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Florida's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) now prohibits the purchase of "junk food" items, including soda, energy drinks, candy, and ultra-processed desserts. The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) implemented this policy to encourage healthier food choices among low-income households. "Florida is committed to promoting the health and well-being of families who participate in SNAP," said DCF's Healthy SNAP Florida. The initiative aims to "alleviate hunger and combat malnutrition" by steering beneficiaries towards more nutritious options. This change aligns with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's findings that about one in five U.S. children and adolescents is obese, with higher rates among Hispanic and Black Americans.

 

The Floridian

What’s Shaping Special Education in Florida Today

As guidance around special education continues to evolve, Florida leaders are navigating how best to support students with learning disabilities while staying aligned to current research and practice. To help leaders stay current, a curated collection of the latest special education insights and free resources brings together expert perspectives, research‑aligned guidance, and recent district evidence.

Notably, a Miami‑Dade County Public Schools study examining students with IEPs using Read 180 found significant gains in reading performance, including increases in Lexile^® measures and FAST ELA scores. Together, these resources highlight current thinking on special education as intervention and instructional approaches used to support students with learning disabilities within broader systems of support.

 

The Florida Department of Education has proposed a measure that would prevent undocumented immigrants from enrolling in the state's public colleges. This proposal, set for a public hearing on May 14 at Miami Dade College, mandates that all admitted students must be U.S. citizens or legally present in the country, requiring "clear and convincing" documentation of their status. Additionally, the rule allows colleges to consider applicants' disciplinary histories, potentially broadening the criteria for admission. This measure could significantly limit access to the state college system for undocumented students, although the exact number affected remains uncertain. State Rep. Jennifer Kincart-Johnson and State Sen. Erin Grall have previously attempted to impose similar restrictions, reflecting ongoing legislative efforts to tighten policies affecting immigrant students.

 

The Miami Herald

Florida middle and high school students will soon study the alleged human rights abuses and drug trafficking under Nicolás Maduro as part of a new “History of Communism” class. Paul Burns, senior chancellor of public schools for the Florida Department of Education, stated: “The recent developments in Venezuela offer an opportunity to broaden classroom discussion and explore how different systems of government affect citizens and societies.” The curriculum will cover topics such as the Maduro regime's human rights violations, connections to drug trafficking, and international sanctions against Venezuela. The Florida Board of Education approved these updates in February, with the aim of enriching students' understanding of world history and encouraging active participation in protecting American liberty. The new standards will be implemented for the 2026-2027 school year.

 

The Miami Herald

NBC Miami

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a significant case examining whether Colorado can deny state-funded preschool subsidies to Catholic schools that do not comply with nondiscrimination rules requiring admission of LGBTQ+ families. The case stems from a broader legal challenge by administrators of two Catholic preschools, who argue that the state’s conditions for funding violate their First Amendment rights by forcing them to choose between their religious beliefs and access to public support. At the center of the dispute is Colorado’s universal preschool program, approved by voters in 2020, which provides free early education to tens of thousands of children. To participate, schools must agree to offer equal access regardless of factors such as religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, income level, or disability. State officials argue these requirements are essential to ensure fair access to publicly funded services. Lower courts have sided with Colorado, ruling that the law applies equally to all participating schools and does not target religious institutions specifically. Judges relied on the Supreme Court’s 1990 decision in Employment Division v. Smith, which allows neutral, generally applicable laws to stand even if they incidentally burden religious practices. However, the Catholic schools argue that this precedent has led to inconsistent outcomes and should be reconsidered, particularly in light of more recent rulings that have expanded protections for religious institutions in public funding programs. The Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments in the fall.

 

CNN

USA Today

Courthouse News Service

New York Times

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge from Massachusetts parents who said a public school district violated their parental rights by honoring their child’s request not to disclose a new name and pronouns at school. The lawsuit, dismissed by lower courts, argued the policy infringed due process protections under the 14th Amendment. Upholding that dismissal, the 1st Circuit said it was “unconvinced” that using gender-affirming names or pronouns amounted to medical treatment and said parents “remain free” to guide their child outside school.

 

The Miami Herald

U.S. News

K–12 school districts across the U.S. are increasingly shifting from caution to active adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), with IT leaders focusing on building policies that ensure ethical, transparent, and equitable use in classrooms. At the recent CoSN 2026 conference, district leaders highlighted approaches such as integrating AI principles into existing policies rather than creating standalone rules, emphasizing human oversight, data privacy, and responsible use in teaching and assessment. Practical frameworks are also emerging, including “stoplight” systems that clearly define when AI use is prohibited, permitted with disclosure, or required for assignments. Schools are also investing in tools and training to monitor and guide AI usage, including filtered AI platforms and teacher education on evaluating student work beyond final outputs. At the same time, districts are addressing concerns about a growing “AI divide,” where unequal access to advanced tools could widen educational disparities, prompting efforts to provide universal access through enterprise licenses and ensure all students learn to use AI effectively.

 

EdTech Magazine

Writing for The 74, Richard Culatta, CEO of ISTE+ASCD and former director of educational technology at the U.S. Department of Education, argues that lawmakers are responding to valid concerns about kids and consumer technology with blunt school technology bans that confuse harmful social media with evidence-based educational tools. Culatta says these bills overemphasize screen-time limits, ignore instructional quality and risk replacing effective learning tools with inferior paper worksheets. He highlights harms to students with disabilities, limits on data-informed teaching and long-term risks to digital literacy, warning that forcing students to learn for a paper-based world “no longer exists” would leave many children further behind.

 

The 74 (Online)

Teachers are increasingly utilizing "Magic School" AI to enhance their lesson planning and presentation creation. Kelly Whitton, an AICE Sociology teacher at Wharton High School, was among the first to adopt this tool during its pilot program. She stated: "It saves me so much time. Things that used to take me an hour could take two-three minutes now." Following the pilot's success, the Hillsborough County School Board approved the program, allowing 7,000 teachers to integrate it into their daily routines. While district officials acknowledge the efficiency of AI, they emphasize that it will never replace the essential human elements of teaching.

 

News 13

Seminole County Public Schools is grappling with a $26.4m budget deficit, prompting significant changes in district policies. Recently, the district announced it would no longer approve out-of-state and overnight student field trips due to costs, a decision that sparked backlash from parents and students. Although the district quickly reversed its decision, the financial strain remains evident as enrollment declines. Superintendent Serita Beamon noted plans to cut over 280 positions, aiming for $23.4m in savings. The district is also reviewing travel budgets, which could lead to further restrictions. Robin Dehlinger, chairwoman of the school board, acknowledged the communication issues surrounding these changes, stating: "What we're trying to do is make sure that as we are in difficult and challenging financial times, we are utilizing our resources to the best advantage of the students."

 

Bradenton.com

Lafayette County is set to finalize its agreement with the Florida Educator Health Trust (FLEHT) this week. Established to assist Florida school districts in reducing employee health plan costs without cutting benefits, FLEHT has expanded from three counties to 19, now serving over 56,000 school employees. “The savings our districts are realizing are not theoretical,” said FLEHT Executive Director Ted Roush, highlighting the program's success in delivering real financial relief. In the first quarter of 2026, FLEHT saved its member districts more than $7.8m, with projected annual savings of $4.2m for Polk County Schools alone. The program aims to save districts between 7%-12% by transitioning to self-insured plans, with potential cumulative savings of $252m over five years.

 

Florida Politics

Manatee County is experiencing a surge in school enrollment, prompting the construction of new schools and major expansions. Principal Laura Campbell of the new Veterans Elementary School, set to open in August, emphasized the importance of instilling hope and inspiration in students, remarking: "We want them to just make an impact and we just really believe in making good humans." Superintendent Laurie Breslin noted that the district has seen an increase of 300 students this year, with projections of an additional 500 students next year. The district is also working on several multi-million dollar projects, including upgrades to existing schools and the construction of Rye Ranch Elementary and a new high school in Lakewood Ranch.

 

News 13

Grassroots Free School in Tallahassee is on the mend after tornadoes devastated its campus in May 2024. The school raised over $27,000 through community support for repairs and operating costs. Kim Weinrich, the school's director, said: "The storm took a lot," but the school has since reopened and is preparing for summer camp. With a focus on student-led learning, Grassroots emphasizes autonomy and self-governance, allowing students to choose their educational paths. M. Dorsey, a parent and volunteer teacher, noted the relaxed model reduces pressure compared to standardized testing, helping students rediscover their love for learning. The school is now working on outdoor repairs, funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

 

Tallahassee.com

Tyler Dy and his classmates at Innovation High School in Orlando are engaged in advanced research through the NASA Project Research Program, focusing on weather safety, particularly lightning risks. “Approximately 13.4% of all rocket launches have a violation due to thunderstorms or lightning,” Dy said, highlighting the importance of their work. Under the guidance of calculus teacher Ms. Kimberly Chafin, the students recently presented their findings at the Annual Meeting of the American Meteorological Society, a rare achievement for high schoolers. Their research aims to enhance rocket launch safety and improve weather prediction models.

 

News 13

Volusia County Schools’ Director of Safety and Security, Captain Todd Smith, announced that DeLand High School is the last to receive AI metal detectors, aimed at enhancing safety for its large student body. Smith emphasized the importance of this technology in preventing tragedies like the Parkland shooting. The new system has already shown success, with a reported 75% reduction in weapons on campuses this year, including zero firearms. The district plans to expand this technology to middle schools in the 2026-27 school year, making it the first in Florida to implement AI metal detection across all high schools, according to Chief Communications Officer Mike Micallef.

 

News 13

The U.S. Department of Education has proposed a new accountability framework that would tie federal funding for college programs to the earnings outcomes of their graduates, potentially cutting access to student loans and, in some cases, Pell Grants if programs fail to deliver sufficient economic value. Under the proposal, undergraduate programs whose typical graduates earn less than high school graduates could lose federal aid eligibility, while graduate programs must demonstrate earnings above those of the average bachelor’s degree holder. The rule is positioned as a replacement for the Gainful Employment Rule and is intended to ensure taxpayer funds support programs that improve students’ financial prospects. The regulation, expected to take effect July 1 following a 30-day comment period, has drawn mixed reactions, with industry representatives welcoming broader accountability across all education sectors but raising concerns about flaws in the earnings-based formula, including regional wage differences and variations in employment types.

 

EdSource

Public school teachers and staff in Victoria, Australia are escalating industrial action as negotiations with the state government stall over pay and conditions, introducing measures including bans on written report comments, refusal to implement new initiatives, and rolling half-day walkouts. The dispute follows the government’s 17% pay offer, which unions rejected in favor of a 35% increase, with the Australian Education Union arguing staff are overworked, underpaid, and facing chronic underfunding, while the government says it remains committed to reaching a fair agreement through ongoing negotiations.

 

The Educator Online