valdés, aimed to increase transparency but ultimately did not pass.

WORKFORCE

Broward schools face major layoffs

Broward County school officials are contemplating reducing up to 1,000 positions due to an $80m budget shortfall and declining student enrollment. Following the closure of six schools, the district anticipates losing an additional 9,000 students in the upcoming year. Superintendent Howard Hepburn stated, “We have not right-sized our actual staffing footprint like we've done in the past two years with our facilities footprints.” The district has implemented a hiring freeze and aims to achieve personnel reductions through attrition and targeted layoffs, starting with higher administration levels. School Board member Lori Alhadeff emphasized the importance of a careful approach, stating, “We need to understand what our options are.” Teachers will not be included in the layoffs, as they are already affected by enrollment fluctuations.

TEACHING

Rabelo named Teacher of the Year

Roberto Rabelo, a dedicated social studies teacher at South Miami Middle Community School, has been honored as the Miami-Dade County Public Schools 2027 Francisco R. Walker Teacher of the Year. With 37 years of experience, Rabelo has significantly impacted his students, achieving a remarkable increase in Civics EOC scores from 64% to 83%. He is the founder of the DWOW Mindset of Success, which emphasizes achieving extraordinary results. Rabelo also promotes social-emotional growth through initiatives like The Power of One and ICLK, encouraging students to engage in community service. The runner-up for Teacher of the Year was Dale J. Adamson, a robotics teacher, while Kristian Jose Luciano was named Rookie Teacher of the Year. The event was supported by sponsors including Educational Federal Credit Union and United Way Miami.

CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION

Palatka Primary School construction begins

The groundbreaking for the new Palatka Primary School took place recently, which represents an important milestone in the Putnam County School District’s modernization efforts. The 146,520-sq-ft facility will replace Kelley Smith Elementary School, which is set to close at the end of the school year. Superintendent Rick Surrency expressed enthusiasm, remarking: "This is exciting for this district and this city." The new school, funded by a $300m construction bond approved by voters in 2022, will accommodate over 1,000 students and is scheduled to open in the 2027-2028 school year. Meanwhile, younger students will attend James A. Long Elementary during the construction phase. The initiative aims to enhance educational facilities in a growing residential area, as noted by School Board Chairman Phil Leary, who emphasized the school’s integral role in the community's future.

LEGISLATION

Schools split on Veterans Day observance

School districts this year took different approaches to Veterans Day, with some choosing to close while others remained open. Rep. Susan Valdes emphasized the importance of teaching children about veterans, saying: "It's so important for the children in our schools to understand the value of veterans." The bill, HB 409, sponsored by Rep. Mike Giallombardo, aims to recognize Veterans Day officially as a school holiday. However, some, like Laura Hine, a Pinellas County school board member and Navy veteran, argue that keeping schools open allows for better education about the day. The House passed the bill unanimously, and the Senate's counterpart, SB 464, is awaiting further discussion. Sen. Bryan Avila noted: "We pride ourselves on being the most veteran-friendly state," highlighting the need for schools to honor veterans appropriately.

EARLY EDUCATION

Teachers adapt to rising classroom chaos

In Lead Elementary, first-grade teacher Andrea Quinn has noticed a significant increase in challenging behaviors among her students, particularly since the pandemic. "A lot of things have changed since the pandemic," said Wendy Reinke, co-director of the Missouri Prevention Science Institute. Educators across the nation report that young children are more disruptive and defiant, leading to a push for new classroom management strategies. Federal data indicates that the need for training in classroom management has risen from 51% to 65% in elementary schools. Experts attribute these behavioral issues to the lack of social experiences during the pandemic, with many children missing preschool. As a result, teachers are overhauling their approaches, focusing on positive reinforcement and social-emotional learning to address the growing challenges in classrooms.

STEM

Inspiring girls through engineering

Madison Devoux, an engineering student at Florida A&M University, authored "Hope is an Engineer" to inspire young girls to explore STEM careers. The book follows a young girl navigating the world of engineering, emphasizing the importance of precision. Devoux stated that "the goal behind this book is early access to STEM and early information about STEM for young girls," highlighting her desire to address the gender gap she has witnessed in her program. With the support of her mentor, Dr. Charmaine Caldwell, Devoux aims to encourage more girls to enter the field. The book is available on Amazon and through her Instagram account @MadisonTheEngineer, where she has already sold over 100 copies in its first month. "STEM isn't a man's game, it isn't a woman's game, it's for everyone," Devoux said, reinforcing her message of inclusivity in engineering.

HIGHER EDUCATION

FGCU fights food insecurity crisis

Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) is addressing a significant issue of food insecurity among college students, with surveys revealing that nearly one in four students face challenges affording food during their studies. FGCU has established a food pantry, which is sustained by generous donations, to provide support to those in need.

INTERNATIONAL

Ireland's schools demand clarity over proposed SNA allocation reductions

Calls are mounting for clarity after several schools in Ireland were informed their Special Needs Assistant (SNA) allocations may be reduced from September 2026. Trade union Fórsa said multiple schools have been notified by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) that SNA posts will be cut, but there is little information about how many schools or jobs are affected, or the reasons behind the reductions. While overall SNA numbers are set to increase nationally by more than 1,000 posts, concerns remain that some schools are losing support before a promised redeployment scheme is introduced. Fórsa has urged Education Minister Hildegarde Naughton to address the issue, warning that stricter criteria may be limiting SNA support to students with physical care needs, potentially overlooking those requiring emotional or behavioural assistance. The Department of Education said SNA allocations are reviewed annually based on student numbers and care needs, in line with existing guidelines.

AND FINALLY...

Lessons for the classroom from Bad Bunny's Super Bowl performance

Peter DeWitt, a former K-5 public school principal and founder of the Instructional Leadership Collective, and Michael Nelson, a K-12 educator and leadership coach, reflect on the leadership lessons from Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime performance. They emphasize that leadership should be viewed as an invitation to inclusivity and understanding. They say: "Before you judge a community, ask what you've truly tried to understand. Before you “go neutral,” ask who neutrality harms. And before you speak for others, make space for them to speak for themselves. This week, pick one lesson below and act on it—then collect evidence of impact." The performance serves as a case study for school leaders, highlighting the importance of sharing personal stories, embracing community diversity, and celebrating the voices of others. Key takeaways include honoring students, choosing unity over divisiveness, and calling out inequities within school communities.
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