Florida's high school grad rates surge to historic highs
Florida’s high school graduation rate for the 2024-25 school year reached a best-ever 92.2%, according to data released Tuesday by the state Department of Education. The rates increased 2.5 percentage points over the prior year and a 4.9-point climb since 2021-22. The numbers show a vast improvement since 2005, when 56% of students graduated from high school. Some counties showed two-decade highs. All subgroups improved, including African American, Hispanic, English-learning, economically disadvantaged and students with disabilities. More from WUSF and the Tampa Bay Times.
Florida schools won’t enforce controversial syllabuses rule until Summer, state says
Faculty members across Florida public universities and state colleges are preparing to comply with a new regulation requiring them to publicly post their syllabuses and class materials 45 days before the semester begins. But confusion remains over when and how the rule will be enforced. Although the law was approved two months ago and initially set to take effect during the Spring ‘26 semester, the 45-day requirement won’t be enforced until Summer 2026. [Source: The Alligator]
Florida Education Association wants Legislature to make major investment into schools, teachers
As the Florida Legislature convenes, the Florida Education Association (FEA) is demanding that legislators pivot from "anti-public education corporate interests" and prioritize a massive investment in the state’s struggling school system. The FEA, the state’s largest union representing teachers and education staff, unveiled a legislative agenda Tuesday focused on three key issues: competitive compensation, the recruitment of high-quality educators, and the protection of academic freedom. [Source: WLRN]
Teacher vacancies persist across Florida according to new data
As students return to the classroom across Florida, new data shows teacher and staff vacancies remain a concern in several districts, including in our area. The Florida Education Association (FEA) released updated vacancy numbers showing Palm Beach County and St. Lucie County among districts with some of the largest staffing shortages statewide. The data comes amid an ongoing debate among state lawmakers and teachers’ unions over how to recruit and retain educators. [Source: WPTV]
Can Florida take over school districts? DeSantis raises the possibility.
Gov. Ron DeSantis suggested Monday that Florida’s school districts could come under state control if they’re operating in ways his administration doesn’t condone. “There’s a handful of spots around the state where maybe thrusting these entities into receivership might be the best way to go forward,” DeSantis said during a news conference. “I think you could work things out pretty quickly.” He made his comment in response to a question relating to the Broward County school district [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Kids absent from school too much? Florida lawmakers file bills to stop that
Florida lawmakers return to Tallahassee on Tuesday to begin this year’s legislative session. Among the many bills on the docket are several focused on school attendance. Chronic absenteeism disproportionately affects children from low-income families and communities of color, contributing to achievement gaps in education. This bill shifts focus from punishment to support to improve outcomes for students.
› Funding cuts, fee hikes: How USF faced financial changes in 2025
Colleges across the country faced cuts and other changes in 2025, and Florida’s fourth-largest public university was no exception. Federal funding cuts hit the University of South Florida much as they did other campuses, with researchers having to seek money from other sources, and students encountering higher fees and fewer resources for clubs and organizations.
› Vanderbilt University secures funding to build West Palm Beach campus
Vanderbilt University is ready to move forward with plans to set up a campus in West Palm Beach by 2029. Vanderbilt announced Monday it had raised enough in its initial $300 million fundraising round for its board of trustees to green light for work on the new campus. It also stated it would launch another $250 million campaign to support further efforts.
› UCF researcher, nonprofit create AI-powered tool to reduce Florida overdoses
More than 5,500 fatal overdoses occurred in Florida last year, with 353 occurring in Orange County alone, according to data compiled by the Florida Department of Health. School of Global Health Management and Informatics Director Kendall Cortelyou aims to reduce this number by helping predict when and where overdoses could occur before it’s too late, an area health researchers have long suffered a disadvantage.