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Florida
20th August 2026
 

THE HOT STORY

Florida voters back public education

In the Primary Election, Florida voters demonstrated strong support for public education by electing pro-education school board candidates. Andrew Spar, President of the Florida Education Association, said: “Today’s results prove once again that Floridians want to strengthen, not abandon, their public schools.” The election results reflect a desire for leaders who prioritize students and families over political agendas. As the General Election approaches, voters are focused on issues like stagnant wages and the need for a robust public education system. The Florida Education Association endorsed several candidates who won their races, including Fentrice Driskell and Kyandra Darling.

GOVERNANCE

Rockwell secures re-election in Alachua

Sarah Rockwell has successfully won re-election for the Alachua County School Board District 3 seat, defeating youth advocate Gregory Pelham by over 6,000 votes. Rockwell was part of a decision to close three elementary schools, a move she described as "the absolute hardest thing I have ever done in my entire life." Meanwhile, Hunter Miller and incumbent Janine Plavac will compete in a runoff for the District 1 seat after neither secured enough votes. Miller, a math teacher, received 45.87% of the vote, while Plavac garnered 35.5%. The General Election is set for November 3.

Duval County School Board races heat up

Primary voting in Duval County has set the stage for November runoffs for all three open School Board seats. Donovan Bradley, 26, nearly secured a majority in District 2 but will face Donna Mae Westrich, a seasoned educator. Bradley, who previously served as the Duval County Republican Party's executive director, received endorsements from five current board members, stating, “We are confident Donovan will be a principled leader who will always put students, parents and teachers first.” In District 4, James "Coach" Jacobs and Rhodesia "Rho" Butler are vying for votes, both with extensive backgrounds in education. Meanwhile, District 6 has narrowed down to Lindsey Denmark and Clarence "CJ" James, each presenting distinct campaign messages focused on improving the school environment.

McGovern leads in Palm Beach race

In the Palm Beach County School Board elections, John T. McGovern is leading the District 6 race, while the District 4 race is likely heading to a runoff. As of 8:30 p.m., McGovern secured over 50% of the votes, while Christina Romelus in District 4 had a majority but fell short of the required threshold. McGovern, an attorney and former Wellington council member, emphasized the need for "academic excellence, safe and secure schools," and better marketing for the district. Romelus, a former commissioner, aims to enhance literacy and teacher salaries. The runoff election is set for November 3, as no candidate in District 4 achieved the necessary votes to win outright.

Mullis and Bedinghaus face off

The race for the District 5 seat on the Manatee County School Board will proceed to a runoff election between Jonathan Mullis and Camden Bedinghaus on November 3. In the primary, Mullis garnered 7,034 votes (35.3%), while Bedinghaus followed closely with 6,787 votes (34%). Chantal Wilford received 6,101 votes (30.6%), preventing any candidate from achieving a majority. Mullis, a physical therapy company owner and community leader, aims to enhance reading and math scores and increase tutoring opportunities for struggling students.

Incumbents shine in Marion County races

In the Marion County school board elections, incumbents Sarah James and Rev. Eric Cummings are leading their respective races, while the third contest features Mike Mills and Brigitte Smith vying for the open seat left by Nancy Thrower. Early returns show James with 18,474 votes (51.33%) against Donald "Donny" Barber and Ualthan Bigby, while Cummings has 21,087 votes (59.00%) over Steve Swett.

Nailbiter race heads to Pinellas County recount

Nancy Bostock and Amanda Lord are competing for the District 6 seat on the Pinellas County School Board, with results delayed until at least Friday due to an automatic recount. The race has been described as "closer than anyone can recall in recent history," highlighting the intense competition between the former board member and the political newcomer. Jeffrey S. Solochek, an education reporter, is covering the developments.

Runoff election set for Lee County District 5

In the recent primary election for District 5 on the Lee County School Board, no candidate secured over 50% of the vote, leading to a runoff on November 3 between the top two contenders, Armor Persons and Crystal Johnson. Persons, the current chairman, received 43.53% of the votes, while Johnson garnered 31.42%.

ABSENTEEISM

Tackling chronic absenteeism in schools

Chronic absenteeism, defined as students missing 10% or more of the school year, has surged since the COVID-19 pandemic, with national estimates showing around 23% of students affected. Researchers attribute this issue to factors like poverty and housing instability, but emphasize that schools can play a crucial role in addressing it. Jerome A. Graham from Michigan State University stated: "When schools attend to the conditions that make all students feel welcomed and valued, they are much more likely to show up." Positive school climates, characterized by connectedness, safety, and structured learning, significantly reduce absenteeism. However, many schools focus on communication and incentives rather than improving the school environment. To combat absenteeism effectively, schools must prioritize creating a supportive atmosphere that encourages student attendance.

STATE NEWS

Florida schools gain new flexibility

Florida has received approval from the U.S. Department of Education to waive certain federal requirements, allowing local school districts to enhance student outcomes. The state is now inviting districts to participate in the Education Flexibility Program, which could enable them to bypass strict federal mandates on the use of federal funds for student support. However, waivers will not apply to areas such as assessments, accountability, and services for students with disabilities. State officials aim to leverage resources for innovative teaching practices. "The entire premise of using a standardized assessment as a graduation gate is that it verifies a floor of competency," said Charles Barone, Center for Innovation senior director, commenting on Florida's use of the CLT exam. The program is approved through the 2030-31 school year, with 21 states involved.

ENROLLMENT

Miami-Dade schools face enrollment crisis

Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Jose Dotres expressed concern over a significant enrollment decline, stating: "When do you lose 12,000 students from one year to the next? It's never happened." The district has lost thousands of students in recent years, impacting its budget. Neighboring Broward County also reported a drop of about 11,000 students. Collectively, the five largest school districts in Florida have lost approximately 67,000 non-charter students from the 2023-2024 to the 2025-2026 school years. Factors contributing to this decline include Florida's expanded voucher program and fewer immigrant families relocating to South Florida. Dotres will remain in his role until February 14, 2027.

LEGAL

Teacher's suspension sparks controversy

A Lee County public school teacher, Mariah Roller, is recommended to have her suspension lifted and receive back pay after a judge found her Facebook comment about slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk caused "minimal" disruption. Judge Andrew Manko stated: "Ms. Roller's private Facebook post on her personal Facebook page was not unethical," emphasizing that the post was shared by a third party. Despite the Lee County School Board's claims of "substantial disruption," only two parents complained, and the principal received minimal correspondence regarding the issue. The case highlights ongoing tensions in Florida's educational environment, where several educators faced scrutiny for their social media comments about Kirk's assassination.

EARLY YEARS

KLA Schools gear up for learning

Before the new school year, educators at KLA Schools of Palmetto Bay engage in their own learning. This summer, they attended the annual KLA Schools Conference in Miami, focusing on the Reggio Emilia-inspired approach to early childhood education. Yudith Moreno, Pedagogical Coordinator, emphasized: “Children deserve teachers who are curious about who they are, what they are thinking and what they are capable of.” The professional development week allows teachers to collaborate and prepare their classrooms, fostering meaningful relationships with students. Moreno, who has 15 years of experience with KLA Schools, believes that the Reggio Emilia approach encourages children to explore their interests. She stated: “Reggio Emilia is not something that only happens in a classroom.”

HEALTH & SAFETY

Schools upgrade cooling systems as extreme heat threatens learning

In a Time op-ed, former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and Jonathan Klein, chief executive and co-founder of UndauntedK12, discuss how extreme heat is increasingly disrupting U.S. schools, with aging buildings and air-conditioning systems struggling with higher temperatures. During the 2024-25 school year, more than 9 million students across 10,000 schools experienced closures or disruptions linked to extreme heat and other severe weather. Research cited in the article suggests that excessive classroom heat can reduce concentration and learning, increase absenteeism, and worsen health problems. Schools are responding by modernizing HVAC systems, installing geothermal or ground-source heat pumps, and combining these upgrades with solar power and energy storage. These investments can provide more reliable heating and cooling, improve indoor air quality, and reduce schools’ exposure to rising and volatile energy costs. Federal energy tax credits and Elective Pay are also helping districts reduce upfront costs and make projects more financially viable. Several districts are already implementing these solutions. Center Grove Community Schools in Indiana is replacing aging boilers, chillers, and fan coils with a geothermal heat pump system, while a school in Menasha, Wisconsin, has combined ground-source heat pumps with solar panels and energy storage. Prince William County schools in Virginia are taking steps to protect their budgets from projected utility cost increases.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Cool savings: Seminole schools adjust AC

Seminole County Public Schools is implementing changes to its air conditioning systems to enhance efficiency and reduce electricity costs, projecting annual savings of about $1.7m. District spokesperson Mark Mullins noted that many schools had previously maintained occupied temperature settings longer than necessary. "We had many schools running at what is called an occupied set point much longer than schools were legitimately occupied," Mullins said. The new strategy involves adjusting thermostats to around 78 degrees during unoccupied periods, as the district spends approximately $17m to $19m annually on electricity.

TECHNOLOGY

BCI technology could give students greater classroom independence

Brain-computer interface technology could eventually help students with severe physical disabilities communicate, complete schoolwork, and participate more independently in class. The systems interpret electrical brain activity through headsets or implanted devices and could supplement assistive tools such as eye-tracking software and switch controls. Researchers say widespread classroom use may still be at least a decade away, with pediatric systems requiring personalized designs, teacher training, and collaboration with caregivers. Data privacy is also a significant concern, prompting researchers to explore processing brain data directly on headsets rather than transferring sensitive information to external computers. While the technology remains at an early stage, researchers believe it could provide greater independence for students whose disabilities limit their ability to use existing assistive technologies.

INTERNATIONAL

Bilingual teaching boosts science performance and engagement in South Africa

A study of 168 fourth-grade students at a Cape Town school found that teaching science in both isiXhosa and English improved academic performance and classroom engagement. Students taking a bilingual test achieved an 86% pass rate, compared with 51% among those taking an English-only test, while students also participated more actively in discussions and written work. Parents strongly supported the approach, saying bilingual materials helped them become more involved in their children’s education and connect classroom learning with everyday life. None expressed concern that using isiXhosa alongside English would disadvantage their children’s English development. The findings come as South Africa expands bilingual education into upper primary grades, with about 80% of its 12.7m public-school students learning in a language other than their home language. 

AND FINALLY...

Python takes heat for blaze

A female python named Nanner is at the center of a fire incident at Forest Middle School in Virginia, where officials claim she accidentally started the blaze by knocking over a heat fixture. The fire, which occurred on August 13, resulted in significant water damage to eight classrooms and the death of a tortoise. Brittany Jacobs, Nanner's owner and a life science teacher, disputes the fire marshal's findings, stating that the snake was trying to escape the fire. "I am devastated for many reasons right now," Jacobs said, reflecting on the loss of her teaching materials and the tortoise. Cleanup efforts are ongoing, with most classrooms expected to reopen soon, while the affected classroom may take up to a month to restore. The investigation into the fire's cause is still underway.
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