Florida continues computer science push, hoping to train more teachers, enroll more students

The field of computer science offers plenty of well-paying jobs, but less than 1 percent of the undergraduates enrolled in Florida’s universities earned degrees in that major last year. State leaders hope a new $10 million investment to train more computer science teachers -- the largest in the nation -- and new flexibility in course requirements will help get more teenagers into computer science classes in high school and persuade them to stick with the subject once in college. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Two Tampa Bay schools rank as the best online registered nursing programs in Florida

Despite a significant nursing shortage, two Tampa Bay online nursing programs have been named the best in the state. The ranking— compiled by Registerednursing.org — put State College of Florida in Bradenton as the state’s top online nursing program, with the University of South Florida as the second best online nursing program in Florida.

Florida's tax-free back-to-school weekend starts Aug. 2. Here's everything you need to know.

It’s almost time to hit the books, and the store. Florida’s tax holiday begins on Aug. 2. Shoppers will be able to buy the bulk of what their children need for school without having to pay sales tax. The Florida Retail Federation estimates Floridians will save a combined $36 million from the tax break and spend an average of $600 on back-to-school items. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Higher education offers solutions to mass incarceration for Florida inmates

In the early 1980s, almost one in 10 prisoners across the country was taking college classes. But when President Bill Clinton signed an anti-crime bill in 1994, the measure banned incarcerated students from obtaining federal aid. Within three years, there were just eight college prison programs left. Florida colleges are now trying to fill the gap by tapping volunteers and offering courses to prisoners who qualify. A bright spot, these programs offer inmates hope — something they cherish most. [Source: Lakeland Ledger]

State to track school districts with 'guardian' teachers

More than two months after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an expansion of the controversial school “guardian” program, state officials have not tracked how many school districts will allow classroom teachers to be armed. But that will change. “We do not currently have a list of school districts who are choosing to arm teachers. However, moving forward, we will be collecting this information,” said Cheryl Etters, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Education. [Source: Tallahassee Democrat]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› State College of Florida student wins award at Tiny Earth Symposium [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Magnolia Valdez, a biotechnology major at State College of Florida, earned third place at the 2019 Tiny Earth Annual Poster Symposium in Madison, Wisconsin. Tiny Earth is a global network of students and instructors dedicated to discovering new antibiotics from soil and creating engaging laboratory coursework.

› UF study: Genetic diversity boosts panther population [Gainesville Sun]
Twenty-four years after female pumas from Texas were brought to Florida in hopes that they would breed with male Florida panthers, the big cats now have better chances of survival and reproductive success, a UF study finds.

› UCF student leaders to trustees: Don’t delay search for a new president [Orlando Sentinel]
UCF shouldn’t delay the search for its next president, two student leaders wrote to university trustees this week, saying they should choose a leader who can help the institution overcome the construction-spending controversy that consumed the campus during the past year.

› University of Miami ocean studies sail to Pacific on Celebrity Flora [Miami Today]
A two-university partnership based on Virginia Key that collects oceanographic data from cruise and container ships is entering the Pacific Ocean via a brand-new expedition cruise ship for the first time since the University of Miami helped launch it 20 years ago.