Florida education laws on start times, school security and more take hold

The big story: July came Tuesday, and with it arrived the start of several new state laws. Many impact Florida education.

Among them, the state now requires newly purchased school books and materials to refer to the Gulf of America rather than the Gulf of Mexico.

School districts are officially off the hook from shifting their high school start times to later in the morning, so long as they submit a report explaining why it’s not feasible.

Schools no longer have to monitor or lock every single door and access point as long as students are on campus. They still have to maintain security, but the Legislature made implementation more practical. Here are some more highlights from News Service of Florida and Florida Phoenix.

One law taking effect widens the definition of hazardous walking routes to school. A Pasco County mom wants to see that statute broadened even further next session, WFLA reports.

Not every education-related bill that crossed the governor’s desk became law, though. On Tuesday, DeSantis vetoed a bill that would have required trustees of Florida’s state universities and colleges to be state residents and U.S. citizens. The measure had received near unanimous support in both chambers.

Hot topics

Federal funding: Florida schools saw $396 million in federal funding frozen on the day it was supposed to be distributed. Officials are assessing their options while waiting to see what ultimately happens to the money.

Financial relief: Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation granting a $1.2 million settlement to a Pasco County man who was severely injured in a Pasco County school bus accident 19 years ago, Florida Politics reports.

Job cuts: The Lake County school district is eliminating positions amid projections of a 1,500-student enrollment decline, Mid Florida Newspapers reports.

“Our classrooms”: Dozens of Duval County parents and students rallied against proposed changes to the school district’s diversity, equity and inclusion rules, WTLV reports.

School choice: The average size of micro-schools in Florida and across the nation has jumped to 22 students as the model, which took off during the COVID-19 pandemic, gains popularity, The 74 reports.

Supply time: Students head back to school in just a few weeks. Supply giveaways are already getting ramped up, the Pensacola News-Journal reports. The state also has made permanent its annual back-to-school tax holiday, which begins in August, USA Today Florida Network reports.

Test scores: School districts continue to analyze their spring state testing results as they await school grades. Among them, Marion County saw their outcomes remain near the bottom of the state in most categories, Ocala News reports. Lake County students saw improvement in all subjects, the Daily Commercial reports.

Trustees: Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed former Sarasota County school board member Karen Rose to the State College of Florida board of trustees, the Herald-Tribune reports. Rose lost her 2024 reelection bid, which DeSantis endorsed.

Don’t miss a story. Here’s a link to yesterday’s roundup.

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