The big story: The Trump Administration is spurring a flurry of activity in Florida schools, as the new president issues a spate of executive orders that could have major effects on daily campus operations.
Officials have been working to understand the impacts of orders dealing with immigration enforcement, curriculum content, school choice and more. One of the more vexing directives centered on freezing federal grants.
With millions of federal dollars flowing into Florida schools and universities, for projects ranging from early education through post-doctoral research, leaders scrambled to figure out what exactly the White House was aiming to accomplish.
Even after a judge paused the freeze, which the administration then lifted, the worries remained. President Trump made clear his goal of reducing and reframing spending had not changed. It remained “business as usual” for now in the schools, while awaiting further clarification. Read more here and here.
Hot topics
Book challenges: A federal judge threw out a lawsuit brought by three parents alleging Florida’s book challenge process ignores residents who want to contest a school’s decision to remove a book, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.
Bus rides: The Glades County school district is replacing its aging diesel fleet with electric buses, WGCU reports.
Graduation rates: Leon County high schools saw their graduation rate dip even as the state as a whole hit record highs, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.
House party: Brevard County school district officials face criticism over their handling of an elementary school principal and teacher accused of hosting a teen party with alcohol, WOFL reports. The employees are contesting the child neglect charges. The teacher has resigned from the district, WOFL reports.
School boards: A Gulf County school board member submitted his resignation to focus on his personal life, WMBB reports.
Start times: A proposal to shift Duval County school bell schedules to meet state requirements could see some students in classes until 6:30 p.m., First Coast News reports.
Student leadership: Pinellas County student leaders received lessons in digital responsibility and team building during the district’s annual leadership summit, Bay News 9 reports.
Volunteers: Many Polk County school volunteers will be able to avoid the school district’s increased application fee for background checks, the Ledger reports.
Vouchers: Four private companies including one in Florida are angling for a piece of the management of education savings accounts such as Florida’s voucher and scholarship system, ProPublica reports.
From the police blotter … A Volusia County middle school teacher was arrested on accusations of sexual contact with a minor student, WPLG reports. • A Broward County teen was arrested on allegations of threatening to shoot up a local high school, WTVJ reports.
In higher ed
Curriculum: Educators spoke against a state push to control university curriculum, calling the efforts an attack on public education, WJAX reports. The Board of Governors approved a reduced selection of general education courses after a lengthy review of curriculum to remove “identity politics,” The Chronicle of Higher Education reports.
Finances: Members of the State University System Board of Governors are calling for more transparency on how money is spent at New College, Florida Phoenix reports.
NIL: Florida university leaders are seeking ways to deal with a national legal settlement that could cost athletic departments millions of dollars in payments to athletes, News Service of Florida reports.
Presidents: With the Florida International University president’s contract coming to an end, a push is growing to put Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez in the job, the Miami Herald reports.
University trustees: Sen. Don Gaetz said his Ethics and Elections Committee will take a “vigorous, penetrating” review of newly appointed trustees to the University of West Florida in his home district, News Service of Florida reports.
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Before you go … Still seeking new sounds? How about Malian singer/actress Fatoumata Diawara? Here’s her latest video from her 2023 record.