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Florida
22nd September 2026
 

THE HOT STORY

Art teacher's social media sparks controversy

The recent decision regarding Hope McMath, an art history teacher at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, has sparked significant discussion. McMath faced charges related to her social media posts following the killing of Charlie Kirk in September 2025. In her post, she referred to the incident as "Karma," which raised concerns about her professional conduct. However, Administrative Law Judge Garnett Chisenhall concluded that the state failed to provide substantial evidence that McMath's posts impaired her service in the community. "The social media postings did not reflect any use, attempted use, or threatened use of violence by Ms. McMath," Chisenhall stated. Despite the controversy, the Duval County School District issued a verbal warning and reassigned her temporarily. McMath is now pursuing a federal lawsuit against the school district, alleging retaliation and discrimination.

NATIONAL NEWS

Attendance crisis overshadowing school violence

Recent data from Minga, the Student Behavior & Engagement Platform, reveals that concerns about violence and bullying in schools are overstated. At four education conferences in 2026, attendance and tardiness were consistently identified as the top issues, with bullying ranking at the bottom. “Nobody in this room is describing a crisis,” said Jason Richards, CEO of Minga, highlighting that students are present but disengaged. The data indicates a growing problem, with attendance-related concerns increasing by 24% between two surveys. School leaders expressed a desire for preventive measures, yet many still rely on outdated tools. “A consistent policy, applied the same way in every classroom, closes that gap fast,” Richards said, emphasizing the need for effective strategies as the 2026-27 school year approaches.

WORKFORCE

Orange County Public Schools reassigns 212 teachers this year

The Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) district has announced the reassignment of 212 instructional positions for the upcoming school year. Over half of these positions have already been moved, while the remaining 98 employees may have opportunities for reassignment, although there are fewer than 20 vacancies available, many requiring additional certifications. OCPS stated, "The district remains committed to supporting affected employees throughout this process while ensuring that all classrooms are staffed with appropriately certified educators." This decision comes amid significant enrollment declines, with 7,672 fewer students reported compared to last year, largely due to a declining birth rate affecting pre-K and kindergarten enrollments, as noted by Gallo.

DISTRICTS

Classroom chaos: Broward Schools struggle

Broward Schools are grappling with overcrowded classrooms, prompting the School Board to direct Superintendent Howard Hepburn to investigate the issue. During a recent meeting, board member Adam Cervera highlighted concerns from parents about class sizes exceeding state law limits, which cap kindergarten through 3rd grade at 18 students. Cervera stated, “This is a big problem in my district,” as parents express frustration over large class sizes. Hepburn acknowledged the issue, stating that the district is hiring teachers and redistributing them to schools in need. He emphasized, “We are at the tail end of it,” as the district works to balance class sizes. Parents like Brooke Bordy voiced their concerns, noting that large classes are detrimental to children's education and contributing to declining enrollment in Broward Schools.

FINANCE

Amendment 3 could impact student services

Heather Felton, a member of the School Board of Manatee County, expressed concerns about the potential impact of Amendment 3 on student services if it passes in November. She noted that while schools are technically exempt from the tax cuts, many partnerships with organizations providing essential services could be affected. “There are so many organizations that we partner with that will have to rethink how they provide services, and that is my concern,” Felton said. The amendment could lead to a loss of about one-third of the county's tax receipts, which may disrupt funding for school resource officers and various nonprofit services that support students. Sheriff Rick Wells emphasized the importance of these partnerships, stating: “These deputies care about the schools and they care about the students.”

Alachua County School budget approved

The Alachua County School Board has approved a $623m budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, increasing the property tax rate to 6.3270 mills from 6.2510 mills. Homeowners with a $200,000 home will see an estimated increase of about $47 in school taxes. The budget reflects an $18.9m rise from last year's $604m, primarily due to higher Florida Empowerment Scholarship funding. However, the district's report indicates that revenue for operations is declining as costs rise, with projected operating expenditures up 3.8% from last year. The budget allocates $96m for salaries and $34.3m for employee benefits, supporting a workforce of 4,212, including 1,639 teachers. 

Historic $10m gift transforms Jesuit High

Dr. Manuel Mon, the 1968 valedictorian of Jesuit High School, has made a historic $10m estate gift, the largest in the school's history. During a recent convocation, Mon, who has practiced as a pediatrician for over 40 years, expressed gratitude for the foundation the school provided him. “Jesuit taught me that faith and justice cannot be separated,” Mon said, emphasizing the importance of using education to support the vulnerable. His donation is part of the school's $100m fundraising campaign, aimed at securing a brighter future for students. Mon hopes his contribution will inspire future generations to reflect on their impact in a divided world.

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Increase in adverse behavior after free school meals end

Elementary school teachers in Alaska’s Anchorage School District reported increased student hunger, anxiety, difficulty focusing, and behavioral problems after a pandemic-era universal free school meal program ended in 2022. Researchers interviewed 25 teachers who compared their experiences during the 2021-2022 school year, when universal free meals were available, with the following school year. According to the study, published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, teachers said the free meal program reduced hunger and financial stress for families because students did not have to worry about paying for food. After the program ended, meal participation declined, and teachers reported that hungry students struggled more with concentration and behavior. They also said lunches brought from home were often less nutritious, with more sugary and processed foods, and teachers increasingly felt responsible for providing snacks to students who could not afford meals.

TECHNOLOGY

AI tools transform student feedback

Experts have stressed the need for transparency regarding AI's role in education, particularly in grading. Matt Sornson, co-founder of Legend.org, stated: “It does the first pass of assessing (their) rubric and what (they're) trying to grade.” Legend.org is developing AI tools to provide immediate feedback on various student works, including papers and presentations, for the 400 schools in the Mastery Transcript Consortium. The technology aims to assist teachers in evaluating both academic and soft skills, while ensuring that final grades remain the responsibility of educators. Amanda Hirsch, assistant director at Northern Illinois, noted the importance of ethical AI use in grading, stating: “As we stand at this crossroads of education and emerging technology, the question isn't whether to use AI in grading, but how to use it ethically and intelligently.”  

CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION

Cameron Academy expands real estate education

Cameron Academy of Real Estate, founded in 2003 by Linda Cameron, has expanded its presence in Florida by opening five new campuses across Greater Orlando, aiming for a total of 15 statewide. Michael Cameron Sidawi, the current owner and director, emphasized the importance of creating spaces where "a student walks out of class and onto a working brokerage floor." The academy has educated over 100,000 students through more than 800 courses and is recognized for its innovative teaching methods, including the first mobile exam-prep app in the U.S. The school also offers free licensing coursework to Florida students aged 15 to 17 and provides no-cost seats for adults overcoming challenges such as domestic violence or incarceration. Sidawi noted: "Orlando gave this school everything it has," highlighting the academy's commitment to the community.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Boris Johnson to speak at FSU

Former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is scheduled to speak at Florida State University (FSU) today, during a lecture titled "Saving the West." The event is part of the Institute of Governance and Civics (IGC) Fall 2026 Speaker Series, which aims to engage students with significant political figures. IGC Director Ryan Owens emphasized the importance of student engagement with historical ideas, stating: "We want students to learn from Johnson's experiences." However, some FSU students have expressed concerns about the lecture's title, fearing it may imply anti-immigrant sentiment. Critics also point to Johnson's controversial past, including the "Partygate" scandal that led to his resignation in 2022. Despite mixed reactions, the lecture has sold out, indicating strong interest from the FSU community. Owens noted: "It is remarkable that we [FSU] are able to attract such an important historical figure."

Students win free speech battle

Florida International University (FIU) students recently achieved a significant victory for free speech when a federal judge ordered the administration to cease punishing them for their silent protest during a university event. The protest involved 20 students wearing “ICE Off FIU” T-shirts, expressing their concerns over the university's collaboration with ICE. Despite not disrupting the event, the students faced threats of expulsion and were required to create apology videos. University President Jeanette Nuñez, a child of immigrants, declined to meet with the students to discuss their issues. The situation reflects a broader trend of political interference in education, as noted by Harry Hanbury, producer of the documentary “First They Came for My College,” which chronicles the hostile takeover of New College by political allies of Governor Ron DeSantis. 
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