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The recently passed HB 1279, which includes elements from three other bills, has stirred significant debate among lawmakers. A key provision allows districts to declare an "educational emergency," enabling them to offer "salary incentives" without collective bargaining. This change could affect schools deemed persistently low-performing, as defined by new criteria. Rep. Alex Rizo, a Republican from Hialeah, said: "The rationale is that student performance needs to be enhanced and this may be one of the ways to do it." Critics, including Rep. Angie Nixon, a Democrat from Jacksonville, argue that the bill undermines public schools and teachers' rights. The bill passed the House with a vote of 81-16 and is now awaiting the governor's approval. Additionally, it includes provisions for dance to satisfy physical education requirements and directs the state Board of Education to create a uniform grading system for honors courses.

 

Florida Phoenix

The Florida Legislature has passed a bill requiring students in grades 3-5 to demonstrate proficiency in cursive writing, sending it to Gov. Ron DeSantis for approval. Rep. Toby Overdorf, who championed the bill, stated: “The passage of this bill brings the great history of our past into the future and provides our students with critical instruction.” The bill, which amends an earlier proposal to start cursive instruction in second grade, aims to ensure that students can read important historical documents. Overdorf emphasized the necessity of testing students on their cursive skills, noting that “there’s no requirement for proficiency.” If signed, the law will take effect on July 1, ahead of the 2026-27 school year.

 

Florida Politics

The U.S. Department of Education is urging states to seek waivers from major Every Student Succeeds Act provisions, aligning with the Trump administration’s push to return more education authority to states. Alabama, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Kansas, and Oklahoma have advanced plans affecting federal funding, testing, and accountability. Proposed changes include merging funding streams, broadening assessment options, and sending school improvement dollars directly to students. Supporters say the moves could cut bureaucracy and target support more effectively, while critics caution they may weaken oversight, transparency, and protections for disadvantaged student groups.

 

Education Week News

Alva Smith, a member of the Leon County School Board, is advocating for the closure or consolidation of underenrolled schools due to declining enrollment and budget constraints. "We are not alone in this," Smith said, emphasizing that there must be a conversation about the district's financial challenges. She proposes reallocating funds from administrative costs to increase teacher salaries. Despite pushback from Superintendent Rocky Hanna and board chair Marcus Nicolas, who view closures as a "last resort," Smith argues that the trend of families opting out of neighborhood schools is detrimental. The discussion also touched on potential tax increases to support school funding, with Smith noting that voters will ultimately decide on these measures.

 

Tallahassee.com

The Nims Middle School in Tallahassee has officially opened a new $4m athletic facility, funded by a half-penny sales tax initiative from Leon County voters. The facility, which will be available to students starting March 24, features a capacity of 370 and showcases the school's black and gold colors. The district plans to ask voters to renew the tax initiative in November to support future projects.

 

Tallahassee.com

The Golden Apple "Prize Patrol," organized by Champions for Learning, surprised six outstanding educators in Collier County with awards recognizing their exceptional contributions to teaching. The bus tour, which stopped at various schools, celebrated teachers selected from thousands of community nominations. Elias Cuevas, an 11th-grade U.S. History teacher at Immokalee High School, expressed his gratitude, saying: "It means the world... the fact that I was able to get it represents a lot of what we're trying to accomplish here." Other winners included Connie Kinstler, Wende Malik, Julie Raymond, Stephanie Scalise, and Shanna Moss, each recognized for their innovative teaching methods and dedication to student success.

 

Naplesnews

News-Press.com

Florida Power & Light (FPL) awarded a $50,000 grant to Stone Magnet Middle School in Melbourne to enhance STEM learning at Title I schools across Florida. The initiative aims to provide students with hands-on experiences in science, technology, engineering, and math. Diahann Shaw, Stone's STEAM coordinator, said: "This grant will allow our students to experience STEM in a completely new way," emphasizing the creation of a student-run news and media studio. The grant will enable Stone and nine other selected schools to redesign classrooms with modern equipment and materials, fostering new learning pathways for students.

 

Florida Today

The funding of $800,000 for CareerSource Central Florida and $450,000 for the Foundation for Orange County Public Schools aims to enhance internship opportunities for students. Parker Antoine, director of marketing for Orange County Public Schools Career and Technical Education, emphasized the importance of this funding, explaining: "It will give our students work-based, real-world learning experiences." The investment has increased over time, benefiting approximately 750 to 850 students by matching them with career-related opportunities.

 

News 13

Monroe County School District has proposed a $6.1m renovation of the baseball field at Founders Park, used by Coral Shores High School. However, the Islamorada Village Council expressed frustration over the district's amendments to the baseball license agreement, which they believe limit village oversight. Mayor Don Horton and council members criticized the district's changes, stating that the original agreement provided necessary legal protections.

 

Keys News

The University of Florida has deactivated its College Republicans group after reports of antisemitic behavior among members. This action follows a similar investigation at Florida International University, where a group chat revealed racist and antisemitic comments. The Florida Federation of College Republicans informed the university that the Gainesville chapter was disbanded due to members engaging in conduct that violated its values, including a recent antisemitic gesture. University officials stated they would assist in reactivating the chapter under new leadership when the federation is ready. "Some members engaged in a pattern of conduct that violated its rules and values," the federation noted.

 

The Miami Herald

WINK News

South Korean high school students spend about six hours a day on screens but just over one hour on outdoor activities, highlighting a significant imbalance in physical activity, according to a report from the Korea Institute of Child Care and Education. The study surveyed 1,212 second-year high school students in 2024. Students reported using smartphones and computers for an average of 5.8 hours per day for girls and 6.2 hours for boys. The most common activities were entertainment and studying (1.5 hours each), followed by social media (1.4 hours) and gaming (1.1 hours). Girls tended to spend more time on social media, while boys spent more time gaming. By contrast, outdoor activities such as exercise averaged 1.1 hours on weekdays and 1.6 hours on weekends, and fewer than 40% of students said outdoor leisure activities were part of their routine. Nearly 99% of respondents reported daily use of phones or computers. The report also highlighted a significant perception gap between students and parents regarding device use. While 86.3% of students described themselves as moderate users and only 1.2% believed they overused devices, 36.7% of parents said their children were at high risk of multimedia overuse. Researchers warned that heavy screen use and reduced physical activity are linked to rising obesity and worsening vision among adolescents. Obesity rates among boys rose to 15.5% in 2024, up from 8.8% a decade earlier, while myopia among first-year high school students reached 74.8%, compared with 63.1% in 2005. Experts said addressing the issue requires considering both students’ and parents’ perspectives.

 

The Straits Times

Alvina Wooten celebrated her 100th birthday on March 10, surrounded by family and friends at Echo Life Church in Pensacola. The event, attended by around 250 guests, was filled with love and admiration for Wooten, a retired elementary school teacher who has witnessed significant societal changes throughout her life. "It seems like the people, I don't know whether they hate each other, but we need more love and to treat people better than what we're doing," Wooten said, reflecting on her experiences during segregation and her teaching career. The celebration included heartfelt tributes, a performance of "Ave Maria" by her nephew, and a surprise birthday greeting from former President Barack Obama. Wooten's journey from a segregated education to becoming a beloved teacher highlights her resilience and commitment to community.

 

Pensacola News Journal