Florida Trend Exclusive
Building ‘Cyber Bay’
Someone suggested that the University of South Florida advertise its new Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing to prospective students. Provost Prasant Mohapatra politely declined. “I don’t want to spend money on that because we (already) get so many applications,” Mohapatra says. “The demand really is speaking volumes.” The college opens next month with 3,000 students and 50 faculty teaching seven undergraduate and graduate degree programs. [Source: Florida Trend]
New state education commissioner prioritizes parents' rights on first day on the job
Beginning his tenure as Florida’s Commissioner of Education, Anastasios Kamoutsas emphasized policies and guidelines aligned with so-called "parental rights and protections" in a memorandum to education leaders. The letter sent to superintendents and charter school leaders outline state laws aimed at parents’ rights, including requiring that parents have access to review all instructional materials used in the classroom. [Source: WLRN]
Family who started scholarship sues New College Foundation, alleges money isn't being awarded
A scholarship fund meant for students of color who demonstrate financial need is at the center of a lawsuit alleging New College of Florida hasn't given out the money in years and won't relinquish the funds as requested. John J. Lentini and his children, Julia K.L. Marquis and Jerald Lentini, are suing the New College Foundation, seeking a return of the money, which amounted to $156,000 when the family endowed the scholarship in 2021, plus interest and court costs. [Source: WUSF]
Opinion: How does Florida have great schools and failing kids?
In June, the state Department of Education released its latest annual figures on students’ ability to complete grade-level work. The testing, over the course of a school year, measures learning gains in real time in hopes of better preparing students as they advance to the next grade. The results should concern anyone who owns a business in Florida or who intends to stake a life here. In grades 3-10, only 57% of students performed at or above grade level in reading [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Florida education leaders have approved additional K-12 safety measures
The Florida Department of Education voted Wednesday at its meeting in Orlando to approve additional school safety measures for K-12 schools throughout the state. Under these changes, schools must have a Primary and Secondary District Threat Management Coordinator who helps to assess and respond to threats. Additionally, schools must enter all threats, active or otherwise, in the new Statewide Threat Management Portal. This portal acts as the one-stop-shop for this information throughout the state. [Source: WFSU]
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ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› School Board ‘privilege’ appeal rejected
A federal appeals court Tuesday rejected an attempt to shield Escambia County School Board members from testifying in a long-running legal battle about removing or restricting access to books in school libraries.
› Faculty hope new USF president will protect academic freedom
A dozen or so members of the University of South Florida community offered their thoughts on the qualities the next president should have in a virtual meeting Tuesday.
The majority were faculty who underscored concerns over academic freedom.
› Freeze on federal grants felt as Brevard Schools creates 2026 budget
Amid mass layoffs at the Department of Education and a freeze on more than $6 billion in federal funds for school districts, Brevard's school board has been left with little guidance on how to budget for the upcoming school year.
› Media specialist rule changes by Florida education officials draw First Amendment concerns
Florida's State Board of Education voted to reduce competency requirements for educational media specialists, who manage library books in schools – and who some say are defenders of students' First Amendment rights.
In a meeting in Orlando July 16, board members approved a motion to adopt new requirements, which brought down the 25 listed competency requirements to eight.