The big story: Comprehensive sex education is becoming a thing of the past in Florida schools.
The state has pushed districts away from lessons that explain many of the the details such as contraception, instead emphasizing abstinence. In some instances, the Department of Education has taken more than a year to approve district-selected curriculum.
As a result, many local officials have decided to stop offering the material, or severely curtail the content. The latest is Palm Beach County. Read more from the Sun-Sentinel.
Hot topics
Campus life: Two University of Central Florida fraternities are under investigation for hazing allegations, the Orlando Sentinel reports.
Charter schools: A charter school in Miami-Dade County’s Village of Pinecrest wants to double its capacity, but village officials have delayed a decision on the expansion plan, WLRN reports.
Crowding: The Hernando County school board is looking into redrawing attendance zones to better balance enrollments until new campuses can be built, Hernando Sun reports.
Homeschooling: The Citrus County school district has seen an enrollment dip as hundreds more students are opting for homeschooling, the Citrus County Chronicle reports.
New College: Plans for the expansion of New College have hinged on aggressive land acquisition, Suncoast Searchlight reports. Its moves have caused tension with its neighbors.
New schools: The city of DeBary in Volusia County is growing so fast it needs another school. But there’s no agreement on where the school should rise, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reports.
R.I.P.: Retired Miami-Dade County school board member Perla Tabares Hantman, who served 26 years, died at 88, the Miami Herald reports.
School bus cameras: The Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s Office is suspending the citations of drivers who said they were wrongly accused of illegally passing school buses, the Miami Herald reports.
Student health: Duval County school employees have questioned whether they get enough training to administer insulin to students if a nurse is not available, WJXT reports. • Miami-Dade County students now have access to virtual mental health care at school and at home, WLRN reports.
Superintendent search: The Monroe County school board has set the criteria for its next superintendent and started advertising, Key West Citizen reports.
From the police blotter … A Seminole County high school paraprofessional was arrested on allegations of battery for spraying water on a student with disabilities, WKMG reports. • A Hillsborough County charter school teacher was arrested on accusations of unlawful sexual activity with a student. • A Duval County substitute teacher was arrested on allegations of inciting four students to beat up another in class, WJXT reports. • A retired Sarasota County teacher was arrested on accusations of sexual battery against female students, WFLA reports.
Today in Tallahassee … The Senate Education Postsecondary Committee will take up two bills when it meets today at 1:30 p.m.
Don’t miss a story. Here’s a link to Friday’s roundup.
Before you go … Who wouldn’t want access to Dweezil Zappa’s video vault?