Florida Trend Exclusive
Changing gears
Three times, Arelise Vasquez has seen Osceola County Commissioner Brandon Arrington at public events. All three times, she made a point of introducing herself and letting him know she was taking full advantage of the opportunity for a tuition-free college education that he helped bring about. Vasquez, 22, has already earned an associate’s degree at Valencia College under the Osceola Prosper program and is working toward her bachelor’s in applied science and organizational leadership with a concentration on management. And she’s already exercising her entrepreneurial muscles, incorporating a startup called Feminine Torque last spring. [Source: Florida Trend]
SMART Tech Training Launches in February
St. Petersburg College continues to strengthen its training programs in Semiconductor, Mechatronics, Automation and Robotics Training (SMART) Tech by launching two new classes in February 2026. These short-term training programs prepare graduates for quick entry into the technologically evolving manufacturing fields of semiconductors, mechatronics, automation and robotics. Trainees may be eligible for scholarships that cover full tuition, books and materials, thanks to $3.2 million in funding from the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund. [Source: St. Petersburg College]
Educational advocates are cornered with Florida Schools of Hope co-location policies
A new Florida law allows charter school operators to take over space inside public schools. But parents and education advocates are concerned about these “Schools of Hope.” The advocacy group Families for Strong Public Schools is worried this will put student data at risk and destabilize public schools. During a press conference on Monday, parents frequently used the word “concerned” to express their feelings about charter schools having access to public school students. [Source: WMNF]
University of Florida restarts national search for new president
The University of Florida's journey for its next leader begins again. The Board of Trustees on Dec. 16 named a 15-member Presidential Search Advisory Committee tasked with guiding the national search for the university's 14th president. The panel brings together representatives from across UF and the State University System, including trustees, faculty, students, alumni, administrators and external stakeholders. [Source: The Gainesville Sun]
DeSantis plans dramatic New College expansion
Governor Ron DeSantis proposed transferring the University of South Florida’s (USF) Sarasota-Manatee campus to New College of Florida (NCF), which would significantly expand the state’s smallest institution. The proposal, released last week as part of his 2026–27 budget, resurrects a plan from earlier this year that failed to gain momentum. As part of the deal, New College would receive more than 32 acres of land and facilities that include new residence halls and a laboratory under construction. [Source: Inside Higher Ed]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Save our ‘beloved’ schools: Orange parents protest campus closures
Amanda Weber met her husband in the halls of Bonneville Elementary School when they were in fourth grade. Now her son is a second grader on the same campus.
The east Orange County school, which opened in 1961, is a nostalgic fixture in her family’s story. So when she learned at a district meeting last month that the school might close next year, she was angry and sad. She quickly started an online petition to “save our beloved Orlando elementary school,” which had nearly 900 signatures by Friday afternoon.
› Florida may drop BOG chair approval of university president finalists
The Florida Board of Governors is moving to reverse a recent regulation change that gave the board’s chair authority to approve universities’ lists of presidential search finalists before campus trustees could act.
The board voted to approve a public notice of intent to amend Board of Governors Regulation 1.002, which has to do with presidential search and selection processes, during a virtual meeting Dec. 12.
› Braulio Colon: Let’s unlock education data’s full potential to make Florida talent strong
Skills are the new currency of economic development. This mantra is repeated in boardrooms throughout the country. Florida leaders have responded with a growing portfolio of policies designed to make the state the #1 state in the nation for workforce education.
Yet skills gaps remain a persistent workforce challenge.
› Doctors sound alarm on meningitis cases at workshop on ending school vaccine mandates
Florida health officials hosted a workshop Friday on the state surgeon general’s plan to end school mandates for four vaccines, including one that prevents a dangerous form of meningitis increasingly affecting children, doctors said. It's called haemophilus influenzae type B, or Hib. Caused by bacteria, it can spread by coughing or sneezing.