Florida teacher pay drops to 50th in country

Florida teacher pay drops to 50th in country

Despite a vaunted investment of more than $4 billion to increase educators’ salaries since 2020, the state is now almost dead last in state-by-state comparisons of average teacher pay, according to the National Education Association. Florida’s average public school teacher pay dropped from No. 48 nationally to No. 50 among states and Washington, D.C. Only West Virginia ranked lower than the Sunshine State, the report says. More from Florida Politics, WTXL, and WFTS.

Florida bill poised to make education in prisons more accessible

The bill, Senate Bill 62, is only one page long in its final draft. Its motive is simple: Florida residents will not lose their residency status for tuition purposes just because they were incarcerated. That is, an incarcerated or formerly incarcerated person enrolling in college can apply for in-state tuition and federal financial aid, including the Pell Grant. [Source: WUFT]

Campus tensions increase amid protests

Arrests of protesters on Florida university campuses increased this week, after tensions ratcheted up at the University of Florida and the University of South Florida during demonstrations about the war between Israel and Hamas. The arrests Monday of a dozen people at the two Florida universities came as pro-Palestinian campus protests draw attention across the country, with clashes between demonstrators and university administrations — and law enforcement — intensifying. [Source: News Service of Florida]

Florida students remain well behind on math skills in COVID’s wake

Florida public school students lost the equivalent of nearly six months’ worth of math skills because of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers say, a deficit that four years later still plays out in Florida classrooms. “The pandemic has caused a huge slide,” said Jacqueline Russell, who teaches sixth-grade math at Meadowbrook Middle School in Orange County. “They were home so much, and they lost a lot of direct instruction.” [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Many in Gen Z ditch colleges for trade schools. Meet the 'toolbelt generation'

The Education Data Initiative says the average cost of college in the United States has more than doubled in the 21st century. With that price tag increasing, many Gen Zers say they've been left with no choice but to leave the college path. Many say living with their parents until they can pay off their college debt isn't an option. [Source: NPR]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Forbes names the University of Florida a “New Ivy” for its output of outstanding graduates [UF News]
The University of Florida has been recognized by Forbes as one of 10 public “New Ivies” for producing exceptional and highly employable graduates. UF is the only Florida institution on the list. According to Forbes, “employers are souring on Ivy League grads” and seeking out new talent from universities outside of the “Ancient Eight” institutions (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Brown, the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia, Dartmouth, and Cornell).

› Florida State University wants to expand engineering programs in Bay County [WJHG]
Florida State University, Panama City is elevating higher education on and off campus. “Huge emphasis on engineering in this area, with civil electrical engineering mechanical engineering and a huge graduate program in system engineering,” said Randy Hanna, Florida State University, Panama City’s Dean. A program that could attract aerospace and manufacturing companies could be flying into Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport.

› University of North Florida to offer master’s in fintech [Jacksonville Daily Record]
The University of North Florida announced April 30 it will offer undergraduate and graduate programs in financial technology this fall. The Coggin College of Business, in partnership with the College of Computing, Engineering and Construction, is accepting applications for the new Master of Science in Fintech program.

› 200 University of Miami med grads have residencies waiting [Miami Today]
The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine is preparing for the graduation of its first NextGenMD curriculum medical students. Launched during the pandemic in 2020, NextGenMD focuses on case-based and small-group learning, early clinical skills, community involvement, mentorship and skill sets beyond the medical degree. On May 11, 200 of its first graduating physicians are set to cross the stage.

Tags: Education eNews

Previous Education Updates:

• FHSAA to potentially sanction esports in Florida schools
• College crime surging back to pre-COVID levels. Here's the crime at Florida colleges, universities
• Florida student aid requests plunge. How many will delay or skip college?
• Florida schools have a teacher shortage. Why are they cutting jobs?
• Florida schools need more nurses. Can they compete with employers who pay more?
• Florida's MBA programs: Mastering the cyber industry
• Florida settles lawsuit over LGBT education bill
• $117.5 billion state budget pumps up education spending