Florida has hurdles recruiting teachers as graduates steer away from education field

| 7/20/2023

Florida has hurdles recruiting teachers as graduates steer away from education field

As college freshmen prepare to start school this fall semester and decide which major they would like to pursue, there’s one career path that’s become less popular over the past few decades -- education. Leaders involved in the Florida education system say it’s not surprising. “We have the fourth largest economy in America. We’re 48th in teacher pay,” said Lee Bryant, president of the Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association. Between low wages and new legislation outlining strict do’s and don’ts across the state, Andrew Spar of the Florida Education Association says it will be tougher for Florida to recruit new teachers. [Source: WTSP]

Critics blast new Florida law making university president searches secret

Amid a pause in Florida Atlantic University’s search for a new president, leaders of a First Amendment group and a national higher-education association are pointing to a controversial new law shielding presidential candidates’ identities as harmful to public trust and academic freedom. Meanwhile, a former state senator who was the main sponsor of the 2022 legislation told The News Service of Florida this week that some people involved in college and university presidential search processes have “perverted the intent” of the law. [Source: News Service of Florida]

Florida is prompting schools to examine books with a statewide lens

Florida’s public education system relies heavily on the concept of “local control,” where school districts make many key decisions based on their unique needs, tastes and preferences. But as the debate intensifies over the types of books that deserve space on school shelves, the balance of power increasingly is shifting away from community standards in favor of state-imposed norms. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Florida education officials meet this week. Here are the new rules they’re considering

Supporters and critics filled a meeting Wednesday as the Florida Board of Education gathered to approve new rules for the upcoming school year. The meeting was held at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando. The first action item on the agenda was approving new course standards for social studies covering African American History. Among the other agenda items were topics that included student pronouns and bathroom choices. More from Click Orlando and Spectrum News 13.

Student loan repayments resume this fall for 2.7 million Floridians

In October, more than 2.7 million Floridians will have to start paying off their student loan debt for the first time since mandatory repayments were paused in the spring of 2020. As of March, Floridians owed $105 billion in federal student debt in total — about $39,000 per borrower, on average. That’s one of the highest debt burdens in the nation, but the number for most borrowers is much lower. About one in three owes less than $10,000, and more than half owe less than $20,000. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Palm Beach County School District to revise Baker Act policy after $440,000 court judgment [WPTV]
The Palm Beach County School District on Wednesday plans to revise its Baker Act policy for student behaviors after students and parents were awarded $440,000 in a federal case. On July 5, U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon in Fort Pierce entered a judgment against the district on behalf of students with disabilities, who were unlawfully handcuffed and/or removed from their school and subjected to an involuntary psychiatric examination without parental consent.

› New College of Florida struggles through overhaul [Tampa Bay Times]
New College of Florida has undergone dramatic, rapid change in the past six months, as Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-led state Legislature have used the school as a focal point to roll out their higher education agenda. Implementation of the contentious plan has not always gone smoothly.

› New superintendent promises 'a different Broward County Public Schools' [WUSF News]
The new superintendent of Florida’s second largest school district says he’s establishing a new brand of leadership in Broward County Public Schools. Dr. Peter Licata says his tenure will be marked by uncompromising ethics and a willingness to 'get his hands dirty' working on the academic, facilities and workforce challenges facing the district — and to push back against forces that “aren’t good for children."

› Tampa-based education consulting firm hires former Hillsborough leader [Business Observer]
Strategos Group, a national education consulting firm, hired Addison Davis, former Hillsborough County Public Schools superintendent, as a new partner, the group says in a Tuesday news release. Davis will work in the firm's Business Transactional Advisory practice, supporting school districts and educational organizations in the advancement of student objectives, the group says.

Tags: Education eNews

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