Florida board of education signs off on major charter school expansion
Florida’s board of education signed off Wednedsay on a major expansion of charter schools in the state, clearing the way for the privately run schools to “co-locate” inside traditional public schools. The move comes as some public schools are closing their doors as they grapple with declining enrollments, aging facilities and post-pandemic student struggles. [Source: AP News]
Florida universities climb in national rankings as competition for students intensifies
As universities across the country fight to remain top of mind for an ever-dwindling student base, U.S. News & World Report’s annual ranking of the top universities in the nation reveals that Florida schools are becoming increasingly competitive. The annual report, released on Sept. 23, evaluates nearly 1,500 colleges and universities across the U.S. The rankings use 17 factors, including graduation rates, faculty salaries, first-year retention rates and financial resources per student. [Source: Tampa Bay Business Journal]
Florida lawmakers weigh property tax cuts and impact on schools
Rising property taxes are putting pressure on Floridians, and state lawmakers are taking a closer look at what changes could mean for schools and local communities. The House Property Tax Select Committee, the largest committee in the Florida House, spent Monday reviewing how property taxes work and how potential cuts might affect school districts across the state. [Source: WCTV]
New bill aims to equip Florida educators for mass shooting situations
A new bill proposed in Florida, House Bill 23, aims to require teachers to receive special training for handling mass casualty events, including recognizing warning signs of a mass shooting. The legislation, introduced by State Representative Dan Daley, seeks to equip teachers with the skills needed to identify immediate crises and respond effectively during such emergencies. Daley, an alumnus of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, proposed the bill to enhance school safety measures. [Source: WFTV]
‘We have bragging rights now’: Preschools like Florida’s new pre-K ratings
For decades, Florida judged the quality of its pre-K program on how students did on a “readiness” assessment given when they started kindergarten. A year ago, however, Florida debuted a new rating system, one that aimed to take into account preschoolers’ skills at the start of the pre-K year and then give schools credit for their growth. The first batch of new ratings, released in August, were good news for many pre-K providers, as nearly 90% met or exceeded the state’s expectations. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› UCF says it is now a preeminent school, joining exclusive company
The University of Central Florida announced it has cleared the last hurdle to become a “preeminent” state research university, joining the exclusive ranks of just a few universities in the state, including the University of Florida and Florida State University. “At a university of nearly 70,000 students, this accomplishment is truly remarkable and unprecedented at our scale,” UCF President Alexander Cartwright said in a statement.
› Legal in Florida: 78% of first-time applicants pass the Florida Bar exam
Slightly more than 78% of the 2,152 first-time applicants — or 1,687 people who took the Florida Bar examination in Tampa this summer — passed, data released by the Florida Supreme Court Monday show. When the data are narrowed to the 1,236 first-time applicants who attended one of the state’s 12 accredited law schools, the statewide passage rate increases to 82.8%
› ‘We can do better’: Miami business leaders push for education reform in new report
A newly released report issued by a Miami philanthropic group takes a critical look at the state of education in Miami-Dade County. The report, prepared by Partnership for Miami, an organization with some of Miami’s most influential business leaders, includes findings related to educational outcomes and suggestions for strengthening education in Miami. The stated goals are to find ways to create high-quality schools, develop teachers and school leaders, strengthen senior leadership and empower families so they can make better decisions.
› Sarasota County Schools has launched its newest education initiative: A working farm
Sarasota County Schools recently hosted a ribbon-cutting for its newest educational endeavor, simply called The Farm. Adjacent to McIntosh Middle School, The Farm aims to expand agricultural learning among thousands of county students via its demonstration kitchen, greenhouse gardens and livestock pens. The project cost approximately $8 million to complete.