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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 […]
College has become a quandary as COVID-19 complicates upcoming holidays and spring semester
As the first fall semester of college classes wrap up in a COVID-19 world, an unclear narrative has emerged on how Florida colleges and universities should function for the remaining fall semester and the upcoming 2021 spring semester. The complicated issues revolve around the benefits or downfalls of online or in-person instruction, pushback from faculty […]
Teacher unions, educators look to replace controversial U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos
With President-elect Joe Biden on his way into the White House, teacher unions and educators are eager to see U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos go out the door. DeVos has been a contentious figure in the Trump Administration and has been widely criticized for lack of experience in the position, among other criticisms. During […]