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More than 40 percent of FL kindergarteners are not ready for kindergarten; ‘that’s a failure on us’
For many Florida families with young children, a child’s education starts much sooner than kindergarten. A new class of kindergarteners is expected to start school with some sense of the fundamentals, such as language, literacy and math. But for the 2020-21 school year, at least 43 percent of kindergarteners in classes now are not actually […]
More than 80,000 COVID cases related to FL schools since fall; weekly cases increasing again
While Florida educators and school staff scramble to receive their COVID vaccines, Florida’s K-12 public and private school systems are seeing an uptick in COVID-19 infections for the first time in a month. Overall, there’s been more than 80,000 cases related to Florida’s public and private K-12 schools since early September, according to a Florida […]
Johnson & Johnson vaccine comes to FL; 60 and older population likely next for COVID vaccine
With a third vaccine — Johnson & Johnson — arriving in Florida this week, Gov. Ron DeSantis is considering allowing the age 60 and older group to get vaccinated in the near future. DeSantis appeared at two press conferences Friday — Marion, in north central Florida and Polk county in central Florida, touting the opportunity […]
Survey: Floridians concerned about schoolkids falling behind; some families oppose state testing this year
A February survey of parents and non-parent voters show wide concern about students struggling academically during the COVID-19 pandemic, and more than half the respondents agree with canceling state testing this spring. In a Friday press release, the Florida Education Association released some findings of a survey conducted by the Clearview Research on the behalf […]
Regardless of age, FL teachers and staff can get vaccines under a Biden administration plan
Florida’s K-12 teachers and staff of any age, as well as childcare workers, will be able to get COVID vaccines under a plan by the Biden administration. Those vaccines are connected to a federal plan to administer shots for residents at pharmacies such as CVS, Publix, Winn-Dixie and Walmart. But not all of those pharmacies […]
Lawmaker hopes to ban the practice of secluding FL students and limit other restrictions
State Rep. Bobby DuBose is pushing lawmakers to outright ban the traumatic practice of secluding students and limit other restrictions facing children, particularly those with disabilities in Florida. DuBose, a Democrat who represents part of Broward County, has filed legislation to ban or limit the practices. “I’ve been working on this bill for years. Unfortunately, […]
FL House Speaker criticizes media, lobbyists as 2021 legislative session convenes
Florida House Speaker Chris Sprowls set the tone of the 2021 legislative session, at least in the House chamber, by taking time to essentially criticize the media and lobbyists. “A lot has been written and said about this session that starts today. And much more will be written and said in the days and weeks […]
From migrant families to dropouts: Thousands of K-12 kids go ‘missing,’ leading to truancy issues and a state budget mess
School districts across Florida are looking high and low for tens of thousands of students who apparently did not enroll in a public school this year, raising questions about truancy laws and a state budget mess. The Florida Department of Education knows a few reasons why kids haven’t been in class during the COVID-19 pandemic, […]
Florida sports teams partner with DeSantis administration to encourage resiliency among schoolchildren
A new educational curriculum aims to help Florida students triumph over hardships in their lives, including mental health challenges. That’s the goal of Resiliency Florida, First Lady Casey DeSantis announced during a press conference Friday. And big athletic names including international soccer player David Beckham and former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning endorse the initiative. Resiliency […]
Ordinary citizens will largely be left out in the 2021 legislative process
With the Florida Legislature convening next week, regular citizens trying to participate in the legislative process will face tough hurdles under COVID-19 protocols set by the House and Senate chambers. For Floridians who want to engage in the process of creating laws and providing testimony, access in general will be limited and residents with disabilities […]
DeSantis moving to expand vaccinations for 50-and-older teachers and sworn law enforcement
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday said he wants to allow teachers and sworn law enforcement officers to be vaccinated soon as part of federally-supported COVID vaccination sites in major urban areas. “We’ll start probably 50 and up for the police and classroom teachers,” DeSantis at a news conference in Miami-Dade County. DeSantis also mentioned “fire” […]
Nearly 70,000 COVID cases related to FL K-12 schools since the fall; but weekly cases this winter are dropping
The number of COVID-19 cases related to Florida’s public and private K-12 schools is closing in on the 70,000 mark, nearly six months since the state began tracking the cases last September. However, weekly school cases during the pandemic’s winter months in Florida appear to have been dropping for a couple weeks now. The Florida […]