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How can online learning work if students aren’t online? And what happens if kids don’t participate?
About a month into online learning for K-12 students, not all kids are even going online; school attendance policies are lax to nonexistent and the state hasn’t come up with a way to track student participation for the remote lessons, the Florida Phoenix has found. Those issues fly in the face of state compulsory attendance […]
Broward College counselors may lose their jobs and livelihoods
Broward College’s Board of Trustees is considering Tuesday whether to eliminate all 14 full-time faculty counselors at the community college in Fort Lauderdale. The move is being described as a “reduction in force” proposal that would mean an “elimination of the faculty counselor job classification.” The salaries and benefits of the 14 counselors add up […]
Licensed FL pharmacists will be able to administer COVID-19 tests
In addition to hospitals, labs, certain university campuses and other locations, Florida’s licensed pharmacists will be able to order and administer COVID-19 tests, Gov. Ron DeSantis said during a Friday press conference at the state Capitol. DeSantis said it’s important to find ways to make coronavirus testing as “simple and accessible” as possible. “I am […]
Task force members looking at “reopening” FL are touching on topics from Pre-K to occupational licenses
Gov. Ron DeSantis launched a task force to look at “reopening” Florida, and politicians and business leaders have been discussing ideas and concerns this week. More than 100 people have provided feedback. Here are some of the topics that have been discussed Friday and throughout the week: Pre-K and early learning Many early learning programs […]
FL public universities open campuses for community testing of COVID-19
During the coronavirus crisis, Florida is expanding its efforts to test more individuals in communities statewide, by offering testing sites at some public universities. Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, and Orlando’s University of Central Florida have opened its campuses to offer testing sites for those who are experiencing symptoms of the COVID-19 respiratory disease or […]
FMA asks Gov. DeSantis to lift ban on non-essential medical procedures: ‘This order has served its purpose’
With Gov. Ron DeSantis and his selected task force planning to reopen Florida amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Florida Medical Association wants physicians to get back to seeing patients immediately in non-emergency situations at their health care facilities. The group, a professional association representing doctors across the state, sent a letter to DeSantis Tuesday asking […]
A conundrum: FL students must learn online at home, but not all districts and families have enough laptops
In late March, Pasco County Schools’ parents got news online that may have been a surprise to moms and dads as districts were launching at-home online learning during the coronavirus crisis. “We already know that we do not have enough devices for all students to check-out. So, we have to do our best to put […]
Some FL college grads will have virtual commencements; others may have in-person celebrations in future
In addition to virtual spring commencement ceremonies, some Florida universities want to bring its spring graduates back to campus at a future date — when or if the coronavirus spread slows down to safe levels. Last month, the State University System of Florida directed each university “to develop an alternate schedule or method of delivery” […]
The nightmare FL unemployment system has been down again, even as Gov. DeSantis touts improvements
Over 2,000 state employees across state agencies have been assigned to assist with Florida’s troubled employment benefits system, Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a press briefing Friday in Fort Lauderdale. “We’ve now brought in people to man the call center. We’ve expanded call capacity,” DeSantis said. However, the online system for claimants is down once […]
‘Lapse in appropriations’: Small business loan program is out of money
A day after U.S. Senator Marco Rubio acknowledged flaws in the small business loan program aimed at maintaining payrolls, the federal agency administering the program announced that funds are now exhausted. The U.S. Small Business Administration ran out of money for the Paycheck Protection Program, according to a message to lenders posted on SBA’s website […]
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio on small business loan program: ‘It is not a perfect program’
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio and two South Florida state lawmakers held a virtual town hall meeting on Facebook Wednesday to underscore the struggles of small businesses, including layoffs, firings and keeping workers on the payroll amid the coronavirus pandemic. Rubio, a Republican U.S. senator, said many small business owners are struggling with limited access to […]
Statewide FEA teacher’s union asks Gov. DeSantis to close schools for the rest of the academic year
With schools nationwide closing for the rest of the academic year, Florida has yet to announce a permanent decision on keeping kids out of school because of the coronavirus pandemic. But in a letter sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis Tuesday, the Florida Education Association pushed the governor to “keep school campuses closed for the remainder […]