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Florida Trend Education
Teachers union calls on Florida governor to keep schools closed
Teachers union calls on Florida governor to keep schools closed
Florida’s statewide teachers union called on Gov. Ron DeSantis Tuesday to “declare the previously unthinkable” and keep schools closed through the end of the school year due to the coronavirus. “As much as our students and educators want the opportunity to be back at our schools, returning prematurely will threaten the safety and well-being of all on campus,” Florida Education Association president Fedrick Ingram wrote in a letter. More from the Tampa Bay Times, Click Orlando, and CBS Miami.
Florida issues 32,000 laptops to rural school districts
Florida issued more than 32,000 laptops to small and rural school districts across the state during the stay-at-home order amid the spread of the coronavirus, according to Gov. Ron DeSantis. Gov. DeSantis said the computers are being distributed to 34 districts throughout Florida and the Florida A&M University Developmental Research School. More from WKMG and WTSP.
Opinion: University leaders step up to handle challenges of coronavirus
Florida continues to face an unprecedented period of disruption and uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As we face the coming days with anxiety, I strongly believe that there is much occurring around our state for which we can be encouraged, reassured, and uplifted. Our universities remain critical sources of knowledge, innovation, and expertise for the state and are eagerly “leaning in” to support the fight against the deadly COVID-19 virus. [Source: Fort Myers News-Press]
Florida schools get $173 million in federal coronavirus aid
About $3 billion will be distributed to governors to aid state school systems through the coronavirus crisis, the federal government announced Tuesday. And Florida’s cut is the second-highest at about $173 million. The Florida Department of Education did not immediately respond to questions about how the state might spend the money. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
University of Florida: Engineering research to build a better, more sustainable future
What do the solutions to the world’s biggest challenges have in common? Most of them began with engineering research. At the University of Florida’s Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure & Environment (ESSIE), solving problems related to global sustainability is the bedrock of the graduate student experience. [Source: ]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› How can you teach band when the band’s not there? Forced to teach hands-on classes from a distance, they make it work
Classes like band, cosmetology, and auto technology are best taught in person. But when a pandemic makes that impossible, it’s time for teachers and students to get creative.
› Coronavirus Florida: Fewer poor students log on for PBC’s virtual classes, worsening the ‘digital divide’
Children in Palm Beach County’s poorest public schools are participating far less in online classes than other students, despite efforts to ensure each child has a computer and Internet access at home. The disparities, revealed in a new school district report, appear to confirm fears that the move to virtual schooling during the coronavirus pandemic would worsen longstanding gaps in how poor and more economically stable students learn.
› FSU goes the ‘virtual' extra mile to recruit high-achieving students
While the novel coronavirus is causing disruption for enrolled college students, the pandemic is also affecting how prospective students interact with universities. The transition to a remote campus has drastically impacted how the Florida State University Honors Program recruits potential students. Instead of bringing future students to campus, program staff have been hard at work scheduling phone conferences and Zoom sessions focused on specialized topics and answering questions via social media.
› Pinellas School Board joins lawsuit to fight student vaping
Pinellas County has become the fourth school district in Florida to join a lawsuit against Juul, a major manufacturer of e-cigarette devices that critics say marketed to kids while downplaying the health risks of its products.
Previous Education Updates:
- 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
- Florida lawmakers continue debate over school red tape, education spending and more
