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The 2020 hurricane season was expected to have ‘above normal’ activity but surpassed forecast
What was expected to be a busy 2020 Atlantic hurricane season will soon come to a close, surpassing initial predictions for the number of named storms and hurricanes. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted a high probability that the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane season would have higher than normal storm activity. The 2020 hurricane […]
Almost 2,200 K-12 students tested positive for COVID-19 last week in FL schools as Thanksgiving gatherings approach
There were 3,655 new COVID-19 cases related to Florida public and private K-12 schools, colleges, and universities during the week of Nov. 15 through Nov. 21, according to state data. Given what we know about the ease of COVID transmission, there’s a not unreasonable chance that those kids could share the virus during with family […]
Educators, families, are waiting on a ‘revised’ emergency order on how FL schools will function next semester
It’s been almost a week since Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran said he would revise an emergency order on reopening schools to give flexibility to families who want their kids in online learning next semester, and not in face-to-face instruction at traditional schools. But details remain unclear, with families, educators, and teacher unions waiting for the […]
USF will keep some undergrad education programs, but changes and cuts are still possible
After weeks of pushback, University of South Florida President Steven Currall announced Friday that the university will “continue offering carefully selected undergraduate degrees in education,” but also suggested that some program changes are likely to occur. The university released a statement, which included USF’s provost and college of education dean, about the future of USF’s […]
Online learning students must take statewide exams in-person at public schools, even during a pandemic
Several months ago, the state sent out a memo alerting administrators that Florida’s public school students will resume statewide testing for the 2020-21 academic year, even if the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Not all families would be happy about the hitch: Florida students will have to take the statewide assessments in person, regardless of whether they […]
Biden’s Secretary of Education has yet to be announced. Who is still in the running?
A list of contenders to replace U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has been growing, from teacher union officials to urban school superintendents and other possible picks. Some names have been floating for awhile, but others are now in consideration, with many public school educators looking forward to the day when DeVos goes out the door. […]
Some parents, teachers, push for online learning next semester; 3,146 new COVID cases related to schools
With nearly 22,000 COVID-19 cases related to Florida schools since early September, parents and teachers want the state to continue virtual learning programs next semester so kids don’t have to attend brick-and-mortar schools during the pandemic. At a Board of Education meeting Wednesday, Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran discussed a revision to an earlier emergency order […]
Some lawmakers missed the Legislature’s organization session Tuesday because of COVID-19
The list of Florida lawmakers who have tested positive for COVID-19 has been rising, but we don’t know by how much. During the Legislature’s organizational session in Tallahassee on Tuesday, two state senators were excused, and it was already known that they had tested positive for COVID-19. They are state Sen. Ray Rodrigues, a Republican […]
FL’s LGBTQ community to host vigils to recognize transgender lives lost to violence
Transgender Day of Remembrance is this coming Friday, and LGBTQ communities across Florida will host vigils to recognize transgender lives who were lost through acts of violence. One of those remembered will be Bree Black, a black transgender woman who was found dead in July by a gunshot wound in Broward County, according to the […]
At least 7 FL lawmakers tested positive for COVID-19 since July; lawmakers return to Capitol Tuesday
At least seven Florida lawmakers have tested positive for COVID-19 since early July, and legislators are returning to the Capitol on Tuesday as the pandemic continues. The Florida Legislature will be convening for an organizational session following the November election, to swear in new lawmakers and set the tone for the upcoming legislative session in […]
Nation’s Report Card: 12th grade reading and math scores have not improved since 2015
In a national sample of students tested in 2019, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) — also known as The Nation’s Report Card — shows that average 12th grade math scores have been stagnant for at least five years. As for reading, scores for 12th graders declined. The NAEP is a broad, highly-regarded federal […]
Nearly 3,000 more COVID-19 cases related to FL schools; at least 100 infections in each of eight counties
Eight Florida counties had 100 or more COVID-19 infections related to public and private K-12 schools last week, new data show, with two counties — Miami-Dade and Broward — reporting more than 250 cases. The figures include students, teachers, staff, and other cases, according to the Florida Department of Health. The eight counties are: Pinellas […]