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Tropical Storm Elsa expected to strengthen into hurricane; 33 FL. counties under state of emergency
As tropical storm Elsa approaches Florida’s West Coast, the National Hurricane Center projects that the storm will strengthen to a hurricane. “Elsa is forecast to become a hurricane before making landfall,” DeSantis said at press conference Tuesday evening about the impending storm. He noted that Elsa will likely impact the Tampa Bay area late Tuesday […]
Federal lawsuit: FL’s trans athlete law ‘has nothing to do with fairness or equality for girls or women in sports.’
A rising eighth-grade soccer player in Broward County is now in the center of a federal lawsuit filed late last month, saying that a new Florida law banning transgender girls and women from sports teams that align with their gender identity would be discriminatory under Title IX. The federal Title IX protects people from discrimination […]
DeSantis vetoes civic education bill citing ‘action civics’ — programs that critics call leftist
For months, Gov. Ron DeSantis has been riding a wave of conservative moves, such as banning Critical Race Theory, supporting proposed civic standards that don’t include the word slavery and requiring campus surveys to ensure conservative ideas are not suppressed. Now, DeSantis has vetoed a civics education bill, SB 146 — which got bipartisan support […]
Parents could request to hold their young student back a grade for next school year, but time may be an issue
Parents of elementary-aged students may be able to hold their children back a grade due to academic concerns for the upcoming 2021-22 school year, as families continue to think about the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact. Gov. Ron DeSantis still must approve the measure and sign it into law. But one of the issues is […]
How a drop in test takers during COVID could impact statewide 3rd grade reading scores in districts
In a tough testing season during the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands fewer 3rd graders took a crucial statewide reading exam compared to prior years. In fact, the number of test takers in public schools dropped by 18,398 kids in 67 districts, compared to 3rd graders who took the state reading exam in 2019. That’s a decline […]
Confusion over civics: What’s in the new civics literacy exam? What happens if students don’t pass?
Back in December of 2019, Gov. Ron DeSantis directed Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran to establish a civics exam based on the citizenship test given to people who want to become naturalized U.S. citizens, with all Florida high school seniors required to take the test. But a year and a half later it’s not clear what […]
Traumatizing practice of seclusion will soon be prohibited in FL school districts
Florida schools districts will soon be prohibited from using seclusion and isolation techniques on students — a traumatizing experience particularly for students with disabilities. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation into law this week to ban the techniques, starting July 1. The measure prohibits school personnel from using seclusion, defined by the legislation as “involuntary confinement […]
Crucial third grade reading scores dropped while schools and districts struggled in the pandemic
On the Gulf Coast in North Florida, Sharon Hathcock, the director of instruction for Taylor County schools, saw some troubling numbers. Her kids’ third grade reading scores from state exams had plummeted during the COVID pandemic. Only 39 percent of 3rd graders met the target for passing the state test in the spring of 2021, […]
College campuses now required to conduct annual surveys to measure “intellectual diversity”
Under the auspices of intellectual freedom, Florida’s universities and community colleges will be required to do an annual survey to ensure diverse views on campuses, including conservative opinions. At issue is that some lawmakers believe that colleges and universities are liberal bastions and conservative voices have been suppressed on campuses. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed HB […]
Florida 11th graders could take a free college entrance exam starting next school year if the state covers the cost
Florida 11th graders could take a national college entrance exam — either ACT or SAT — for free starting in the 2021-22 school year, if Gov. Ron DeSantis approves the legislation. The Florida Legislature approved the effort in a bill this spring, and lawmakers recently sent the bill to DeSantis’ desk for consideration. The bill […]
Where the lines are drawn: New state rule could threaten FL teachers’ academic freedom in history, civics
Nowadays, 7th grade civics teacher Robin Porter is not sure where the lines are drawn when it comes to teaching the past and the present. What is forbidden and what isn’t? Academic freedom has been a cornerstone in Florida classrooms, but a new rule imposed recently by the State Board of Education limits what materials […]
A national memorial to honor lives lost at the Pulse nightclub
Days following the five-year anniversary of the Pulse shooting, where 49 people were killed and 53 wounded, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi signed legislation Wednesday to designate the National Pulse Memorial, located at 1912 South Orange Avenue in Orlando. The legislation will be sent to Joe Biden for approval. Pelosi referred to the bill signing […]