Hurricane Ian closes some Florida schools indefinitely

The devastation from Hurricane Ian has left schools shuttered indefinitely in parts of Florida, leaving storm-weary families anxious for word on when and how children can get back to classrooms. As rescue and recovery operations continue in the storm’s aftermath, several school systems in hard-hit counties in southwestern Florida can’t say for sure when they’ll reopen. Some schools are without power and still assessing the damage, as well as the impact on staff members who may have lost homes or can’t return to work. More from the AP, WMNF, and the Tampa Bay Times.

One way to ease the teacher shortage: Pay more, some districts say

When Martisha Martin, a history teacher, moved from Broward County, Florida, to Washington, D.C., seven years ago, she chose to work at H.D. Woodson High School on the city’s impoverished eastern edge. She was drawn to the school’s commitment to strengthening urban education — and the prospect of a bigger paycheck. Now at Stephen E. Kramer Middle School, one of Woodson’s feeder schools where all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches, Ms. Martin is among dozens of District of Columbia Public Schools teachers receiving $20,000 annual bonuses for highly effective performance in select schools. [Source: New York Times]

Florida female student athletes are asked about their menstrual history

Before they’re allowed to take the field, female student athletes in Florida are asked about their menstrual history—and as that data increasingly moves to digital platforms, parents and doctors are expressing some grave concerns about the practice. Asking questions such as when the student got their first period and when they had their last one isn’t anything new in Florida. It’s been an ongoing question for two decades. [Source: Fortune]

Federal judge rejects challenge to Florida ‘don't say gay' law for school instruction

A federal judge has rejected — at least for now — a lawsuit challenging a controversial new law that restricts instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in public schools. U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor on Thursday issued a 25-page order dismissing the case, finding that plaintiffs did not show they had legal standing. Winsor, however, said the plaintiffs can file a revised lawsuit as they seek to block the restrictions. [Source: News Service of Florida]

Florida districts look at closing, rezoning schools to better use space

It’s never an easy move for school districts to redraw attendance zones, shifting hundreds or thousands of children to different schools than the ones they’re used to. As enrollments shift, and budgets remain tight, several districts are considering the idea as a way to make better use of resources and available space. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› University of North Florida: 50 years of learning and growing and a look ahead [Florida Times-Union]
Driving along the aptly named University of North Florida Drive, cars are dotted with student parking passes as they pass light poles donning 50th Anniversary flags and pull into campus. In many ways, UNF is a radically different campus than when the school initially opened its doors five decades ago — the growth has been significant.

› University of Florida partners with Alachua County Public Schools to improve literacy [Gainesville Sunn]
Nearly five years ago, the University of Florida released a study documenting wide racial disparities in Alachua County, including an achievement gap between Black and white students in the county's public schools that is the largest of any district in Florida. Since that time, UF has worked with Alachua County Public Schools to address that gap in the area of literacy through programs such as University of Florida Literary Institute (UFLI) Foundations, Summer Adventures in Literacy (SAILS), the James Patterson Literacy Challenge and the New World Reading Initiative.

› Miami Dade College cybersecurity enrollment grows [Miami Today]
Miami Dade College technology workforce training programs continue to be some of the most popular among students. In the past two years, cybersecurity and data analytics enrollment numbers have grown significantly compared to four years when there was minimal enrollment to none, said Antonio Delgado, vice president of innovation and technology partnershixps for MDC.

› FAU receives $500,000 NIH grant to tackle chronic disease disparities [FAU News]
Chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer disproportionally affect racial and ethnic minorities. Of the 45 percent of Americans who have one or more chronic diseases, underserved populations are three to six times more likely than whites to have a chronic disease.