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The House Student Academy Success Subcommittee has advanced a bill, HB 1483, aimed at enhancing transparency in Florida's school grading system. Rep. Susan Valdes, R-Tampa, said: "The purpose of this bill is to provide truth and transparency to our parents, students, and teachers on how well each school is preparing its students." Currently, it is argued, Florida's grading system misrepresents academic performance, with grades like 'A' being assigned for scores as low as 62% in elementary schools. The proposed changes would gradually align the grading scale with traditional standards, with an 'A' requiring 90% by the 2033-2034 school year. The bill also mandates that both the current and traditional grades be displayed on student report cards. If passed, the new grading system will take effect in the 2026-2027 school year.

 

The Floridian

Tampa Bay Times

School Leadership’s Guide to Career and Technical Education

Economic impacts are changing the employment landscape. Now more than ever it's critical to prepare students for careers in current and emerging professions through Career and Technical Education (CTE). Having developed 200+ award-winning digital courses, FlexPoint knows that CTE offerings look different for every school, based on location and student population. School and district leaders can learn how to enhance their CTE programs through the free FlexPoint guide.

In the guide, you’ll have access to:

• An overview of nationally recognized Career Clusters and Programs of Study
  
• Tips for selecting the best career pathways that evolve with the employment landscape
  
• Sample survey questions to gauge students’ interests in future career opportunities
  
• And more!

Download CTE Guide

 

The Senate Committee on Fiscal Policy has advanced bill SB 1470, aimed at enhancing safety protocols in Florida schools. Sponsored by Sen. Danny Burgess, the bill emphasizes that “every Florida student deserves to feel safe at school.” It mandates trained security personnel through the Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis, and Coach Scott Beigel Guardian Program, which includes rigorous training and evaluations. Additionally, the bill introduces a real-time "interoperable panic alert system" managed by the Florida Department of Education to improve communication with emergency responders. The legislation also requires school boards to keep campuses locked during supervision hours and proposes the establishment of a Florida Institute of School Safety to further enhance security measures. A report of findings is expected by January 1, 2026.

 

The Floridian

Verra Mobility has released alarming results from a new speed study conducted over three days in Clay County revealing over 6,000 instances of school zone speeding. Particularly troubling were Ridgeview High School, St. Johns Classic Academy, and Doctors Inlet Elementary, which together accounted for more than 4,000 violations. A total of 2,148 vehicles were recorded traveling over 20 mph above the limit, with 551 going 60+ mph and 36 exceeding 70 mph—even while school zone flashing beacons were active. The study follows a similar effort in Jacksonville that captured nearly 10,000 violations. In response, Clay County Schools is in the early stages of implementing school zone speed cameras and a public awareness campaign to enhance safety.

 

School Bus Fleet

Legislation in Florida aims to amend the state constitution to impose eight-year term limits on County Commissioners and School Board members. The proposal, HJR 679, faced significant opposition during its review by the House Education Administration Subcommittee, with over three dozen speakers voicing concerns. Rep. Michelle Salzman, the bill's sponsor, expressed frustration, commenting: “Public service is not a career. We’re not supposed to be here serving the people for 20 years.” While the bill has garnered support from Gov. Ron DeSantis, critics argue it undermines local governance. The proposal passed with an 11-6 vote and will proceed to the House State Affairs Committee.

 

Florida Politics

First-time principals are stepping into leadership roles at a critical time for public education. Whether rising from assistant principal posts or entering from nontraditional backgrounds, leaders like Jesus Sandoval in Minnesota and Anthony Peddle and Alexandra Miller in Ohio are navigating student needs, teacher dynamics, and budget constraints amid federal education uncertainty. Sandoval, motivated by a desire to reach more students, emphasizes visibility and direct engagement. Peddle, promoted after a sudden retirement, balances teacher resistance and staff development while prioritizing work-life boundaries. Miller, a former teacher at her school, stresses relationship redefinition and inclusive decision-making, introducing teacher-led committees and feedback tools. All three principals highlight how leadership training can’t fully prepare one for the job’s realities—especially when managing veteran staff or navigating data systems. Their advice: listen, communicate clearly, and build trust.

 

Education Week News

Teachers in Alachua County are actively advocating for higher wages, opposing the school board's proposed 1% salary increase against the union's request for 3.5%. Carmen Ward, President of the Alachua County Education Association, said: “If that was the proposal, that would be the lowest in the state of Florida.” A bargaining meeting is scheduled for today, where the board is expected to present a revised proposal. The district's projected unrestricted general fund balance is currently at 4.4%, just below the 5% threshold that requires a recovery plan. Interim Superintendent Kamela Patton has proposed corrective measures, including a hiring freeze and staff reductions, to address the financial strain.

 

The Gainesville Sun

A federal database that tracked domestic terrorism and school shootings has been dismantled by the Trump administration, K-12 Dive reports. Managed by the University of Maryland’s START program, the Terrorism and Targeted Violence Database was the first to study school-based attacks as domestic terrorism. Between 2023 and 2024, it recorded over 1,800 incidents, 400 of which involved U.S. schools, leading to 81 fatal attacks. Homeland security experts warn the move removes the only publicly available dataset offering critical insights to law enforcement, educators, and policymakers—potentially weakening national efforts to understand and prevent school-based violence.

 

EdSource

K-12 Dive

Teachers across the country are channeling the excitement of March Madness to bring energy and engagement into their classrooms. With the NCAA tournament captivating millions—this year with over 34m brackets submitted, and early games drawing 9.4m viewers—educators are using the cultural buzz to enhance learning across subjects. In one standout example, a 2nd grade class from last year gained national attention when their bracket ranked among the best in the country. This year, with teams like Florida, Duke, Houston, and Auburn competing for the championship on April 5 and 7, classrooms have come alive with bracket-based activities. Teachers have been taking to social media to showcase creative integrations of the tournament into math, reading, and even geography lessons. Some students calculate statistics, while others study team mascots or write persuasive essays about their picks. By leveraging student interest in the NCAA tournament, educators are scoring major wins for engagement and turning a beloved sporting event into a dynamic teaching tool.

 

Education Week News

The Duval County School Board has voted to remove the young-adult novel "Identical" from school libraries, citing a 2023 law aimed at parental rights in education. The decision contradicts  the recommendation of a school district review committee, which had suggested keeping the book available. "Identical," which addresses sensitive issues like incest and substance abuse, was ranked 10th on PEN America's list of most banned books for the 2022-2023 school year. Board member Tony Ricardo stated that retaining the book would violate state law against exposing minors to pornography. Despite a recommendation to restore the book with parental consent, the board voted 6-1 to permanently remove it from all school premises.

 

The Florida Times-Union

Lake County Schools has been named the 2024-25 U.S. District of the Year in the medium-sized district category by the International Education group at Cambridge University Press & Assessment. This recognition highlights the district's commitment to providing high-quality coursework that prepares students for college and the workforce. The Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) program is a key component of this initiative, offering students the opportunity to earn a full Bright Futures scholarship for state colleges in Florida upon meeting specific criteria.

 

Daily Commercial

Dr. Edward L. Whigham Elementary's robotics program recently achieved remarkable success by winning a Regional Championship Innovate Award, securing a place in the World Championship in Dallas, Texas.

 

Miami's Community Newspapers

At Lake Worth Community High School in Palm Beach County the food pantry is facing a critical shortage as partnerships dissolve, leaving many economically disadvantaged students without essential support. The number of students receiving food has plummeted from 1,350 per quarter to fewer than 500. Sky Beard, Florida director for nonprofit group No Kid Hungry, is now seeking donations and volunteers to revive the program and combat food insecurity affecting over 173,000 people in the county, including nearly 51,000 children.

 

WPTV

The South Florida Youth Symphony (SFYS) celebrated its 60th anniversary with a successful concert at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, attracting over 200 attendees, including students from Florida City Elementary School. Sponsored by the City of Coral Gables and Fairchild, along with the Kiwanis Club of Homestead-South Dade, the event included hands-on learning sessions for the students.

 

Miami's Community Newspapers

New College of Florida dismissed Kevin Wang, a professor who fled China seeking asylum, two years after Florida lawmakers prohibited state universities from engaging with individuals from "countries of concern." Wang, who faced political repression in China for criticizing the Communist Party, expressed his disillusionment: "I never expected to face such a distressing experience after escaping persecution." The dismissal has raised questions about the implications of the state's controversial law on academic environments and the ideological control at New College.

 

The Miami Herald

Tampa Bay Times

Research from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health has revealed a link between screen time in bed and sleep disruption among students. The study, which surveyed over 45,000 students aged 18-28, found that each additional hour of screen use correlates with a 63% increase in insomnia risk and a reduction of 24 minutes in sleep duration. Dr Gunnhild Johnsen Hjetland, the lead author, explained: "We found no significant differences between social media and other screen activities, suggesting that screen use itself is the key factor in sleep disruption." While the study highlights a correlation, it does not establish causation, indicating that further research is needed to understand the impact of screen use on sleep. 

 

BBC News

A principal in New South Wales, Australia, pulled off a masterful April Fools’ prank by convincing students they’d be required to complete a Year 13. Kylie Woods of Wollongong High School of Performing Arts told her Year 11 cohort they’d now graduate in 2027 due to a new education policy. The prank, coordinated with the NSW Department of Education, was delivered with hidden cameras rolling. When she revealed it was all a joke, the shocked students burst into relieved laughter. The prank has since been praised as one of the best school-based April Fools’ Day stunts in recent memory.

 

Student Edge