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5th grade public school teacher Sarah Painter is 2022 Teacher of the Year following tough COVID-19 school year
“Find Joy.” That was the motto for 5th grade teacher Sarah Ann Painter and her students at Clearwater’s Eisenhower Elementary in Pinellas County, to help everyone get through a troublesome school year during the COVID-19 pandemic. She recalled that story in her acceptance speech at an Orlando gala announcing the 2022 Florida Teacher of the […]
The feds earmarked $15 billion for FL schools to help kids in the pandemic, but it’s largely an unused stockpile
By the spring of 2020, reality was setting in that the COVID-19 pandemic would stick around for quite some time, and Florida’s school districts were confronting an unknown education world. Districts started talks about the next school year, considering mask mandates, staggered classroom schedules and other measures to bring struggling students up to par — […]
DeSantis: “Vaccines are saving lives;” fewer than half of Floridians fully vaccinated and cases are rising
As Gov. Ron DeSantis touted the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines during a Wednesday news conference, fewer than half of Floridians have been fully vaccinated — problematic because cases are rising, spurred by more contagious variants. The governor was in St. Petersburg discussing red tide issues, but veered off topic when a reporter asked about the […]
A conundrum: Two major health authorities differ on school masks
What should schools do when two major health-related groups conflict on how to handle the face-mask issue as the new academic year looms and the COVID-19 pandemic continues? Districts in Florida and elsewhere will have to figure that out, because as of Sunday, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that all school teachers, staff and […]
School gardens and nutrition education: Grants for FL schools to expand access to local produce
Kids in Tampa will soon grow produce in a local garden, to distribute to their communities. Others will learn how to make healthy snacks at their local YMCA. Miami-Dade kids could soon serve as “community ambassadors” and lead workshops promoting the benefits of eating fresh produce. And up in Northeast Florida, Putnam County schools will […]
FL Board of Education approves new standards for certain subjects — including contentious civic standards
Florida will have some new or revised standards for what students need to know, spanning subjects from substance use and abuse to character education, civics and the Holocaust. But the subject that garnered the most attention during the Florida State Board of Education meeting were the new civic standards. Board Member Ryan Petty said that […]
State Board of Education to vote on controversial civics standards; DeSantis earlier attended meeting
Gov. Ron DeSantis showed up Wednesday at Florida’s State Board of Education meeting, which includes a vote over controversial civics standards. It’s unusual that DeSantis would be in person at the state board meeting, but there’s been controversy for weeks now about everything from a ban on Critical Race Theory and the 1619 Project, as […]
Florida needs more science teachers: Education agency shows shortfalls in three major science subjects
School districts may struggle to find science teachers in the upcoming year, a Department of Education report shows. Three different science fields for K-12 education have been identified as areas of “critical teacher shortage” for the 2021-22 school year, the report says. That means Florida is in critical need of general science teachers, physical science […]
Boys are way behind girls when it comes to reading. Why is this happening and how can it be fixed?
Florida boys do not read as well as girls. That’s what all sorts of data show. In 2019, for example, 4th and 8th grade girls alike scored 9 points higher than boys in Florida, according to a federal reading exam called the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as the Nation’s report card. […]
Proud Boys, other groups, rally at FL’s Old Capitol to demand release of “patriots” from Jan. 6 insurrection
Dozens of protestors came to the Florida Capitol Saturday to demand release of “incarcerated patriots” arrested in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Those rallying waved American flags and banners emblazoned with “Don’t Tread On Me,” “76” and “We the People.” Cars honked as they passed by, some shouting words of support to […]
Many FL schools already ditched mask policies as CDC updates COVID guidance; but is it the right decision?
Fully COVID-19 vaccinated teachers, students and staff would not need to wear masks this fall, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a Friday mask update for K-12 schools. But “masks should be worn indoors by all individuals (age 2 and older) who are not fully vaccinated,” according to the CDC. That […]
Why is FL DOE behind on getting billions of federal dollars to schools recovering from COVID pandemic?
Florida education officials are at least a month behind in getting a state plan, worth billions, to the U.S. Department of Education to help Florida schools recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Already, 40 states have submitted their plans and Florida is still not one of them. And more federal funding for Florida is now on […]