Five education bills could affect Florida students, teachers in 2020

The 2020 Florida legislative session, slated to begin Jan. 14, will consider a number of bills that could have significant implications for students, parents and teachers in Florida. One, the "Florida Teacher Fair Pay Act," would set starting teacher pay in all Florida school districts at $50,000 with annual cost-of-living adjustments, and would require the state legislature to fund the pay hike. [Source: Pensacola News Journal]

USF’s climb through the decade made it a top Florida school

The University of South Florida is entering a new era, and not just because it’s the end of a decade. The school has hit goal after goal over the last 10 years. The biggest of those — becoming the state’s third “preeminent” university in 2018 — will bring more status and funding. Now with a new president — and a plan he crafted for consolidating USF’s three campuses in 2020 — the school is stepping into the future with a certain confidence. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Colleges are turning students’ phones into surveillance machines

Short-range phone sensors and campus-wide Wi-Fi networks are empowering colleges across the United States to track hundreds of thousands of students more precisely than ever before. Dozens of schools now use such technology to monitor students’ academic performance, analyze their conduct or assess their mental health. [Source: Seattle Times]

Florida students will start receiving mental health classes in 2020

Florida students grades 6 through 12 will now be required to complete up to five hours of mental health lessons as a part of a new initiative that some schools are rolling out. The topics will range from suicide prevention to substance abuse. The aim is to lessen the stigma that still surrounds mental health issues as well as to educate students and provide learning opportunities for families. [Source: Daily Commercial]

In memoriam: Leaders the higher education world lost in 2019

In 2019, the higher education world lost some of its influencers, leaders and luminaries, from Pulitzer Prize winners to doctors and lawmakers. Their work lives on, and the academic community continues to honor their memory. [Source: Diverse Education]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Aspira sells third South Florida charter school [The Real Deal]
Aspira of Florida sold its third South Florida charter school for $5.1 million. Investors Mario and Ramon Castellanos’ company, 216 Corner LLC, bought the Aspira Leadership & College Preparatory Academy at 13330 Southwest 288th Street in Homestead.

› Florida House committee to investigate medical and university research linked to China [Miami Herald]
After the resignations of officials at Moffitt Cancer Center because of issues involving work in China, state House Speaker Jose Oliva, R-Miami Lakes, announced Monday the formation of a select committee to probe foreign involvement in taxpayer-funded research.

› FGCU to make key leadership hires, open a rec center and break new ground in 2020 [News Press]
2020 is shaping up to be a big year for Florida Gulf Coast University, where construction efforts will take shape, a new campus gym will debut and important hires need to be made. "Great universities are always in motion and we feel it here, so I think it’s good news that we have a lot going on," said President Mike Martin.

› Tools offer students path for choosing major, selecting college [Tallahassee Democrat]
For students and parents alike, picking a college major can be daunting. Take Daniela Gonzalez from South Florida for instance. When it came time to decide a college major, she was unsure. Gonzalez was directed by a college recruiter to take an online majors quiz – one of several tools provided by some higher education institutions like the University of Florida’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) to aid in the process.