Education
Millions enrolled in new student loan repayment program
WASHINGTON — More than 4 million federal student loan borrowers are enrolled in the Biden administration’s new repayment program, according to figures released Tuesday by the Department of Education. With the pause of more than three years on federal student loan repayments coming to an end in October, and the Supreme Court’s summer decision to […]
Florida begins to shift to recovery efforts in Big Bend following Idalia’s wrath
Florida has begun to shift from search and rescue operations to recovery operations, as homes and businesses have been destroyed by Hurricane Idalia and thousands of people remain without power in the state’s Big Bend region. “I was able to go yesterday and meet with some of the business owners [in Horseshoe Beach] that had […]
Florida schools are already closing as Idalia approaches
As Tropical Storm Idalia expects to make landfall this week in Florida as a Category 3 storm, dozens of school systems and colleges and universities are planning to close starting Monday and beyond. So far, 34 public school districts in Florida — there are 67 traditional school districts — will be closed, with the vast […]
Cities are embracing teen curfews, though they might not curb crime
In response to growing public concern over crime, cities and counties throughout the United States are returning to a familiar tool: curfews for young people. Proponents argue curfews curb crime and protect youth by keeping them off the streets. But research suggests curfews are ineffective, and some juvenile justice advocates and experts warn of unintended […]
At FL’s community colleges, can students get in trouble if they use the wrong bathrooms?
Under a new rule, Florida community colleges must restrict bathroom usage to the state’s definition of biological sex at birth. But it’s unclear what specific discipline students could face if they don’t use their assigned bathroom. At a Florida Board of Education meeting Wednesday, the issue of bathrooms and biological sex became contentious. Some public […]
FL Board of Education to rule on bathrooms and biological sex at birth, in private schools
In what has become a contentious issue in the culture wars in Florida, the State Board of Education on Wednesday will decide on rules to cover the “Safety in Private Spaces Act,” in K-12 private schools, which would prohibit students from using bathrooms or changing facilities not assigned to their biological sex. The rules came […]
Here’s what to know about new federal policies for repaying student loans
WASHINGTON — Following the Supreme Court’s summer ruling against 40 million federal student loan borrowers who would have qualified for debt relief, the Biden administration crafted a-year-long delay in repayments. The policy, known as an on-ramp, is set to begin next month. Additionally, hours after the Supreme Court’s decision, the Department of Education unveiled a […]
Couch, car or curb: Defining which young person is ‘homeless’ affects aid state by state
The spectrum of youth homelessness is vast. It includes young children sleeping with their mothers in crowded shelters and families living in tent encampments in public parks. There are teenage runaways who have fled abusive homes to live on the streets and kids who spend their nights hidden in cars or abandoned buildings. But youth […]
In DeSantis’ Florida, we’re raising our children to be closed-minded and ignorant
School’s in session. The kids have their new shoes and backpacks. The teachers have their new marching orders. In Ron DeSantis’ Florida, teachers are expected to present a version of the world in which “gender” is not to be spoken of, “gay” likewise, there’s no climate crisis — the weather’s always changing! — Shakespeare needs […]
FL student activists gear up: ‘I feel empowered, even in the face of fear right now’
Weeks before the academic year starts at Florida’s public universities, chants of student activists have already pierced Tallahassee. “Drop the charges!” “Free the Tampa 5!” “Protesting is not a crime!” rang out from a group of about 10 as cars drove by and honked in the state capital. Florida State University students had gathered across […]
State, education union, spar over the number of teacher vacancies across FL public schools
Education Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr. announced this week that the Florida Department of Education has recorded 4,776 total teacher vacancies to begin the 2023-2024 school year, an 8% decline from last year. One year ago, their figure was 5,208. However, the Florida Education Association, a statewide union, said there are 6,920 teaching vacancies statewide, according […]
Second lawsuit accuses DeSantis administration of breaking faculty contract rights
The DeSantis administration has drawn another lawsuit over legislation abrogating faculty rights to have neutral arbiters review employment decisions, this time on behalf of instructors laid off this summer at the University of South Florida. A 35-page complaint filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida in Tallahassee follows a […]