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A new report from the Learning Policy Institute argues that effective school principals are one of the most important, yet often overlooked, factors in addressing many of education’s most pressing challenges, including teacher retention, student achievement, chronic absenteeism, and school culture. The Principal Effect: How Investing in School Leaders Is Key to Solving Education's Challenges, synthesizes research showing that strong principals improve academic outcomes by fostering teacher collaboration, providing instructional coaching, involving educators in goal-setting, and creating positive working environments. These conditions help retain teachers, improve school stability, and support stronger student performance. Linda Darling-Hammond, the report’s lead author and chief knowledge officer at the Learning Policy Institute, said policymakers have historically underinvested in leadership development despite evidence of its impact. The report highlights examples of more comprehensive principal development programs in places such as Delaware and Chicago, where aspiring school leaders receive structured training, mentoring, and year-long internships under experienced principals.

 

Education Week News

Title IX & State-by-State Sexual Harassment Compliance Requirements

Preparing for the upcoming school year? Vector Solutions’ state-by-state guide helps districts better understand Title IX, sexual abuse, and sexual harassment training requirements. Use it to review reporting and prevention mandates, align role-specific training, and simplify compliance tracking before the school year begins.

Download Guide

 

House Republicans have unveiled a fiscal 2027 education spending proposal that would significantly reduce federal education funding, revive several previously rejected budget cuts, and impose new restrictions on schools that support transgender students. The proposal would cut Title I funding for low-income students by $1.6bn, or 9%, reduce annual investment from $18.4bn to $16.8bn, eliminate billions of dollars in funding for teacher professional development and English learner services, and end several competitive grant programs, including those supporting community schools and teacher training initiatives. At the same time, the bill would provide modest funding increases for special education, Impact Aid, Native American education programs, and Head Start. Funding for after-school programs, rural education, homeless student services, and charter school grants would largely be maintained, with charter schools receiving an additional $60m. The legislation would also allow the federal government to withhold education funding from K-12 schools and colleges that permit transgender girls to participate in girls’ sports or that withhold information about a student’s gender identity from parents. Education policy experts have warned that such provisions could trigger legal conflicts with state laws and existing federal civil rights protections. The proposal aligns with several elements of President Donald Trump’s education budget, including eliminating Title II-A and Title III-A programs, which together provide roughly $3 billion annually for teacher development and English learner services. However, House lawmakers are proposing even deeper cuts to Title I funding than those included in the president’s budget request. The proposal now moves to the committee process, with months of negotiations expected before Congress reaches a final spending agreement. 

 

Education Week News

The Florida Legislature has approved a constitutional amendment to eliminate property taxes, which will be presented to voters in the upcoming November ballot. The measure passed with a vote of 75-26 in the House and 30-9 in the Senate during a special session. Lawmakers made significant amendments, including preserving property taxes that fund public schools, addressing concerns from local governments and public safety officials about potential budget shortfalls. House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell raised concerns, asking, "What library do you want us to close? What park do you want us to close?" The homestead exemption is set to increase from $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027, with a potential rise to $500,000 in the future. While supporters claim this will provide tax relief, critics warn it could jeopardize essential services. House Speaker Daniel Perez emphasized that the decision should ultimately rest with the voters.

 

Tampa Bay Fl News

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently signed the “Teddy Bridgewater Act,” allowing high school coaches to use personal funds for player expenses like food and transportation. This legislation, named after the Florida native and NFL quarterback, aims to support underprivileged players. DeSantis stated, “He got into this situation where he was paying for meals and rides for some of his players who were underprivileged.” The act imposes strict regulations, limiting spending to $15,000 per team annually and requiring full reporting to a state agency. Additionally, a separate bill addressing coaching salaries will take effect on July 1, aiming to increase compensation for coaches in Florida, where current stipends are significantly lower than in neighboring states.

 

Tampa Bay Fl News

School districts across the United States are introducing stricter rules for student e-bike use as the growing popularity of the vehicles has been accompanied by rising numbers of crashes, injuries, and traffic concerns. Districts are increasingly grappling with how to safely manage e-bikes, which can travel at speeds of up to 28 mph and are often subject to limited regulation. Safety concerns are being reinforced by new research showing a sharp increase in pediatric e-bike injuries. A California emergency department treated 201 children for e-bike-related injuries in 2025, compared with just one case in 2021, with e-bike accidents becoming the leading cause of trauma-related emergency room visits at one children's hospital.

 

GovTech

Duval County Public Schools will install metal detectors at 30 elementary schools starting in the 2026-27 school year to enhance campus security. The Duval County School Board approved a $2m contract to expand the use of the CEIA OPENGATE system, previously implemented in middle schools. The specific schools for installation will be determined over the summer, and families will be informed before the new school year. The system allows students to keep personal items while screening for weapons, with alerts triggered for items like knives and guns. Training for district employees handling the screening will occur before the system's rollout. This initiative is part of a broader project to install weapon detection technology across all district schools.

 

The Florida Times-Union

The Tampa City Council has taken initial steps toward expanding the city's speed camera program, with a vote on first reading to increase the number of schools with cameras from 12 to 18. Council members expressed concerns about the contractor, RedSpeed, which conducted the study justifying the expansion and is known to share data with Flock Safety, raising privacy issues. Council Member Luis Viera argued that concerns about misuse should not hinder the program's potential benefits for child safety, remarking: "The potential misuse of the ordinance should not preclude the reasonable use." The council is set to hold a final public hearing and vote on July 16, with discussions ongoing about how to allocate the estimated $14.7m in revenue, emphasizing that funds should be dedicated to school safety.

 

Florida Politics

The Volusia County School Board has approved new principal and assistant principal appointments for the 2026-2027 school year, impacting several schools in the Ormond area. Jodi Lewitt, previously the assistant principal at Seabreeze High School, will take over as principal, succeeding Tucker Harris, who is moving to a district role. Beachside Elementary will welcome Christina Donohue as its new principal, while Kelly Moore will lead Tomoka Elementary after Julie Roseboom's retirement. Champion Elementary's new principal, Samantha Fabulich, expressed excitement about continuing the school's progress, stating: "We are champions on the move." Other appointments include Dr. Faith Harris to Blue Lake Elementary and several assistant principal changes across the district.

 

Daytona Beach News Journal

Ormond Beach Observer

In Naples, Florida, over 3,400 students from Collier County Public Schools graduated, collectively earning more than $40m in scholarships. Graduates are set to attend prestigious institutions such as Harvard University, Yale University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A notable opportunity is the Harold P. Bovenkerk Scholarship for Engineering and Natural Sciences, exclusive to Collier County students. This year, 28 seniors received Bovenkerk Scholarships, totaling $1.2m in awards. The program, launched in 2023, has supported 153 students with over $7m in funding, backed by a $25m endowment. The scholarship honors Harold P. Bovenkerk, a pioneer in synthetic diamond technology, whose legacy continues to benefit local students.

 

WINK News

The Legacy Future Scholars Academy has received unanimous approval from the Fort Pierce City Commission to transform a vacant retail building at 510 Orange Ave into a school. Despite city staff's recommendation for denial, the commission supported the project, which plans to invest about $1m in renovations. The school aims to accommodate up to 200 students from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade, featuring eight classrooms, a cafeteria, and an indoor gym. City Planning Director Kevin Freeman raised concerns about property-sharing agreements for parking, but Commissioner Curtis Johnson noted that the school had provided a backup plan. The school’s mascot will be the Peacocks, reflecting its location in the Peacock Arts District.

 

TCPalm

In Temple Terrace summer break intensifies the financial strain on families, particularly those in foster care. "Families were coming to us and saying, 'Hey we'd love to say yes, but grocery prices keep rising,'" said Janet Rinaldi, executive director of West Florida Foster Care Services. To address this issue, Rinaldi and volunteers established a free market to provide essential groceries for over 150 foster families, a significant increase from just 15 families two years ago. The partnership with Feeding Tampa Bay’s Retail Rescue Program has been crucial in this effort. Alicia McMillan, a foster and adoptive mom, highlighted the additional burden during summer, stating: "It goes quickly and it leaves a lot of cost." The initiative aims to ensure that no child goes hungry during this challenging time.

 

Tampa Bay Fl News

Anastasios "Stasi" Kamoutsas has been appointed as the new president of Polk State College, effective July 6. The decision was unanimous among the board of trustees, following a national search that attracted over 100 applicants. Kamoutsas, who previously served as Florida's Education Commissioner for a year, has a strong background in education and has been a key figure in Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration. He expressed his commitment to enhancing Polk State's role as a vital economic engine for the community. His appointment continues a trend of DeSantis allies taking leadership roles in Florida's public colleges.

 

The Miami Herald

The American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) and the PA Education Association have sued the U.S. Department of Education over new federal student loan limits that they argue unfairly restrict borrowing for physician assistant students and could worsen healthcare workforce shortages. Under a rule set to take effect on July 1, graduate students will be limited to $100,000 in federal loans and professional students to $200,000. While medical, dental, veterinary, pharmacy, and several other healthcare programs qualify as professional degrees and receive the higher borrowing limits, physician assistant programs do not, leaving their students subject to the lower cap. The advocacy groups argue that many physician assistant programs cost more than $200,000 when tuition, housing, fees, and supplies are included, and contend that the Education Department has unlawfully added criteria to determine which programs qualify as professional degrees. They are seeking a preliminary injunction to block implementation of the rule.

 

The Hill

During a recent forum in Gainesville, former University of Alabama President Stuart Bell addressed concerns regarding his stance on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. He emphasized his commitment to "reshaping higher education" and focusing on "student achievement, academic excellence," and aligning with Florida's values. Bell stated: "I'm certainly not coming to Florida to bring DEI or any form of woke back. Period." He highlighted his previous experience in Alabama, where he replaced the DEI division with a Division of Opportunities, Connections, and Success to comply with state law. Bell's leadership aims to foster a culture of merit and accountability, ensuring success for all students, regardless of background. As UF seeks stability after a leadership transition, Bell's appointment is pending final approval from the Board of Governors.

 

Florida Phoenix

A new pilot program called Connecting Futures is helping young people involved in the child welfare system reconnect with education, graduate from high school, and pursue post-secondary opportunities through tailored academic and social support. The two-year initiative, backed by a C$7.5m ($5.4m) investment from the Northpine Foundation and delivered in partnership with the Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada, operates across eight ventures in Ontario and Manitoba. The program brings together school boards, child welfare agencies, libraries, and community organizations to support students who have disengaged from traditional education. Early results have been encouraging. Participants have collectively earned between 80 and 100 academic credits during the program’s first 10 months, one student has already graduated, and several more are expected to receive diplomas by the end of June. Organizers say the program’s success stems from its ability to coordinate services across sectors and adapt educational delivery to the complex needs of youth in care.

 

CBC News