Florida

News, analysis, and opinion about K-12 education in Florida
Concept image of hand grabbing book from library shelf with an outline of the state of Florida overtop of image.
Conceptual: Liz Yap/Education Week; iStock/Getty/DigitalVision Vectors
States What's With All the Education News Out of Florida? A Recap of Education Policy Decisions
Since 2022, the Florida department of education has generated a flurry of headlines around controversial policy decisions.
Ileana Najarro, August 16, 2023
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6 min read
student entering empty classroom with no teacher
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Recruitment & Retention 5 Ways Districts Are Filling Teacher Vacancies
Hiring international teachers, bringing teachers out of retirement, and using virtual learning are some of districts' solutions.
Madeline Will, August 15, 2023
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7 min read
A Safe Space sticker designating a supportive place for LGBTQ people is viewed outside of a classroom door at a high school on Aug. 8, 2023, in Orlando, Fla.
A Safe Space sticker designating a supportive place for LGBTQ people is viewed outside of a classroom door at a high school on Aug. 8, 2023, in Orlando, Fla.
Phelan M. Ebenhack via AP
Equity & Diversity 'Don't Say Gay' Law Has Some Florida Parents Considering Moves Out of State
Forty percent of Florida parents who responded to a survey want to leave the state because of its “Don’t Say Gay” law.
Eesha Pendharkar & Gina Tomko, August 14, 2023
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5 min read
The shadow of the hand of a Sotheby's employee is cast over a 17th-century calf bound 1623 copy of the First Folio edition of William Shakespeare's plays at the auction house's offices in central London, on March 30, 2006.
The shadow of the hand of a Sotheby's employee is cast over a 17th-century calf bound 1623 copy of the First Folio edition of William Shakespeare's plays at the auction house's offices in central London, on March 30, 2006.
Matt Dunham/AP
Curriculum Shakespeare Works Should Not Be Removed From Classrooms, Florida Education Department Says
Plans in a Florida district to reduce the works of Shakespeare to excerpts were met with derision by state education officials.
Jeffrey S. Solochek, Tampa Bay Times, August 9, 2023
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3 min read
Photo from behind of a mother with her arms around her son and daughter who are both wearing school bookbags.
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Student Achievement The Sibling Effect: How Retaining Struggling Readers Impacts Brothers and Sisters
A 2002 Florida law that requires struggling readers to repeat a grade also affected their siblings, a study finds.
Lydia McFarlane, August 9, 2023
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3 min read
Photo of boy in front of white board with math problem.
iStock / Getty Images Plus
Mathematics 7 States Now Require Math Support for Struggling Students. Here's What's in the New Laws
They focus on providing PD, diagnostic tools, and evidence-based teaching. But it will take time to work out the details.
Sarah Schwartz, August 9, 2023
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7 min read
The shadow of the hand of a Sotheby's employee is cast over a 17th-century calf bound 1623 copy of the First Folio edition of William Shakespeare's plays at the auction house's offices in central London, on March 30, 2006.
The shadow of the hand of a Sotheby's employee is cast over a 17th-century calf bound 1623 copy of the First Folio edition of William Shakespeare's plays at the auction house's offices in central London, on March 30, 2006.
Matt Dunham/AP
Curriculum Schools in Florida Cut Back on Shakespeare, Citing New State Rules
English teachers in Hillsborough County are preparing lessons with only excerpts from Shakespeare’s works to avoid anything racy or sexual.
Marlene Sokol, Tampa Bay Times, August 8, 2023
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3 min read
College Board President David Coleman attends an announcement event on March 5, 2014, in Austin, where College Board officials announced updates for the SAT college entrance exam.
College Board President David Coleman attends an announcement event on March 5, 2014, in Austin, Texas. The organization has been in a protracted battle with Florida over the content of the AP Psychology course.
Eric Gay/AP
Social Studies Florida vs. College Board: The Fight Over AP Psychology Puts Students in Limbo
The organization that oversees the Advanced Placement program said Florida has “effectively banned AP Psychology in the state.”
Sarah Schwartz, August 4, 2023
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6 min read
Sand Pine Elementary fourth grade students, from left, Ayden Jenkins, Ceinna Davis, and Kera Gordon review math lessons with teacher Stephanie Sheridan at the school on Feb. 18, 2015, in Wesley Chapel, Fla.
Sand Pine Elementary School 4th grade students, from left, Ayden Jenkins, Ceinna Davis, and Kera Gordon review math lessons with teacher Stephanie Sheridan at the school on Feb. 18, 2015, in Wesley Chapel, Fla.
Brendan Fitterer/The Tampa Bay Times via AP
Special Education One State's Approach for Struggling Math Learners: IEP-Style Plans
Florida wants to develop a form of individualized education programs to target help to students who lag far behind in math.
Lydia McFarlane, August 2, 2023
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3 min read
Florida Governor and Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis speaks during a press conference at the Celebrate Freedom Foundation Hangar in West Columbia, S.C. July 18, 2023. For DeSantis, Tuesday was supposed to mark a major moment to help reset his stagnant Republican presidential campaign. But yet again, the moment was overshadowed by Donald Trump. The former president was the overwhelming focus for much of the day as DeSantis spoke out at a press conference and sat for a highly anticipated interview designed to reassure anxious donors and primary voters that he's still well-positioned to defeat Trump.
Florida Governor and Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis speaks during a press conference in West Columbia, S.C., on July 18, 2023. Florida officials approved new African American history standards that drew national backlash, and which DeSantis defended.
Sean Rayford/AP
Standards & Accountability Florida's New African American History Standards: What's Behind the Backlash
The state's new standards drew national criticism and leave teachers with questions.
Ileana Najarro, July 25, 2023
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9 min read
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the historic Ritz Theatre in downtown Jacksonville, Fla., on July 21, 2023. Harris spoke out against the new standards adopted by the Florida State Board of Education in the teaching of Black history.
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the historic Ritz Theatre in downtown Jacksonville, Fla., on July 21, 2023. Harris spoke out against the new standards adopted by the Florida state board of education in the teaching of Black history.
Fran Ruchalski/The Florida Times-Union via AP
Standards & Accountability Here’s What’s in Florida’s New African American History Standards
Standards were expanded in the younger grades, but critics question the framing of many of the new standards.
Ileana Najarro, July 25, 2023
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1 min read
Illustration of sad/angry boy.
iStock / Getty Images Plus
School Climate & Safety A State Mandated School Threat Assessment. Here's What It Meant for Students
What researchers learned from the largest analysis of school threat assessment to date.
Evie Blad, July 24, 2023
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7 min read
Edward Biedermann, executive director of AP Outreach for the College Board, welcomes educators to the first AP annual conference since 2019 in Seattle, Wash., on July 19, 2023.
Edward Biedermann, executive director of AP Outreach for the College Board, welcomes educators to the first AP annual conference since 2019 in Seattle, Wash., on July 19, 2023.
Ileana Najarro/Education Week
College & Workforce Readiness College Board Revisits Contentious Decisions, Edits to AP African American Studies Course
Decisions around AP African American Studies and the future of AP program overall were among discussion points.
Ileana Najarro, July 24, 2023
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7 min read
The doors to public restrooms are propped open at an office complex on May 9, 2016, in Anaheim, Calif.
The doors to public restrooms are propped open at an office complex on May 9, 2016, in Anaheim, Calif. Florida's state board of education passed new rules restricting transgender students' bathroom access at school.
Chris Carlson/AP
Equity & Diversity Florida Board of Education Restricts Bathroom Access and Pronoun Use for Trans Students
Florida's state board of education passed rules banning bathroom access and pronoun use for trans and nonbinary students and teachers.
Eesha Pendharkar, July 21, 2023
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5 min read
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