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DeSantis, Crist make education issues key to governor's race

DeSantis, Crist make education issues key to governor’s race

Education issues such as parental rights, school boards and teachers unions have become a key battleground in the race between Gov. Ron DeSantis and his Democratic challenger, Charlie Crist. DeSantis, who is widely considered a potential 2024 presidential candidate, has drawn national attention because of his at-times controversial education decisions. Crist, a former Republican governor who became a Democrat and got elected to Congress from Pinellas County, is betting on his ability to convince voters that he can reinstate “respect to educators.” [Source: News Service of Florida]

Three weeks after Ian’s landfall, students returning to school

Almost three weeks after Hurricane Ian made landfall in southwest Florida, students in the area’s largest school district were poised to return to class. The School District of Lee County said 28 schools were reopening on Monday and Tuesday, and another 32 have been cleared to reopen soon. The district has almost 120 schools. Staff at the reopening schools were being invited to catch up on lesson planning on Monday, with students returning Tuesday to reunite with their classmates and classes resuming on Wednesday. More from the  APand the Tampa Bay Times.

Opinion: Recognizing the backbone of Florida’s education system during National Principals Month

When you think of education, it is common to think about your child’s teacher, their favorite subject in school, or perhaps their most recent academic victory. Rarely, however, does their principal’s name come to mind. Principals often work behind the scenes, at least from the perspective of parents and those in the community. But they make a world of difference. [Source: Florida Today]

Florida Department of Education awards $200 million to schools for 'student growth, teaching excellence'

Schools are receiving additional funds thanks to the state's School Recognition Program. The program provides "financial awards to schools that demonstrate sustained or significantly improved student performance." To be eligible, schools must receive a school grade of "A" or improve at least one letter grade from the prior year. These awards will go to 1,400 schools across the state that "demonstrated student growth and teaching excellence in the 2021-22 school year." More from WPTV and The Center Square.

Florida charter schools face challenges as they grow

Florida has allowed charter schools to operate for more than two decades. They’ve been controversial for that whole time, as they use state money that critics contend should go to traditional public schools, yet they aren’t subject to all the same rules and regulations. They’ve also grown in popularity. Hillsborough County has proven prime ground for charters, with 17% of students attending them. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Florida A&M University buys an apartment complex to help with its student housing shortage
Florida A&M University has purchased the 118-bed Light House at Brooklyn Yard apartment complex on Eugenia Street. The complex sits on the northwest perimeter of the campus. The university has entered a management agreement with Off Campus Housing LLC. The $12.65 million price tag includes 1.3 acres of vacant land that can be developed for housing and retail.

› These University of Central Florida majors earn the biggest salaries after graduation
Your college major can have a very big impact on your starting salary after graduation. According to Florida Department of Education data, just 18 of the University of Central Florida's hundreds of bachelor's degree programs have an average starting wage of $50,000 and up after college.

› ‘I was not intending to be here.’ FIU names new president to replace Rosenberg s
The FIU Board of Trustees unanimously voted to name Jessell as FIU’s sixth president. The board also signed off on an annual base salary of $650,000 and a performance-based bonus of $175,000. His total compensation package came out to $996,081 — just under $1 million, despite two trustees who wanted to raise it to over $1 million.

› ‘Jones College’ lives on via the Compass Rose Foundation
The name of Jones College, which began in 1918 and operated for 99 years before closing at year-end 2017, will be carried on. Compass Rose Foundation Inc. registered the name “Jones College” with the state Sept. 23. The foundation operates the Jones Technical Institute (J-Tech) trade school. Founded in 1940, Compass Rose Foundation marks 82 years of “engaging in educational initiatives that support the training or education of students from applied and vocational certifications to baccalaureate and graduate degrees,” says compassrosefoundation.org.