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Florida
9th June 2026
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THE HOT STORY

Florida budget under fire for lack of vetting

Florida TaxWatch has identified 621 projects worth $829.7m in the new state budget that were not properly vetted. The report, released on June 8, emphasizes the lack of a transparent public process, stating that these projects "appeared essentially out of thin air at a budget conference meeting," according to Jeff Kottkamp, Florida TaxWatch's president & chief executive. The report highlights spending in higher education, local parks, and cultural grants, with significant amounts flagged for the University of Florida and Florida State University. Kottkamp noted that the organization does not assess the merit of the projects but focuses on whether they followed established budget processes. The findings come as Gov. Ron DeSantis considers the $114.5bn state budget, with a history of vetoing flagged projects. In previous years, 50% to 75% of identified projects were vetoed, raising concerns about the sustainability of local member projects.

USE ASSESSMENT DATA WITH CONFIDENCE

From Assessment Data to Instructional Impact

Turn assessment results into instructional plans that support stronger literacy outcomes. School leaders across Florida are looking for ways to provide teachers with ongoing insight into student learning while minimizing disruption to classroom instruction. With increasing expectations around early identification, progress monitoring, and effective intervention, educators need accurate and timely information that reflects student progress. Using this insight, school leaders can help address unfinished learning, focus instructional support, and strengthen instruction across classrooms and schools.  

Explore how timely, accurate insight into student learning supports instructional planning, ongoing progress monitoring, and more purposeful instructional decisions that lead to stronger literacy outcomes for students across Florida schools.

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GOVERNANCE

Media coalition demands transparency from OCPS

Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) Superintendent Maria Vazquez is facing pressure from a coalition of Central Florida media organizations, including The Apopka Chief, to revise a media policy that they argue restricts employee speech and limits public access to information. The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) sent a letter to Vazquez, stating: “OCPS owes its staff, students and the public a commitment to transparency and to honor the expressive rights of its employees.” The coalition, which includes 11 media outlets, claims that Management Directive B-5 suppresses press freedoms and chills First Amendment-protected speech. They propose revisions that would allow employees to communicate with the media without prior approval.

New principals shake up Lake County Schools

Several schools in Lake County are set to welcome new principals for the upcoming school year. Reshonda Scott, recognized as Florida's 2026 Assistant Principal of the Year, will take over at Leesburg High School, succeeding Andrea Pyatt, who will move to Cecil E. Gray Middle School. Scott has been with Lake County Schools since 2012 and has held various leadership roles, including assistant principal and curriculum administrator. Other changes include Kevin Schichtel at Tavares Elementary and Venessa King at Eustis Heights Elementary, both bringing extensive experience to their new roles.

DISTRICTS

Transforming lives through education

Students in the Take Stock in Children of Brevard program were thrilled to learn that their scholarships will now cover four years of education instead of two at participating Florida colleges and universities. This announcement was made during the annual Mentor Appreciation Luau held on June 4, where graduating scholars from 17 high schools celebrated with their mentors and community supporters. Krista Petty, the mentor coordinator, emphasized the program's mission, stating, "Take Stock in Children provides students from income-qualified households with volunteer mentors, college readiness support, and scholarship opportunities to help them achieve post-secondary success." The program is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

Student's perfect score questioned by district

Araniel Gonzalez Garcia, a junior at St. Cloud High School, celebrated his perfect score on the U.S. History end-of-course exam, only to be told by the Osceola County School District that it was a "statistical anomaly." The district required him to retake the exam, which he failed under stressful conditions. Araniel expressed his frustration, saying: "I worked my butt off in that class, so I just feel a little irritated." His grandmother, Judith Gonzalez, criticized the district for not supporting him, stating: "It's like they don't care about the kid." The district has not provided an explanation for why his score was flagged, and Araniel's teacher advocated for him, but the situation remains unresolved.

STEM

Transforming lives: Barbie Rivera's journey

Miami Autism Dad Victor Antunez speaks with Barbie Rivera, Founder and Principal of H.E.L.P. Miami, an accredited K-12 micro-school. Rivera recounts her journey that began in 1991 when a teacher labeled her son Damon as “mentally handicapped.” Refusing to accept this, she began teaching him herself, leading to the establishment of her school. Rivera highlights the detrimental effects of a negative classroom environment on young children, sharing success stories of students like Fabian, who advanced from a 2nd-grade to a 9th-grade level in just three months, and Melissa, who is now pursuing a doctorate after struggling in public school. Rivera emphasizes the importance of believing in every child's potential, stating: “It’s about getting a child their first win after a lifetime of losses.”

MICRO SCHOOLS

Transforming lives: Barbie Rivera's journey

In an inspiring interview, Miami Autism Dad Victor Antunez speaks with Barbie Rivera, Founder and Principal of H.E.L.P. Miami, an accredited K-12 micro-school. Rivera recounts her journey that began in 1991 when a teacher labeled her son Damon as “mentally handicapped.” Refusing to accept this, she began teaching him herself, leading to the establishment of her school. Rivera highlights the detrimental effects of a negative classroom environment on young children, sharing success stories of students like Fabian, who advanced from a 2nd-grade to a 9th-grade level in just three months, and Melissa, who is now pursuing a doctorate after struggling in public school. Rivera emphasizes the importance of believing in every child's potential, stating: “It’s about getting a child their first win after a lifetime of losses.”

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Community fights against new school

Locals have expressed concerns about the construction of a 1,000-student private K-8 school in Lutz. Some are actively opposing the project, fearing it will disrupt their community's character. The Naidip Foundation has submitted a special-use application for the school, which is located outside Hillsborough County's urban service area. Elizabeth Strom, an associate professor at the University of South Florida School of Public Affairs, noted that while the application is common, residents have valid concerns about the impact on their rural community. A hearing on the application is scheduled for June 15.

CYBERSECURITY

FTC mandates cybersecurity overhaul for school software provider Illuminate

The Federal Trade Commission has finalized an order requiring K-12 software provider Illuminate Education to strengthen its cybersecurity practices following a 2021 data breach that exposed the personal information of approximately 10.1m current and former students across multiple school districts, including New York City’s public school system. The FTC alleged that Illuminate failed to implement reasonable security measures, ignored warnings about vulnerabilities dating back to 2020, and allowed a hacker to access student data using credentials belonging to a former employee. Exposed information included email and mailing addresses, dates of birth, student records, and health-related data. The agency also claimed some school districts were not informed of the breach until nearly two years later. Under the order, Illuminate must establish a comprehensive data security program, limit the collection and retention of personal information, delete unnecessary data, publish a data retention schedule, and adopt data minimization practices.

SOCIAL & COMMUNITY

New food processing center opens

Lowndes County Schools is launching a new Agricultural Education Food Processing Center near Lowndes High School, providing community members with affordable access to industrial food preservation equipment. Families can bring in various foods to be processed under the guidance of agricultural educators, promoting safe food preservation techniques. School leaders emphasize that the facility aims to combat food insecurity, with programs supported by the USDA offering no-cost meals to students.

TEACHER TRAINING

More than half of teacher-training programs now earn top reading instruction grade

A growing number of U.S. teacher-preparation programs are aligning with science-of-reading principles, according to a new National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) review. The share of programs earning an A grade more than doubled to 53% from 26% in 2023, while the proportion receiving an F fell to less than a quarter. The report found that most programs now provide instruction and practice in the five core components of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Despite the progress, around one in five programs still teach outdated methods such as “three-cueing,” which encourages students to rely on pictures and context rather than phonics to decode words. The review also found significant gaps in preparing teachers to support English language learners and struggling readers, with only 16% of programs providing practical training for teaching English learners to read. State-led science-of-reading reforms appear to be driving improvements, particularly in states such as Ohio and Indiana, where stricter accountability measures have prompted universities to update curricula and remove legacy teaching practices.

FURTHER EDUCATION

New College's rocky road ahead

John Oliver's "Last Week Tonight" scrutinized the significant changes at New College of Florida under Gov. Ron DeSantis, who appointed a conservative board in January 2023. Oliver remarked: "I'll give you a hint: it's not going great," highlighting the college's decline from a top liberal arts institution to a more conservative model. The college has seen a drastic drop in rankings, from No. 100 to No. 135 in U.S. News and World Report's Best National Liberal Arts Colleges list. Enrollment has also suffered, with 186 students leaving between fall 2022 and the start of the 2023-24 academic year. Oliver noted the financial implications, stating that the cost to produce a degree at New College had ballooned to nearly $500,000, far exceeding other public universities. The changes have sparked controversy, with Oliver describing the situation as "the exact sort of smash and grab we're seeing in so many places right now."

HIGHER EDUCATION

More U.S. medical schools add nutrition training requirements

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said 19 additional medical schools have pledged to require at least 40 hours of nutrition education, or an equivalent competency requirement, for students starting in fall 2026. The new commitments bring the total number of participating medical schools to 73, following 54 earlier pledges under the Trump administration’s nutrition education initiative. Schools joining the effort include Florida Atlantic University, the University of Maryland, and the University of Massachusetts. HHS and the Department of Education also said eight medical accrediting, testing, and board organizations have committed to strengthening nutrition training across medical education, exams, and residency programs.

New faces on northeast Florida board

Gov. Ron DeSantis recently announced the appointments of Alexandria Hill and Kevin Payne to the college board, while Richard Komando Willard “Judd” Sapp Jr. and Tammy “Chereese” Stewart were reappointed. Hill, a partner at Driver, McAfee, Hawthorne & Dibenow, holds degrees from Stetson University and the University of Florida. Payne, Senior Manager at Imagine 360, has degrees from the University of Texas and Oklahoma City University. Komando, a lawyer with extensive experience, has degrees from Florida State University and Loyola University. Sapp, a U.S. Navy veteran, owns a railroad contracting company and has a degree from FSU. Stewart, the Assistant County Manager for Clay County, holds degrees from Texas A&M University and the University of North Florida. The Florida Senate must still confirm these appointments.

INTERNATIONAL

Mexico City teachers strike ahead of World Cup

Thousands of teachers in Mexico City are continuing their protests, blocking streets and maintaining an encampment just days before the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE) is demanding higher wages and pension reforms, stating they will continue their strike indefinitely. President Claudia Sheinbaum remarked: "There are groups that want to provoke the Mexican government and are not necessarily teachers," emphasizing the need for patience as negotiations are ongoing. The protests are affecting tourism and local businesses, with the World Cup expected to generate $3bn in economic activity. Interior Secretary Rosa Icela Rodríguez urged teachers to end the protests, which are impacting students and the city's economy.

Winnipeg school defends educational use of AI

Students and educators at Winnipeg’s General Wolfe School have raised concerns about Manitoba’s proposed ban on social media and artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots for children under 16, arguing that educational AI tools can play a valuable role in learning when used responsibly. The province is considering the restrictions due to concerns that social media and AI chatbots are addictive and may contribute to mental health harms among young people. However, students interviewed by CBC said chatbots help with schoolwork, idea generation, and language learning, particularly for those from immigrant families whose parents may be less able to assist with assignments. Grade 7 STEM teacher Donovan Ponce said AI should be viewed as a tool rather than a substitute for human interaction or critical thinking. He supports teaching students how to use AI responsibly and believes educational applications should be distinguished from chatbot platforms designed to simulate relationships or social connections. 
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