Florida Trend Exclusive
Presidential pay
As university presidents take on ever more corporate-style responsibilities — managing billion-dollar budgets, navigating political pressures and courting major donors — their pay packages are starting to look the part. Boards of trustees are increasingly benchmarking compensation against the private sector, arguing that the job has outgrown academia's traditional pay scales. While critics see an arms race in executive salaries, supporters see simple market logic: With a tougher job comes a bigger price tag. [Source: Florida Trend]
Florida’s reading, math scores look promising. Experts say wait and see
Florida students posted record-high scores on the state’s annual reading and math tests this year, a promising gain that experts said should be viewed with cautious optimism until more data is available. Last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that this year, for the first time ever, 60% of Florida’s students tested at or above grade level in reading and math. The increases represent continued gains from last year and a sharp jump, especially in reading, from where Florida stood just three years ago when only about half of students read at or above grade level. But those better test scores came as Florida’s public schools lost students this past academic year. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Florida votes to ban some immigrants from state colleges, adult education
The Florida Board of Education on Tuesday voted to ban immigrants without legal status from state colleges and adult education programs. The board approved one amendment requiring all students admitted to Florida colleges to be citizens, or lawfully in the United States; and another mandating adult education programs to create systems to ensure students are citizens or immigrants with legal status. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Florida school grades: More As and Bs on the 2026 report card
Florida released its annual A-to-F school grades Wednesday, with more public schools earning top marks. This year, 76% of all Florida schools earned an A or B, up from 71% last year. Though the number of schools graded fell slightly to 3,428, the percentage earning top marks jumped sharply, from 44% receiving As last year to 51% this year. The number of public schools statewide graded D fell from 61 to 24 and the number of Fs dropped from 9 to 7. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
See also:
» Look up the latest grades for Florida’s public schools
Texas makes the Bible required reading in public schools. Is Florida next?
After the Texas Board of Education approved Bible passages as required reading for public school students last week, Florida education officials indicated the state could be open to similar policies. Florida often adopts conservative policies on the heels of the Lone Star State, and the state’s Department of Education indicated it did not oppose use of the Bible in Florida public school classrooms. [Source: Miami Herald]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Florida confirms Stuart Bell as UF’s 14th president
The University of Florida finally has a permanent president. The Board of Governors, in a nearly unanimous vote, approved former University of Alabama president Stuart Bell on Wednesday morning, signaling a stronger focus on athletics at the state’s flagship school. Bell is UF’s first permanent president in two years.
› Cursive lessons, marching band credit, teacher unions. New Florida laws
More than 120 new laws in Florida kicked in on Wednesday, July 1, and a few of them brought some big changes to education in the state. Students will be able to use marching band, performing arts, or participation in the Special Olympics for physical education credits and at-risk students will be allowed to carry FDA-approved epinephrine devices besides just auto-injectors. Young students will be required to learn to read and write in cursive.
› Students bring civics knowledge to Tallahassee competition
On behalf of their hometowns, schools and families, 12 students competed to champion the Florida Civics Bee Tuesday, June 30, at the Turnbull Conference Center. Hosted by Florida State University's Institute for Governance and Civics and sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the competition comes days before the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary.
› Florida Board of Education appoints senior chancellor Paul Burns interim commissioner
The Florida Board of Education appointed Paul Burns as interim education commissioner on Tuesday. Burns, a Department of Education senior chancellor, was unanimously approved to step into the role of commissioner as Anastasios Kamoutsas exits to become president of Polk State College.