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Florida
23rd September 2026
 

THE HOT STORY

Teacher academies face pipeline gaps

High school teacher academies can strengthen local educator pipelines, but a Texas study found that gaps in college enrollment and completion limit their ability to diversify the teaching workforce. Researchers tracked more than 1.5m students, including nearly 70,000 who completed at least one high school education course, and found participants were four times as likely as their peers to become teachers, although fewer than one in 10 ultimately entered the profession. White participants were more than twice as likely to become teachers as Black or Hispanic participants, at 13.3%, compared with 4.9% and 5.5%, respectively, while nearly 70% of Black and Hispanic participants never enrolled in four-year public colleges. Researchers recommend stronger links with higher education, financial support, earlier classroom experience, and incentives to return to local districts. Teachers who had taken high school education courses also showed stronger retention, with fewer than one in five leaving within three years, compared with more than 30% of other teachers.

STATE NEWS

Florida tops education freedom rankings

Florida has been recognized as the top state for education freedom for the fifth consecutive year in the Heritage Foundation's 2026 Education Freedom Report Card. The report highlights Florida's strengths in education choice, academic transparency, teacher freedom, and civic education. Kevin Roberts, president of The Heritage Foundation, said: “More states need to provide families with K-12 education savings account programs that allow them to choose learning environments that align with their values.” While Florida excels in many areas, it ranks 48th in per student spending and 26th in average NAEP scores for fourth and eighth grades. The report also notes ongoing debates around key cultural topics and the state's efforts to expand educational options.

Vaping incidents drop in Florida schools

In recent years, vaping incidents in Florida schools have significantly decreased, with Tampa Bay districts reporting declines below pre-pandemic levels. According to the Tampa Bay Times analysis of the 2024-25 school year data, referrals for vaping-related incidents fell by 30% in Pasco and 28% in Pinellas. Lisa DePaolo, managing officer of prevention for Pinellas County Schools, said: “The students are driving the work that we're doing.” Both districts have implemented student-led initiatives and educational programs to combat vaping. Hillsborough's data showed lower vaping rates, but record-keeping changes may have affected accuracy. Overall, the collaborative efforts between students and school officials have contributed to a positive trend in reducing vaping incidents.

TEACHING

Math barriers for Black students

Black students often lack access to essential math courses, hindering their ability to take calculus in high school. According to Just Equations' report, Calculated Barriers, while Black students represent 15% of the public school population, they only accounted for 6% of AP math enrollments in the 2021-22 school year. Andrea McChristian, national policy director at Just Equations, emphasized the importance of quality math education, commenting: “Quality math education prepares you to fully engage in society.” The report highlights that many schools do not offer Algebra I in middle school, with 27% of New York state schools lacking this course. This inequity continues into higher education, where Black students face additional challenges in math sequences. The report calls for a redesign of high school mathematics to eliminate barriers and promote equitable access to advanced courses. McChristian noted: “It's an all-hands-on-deck effort... to change math education and opportunities for Black students.”

DISTRICTS

Broward schools face potential closures

Parents and officials gathered at a Broward School Board meeting to voice concerns over the proposed closure of 10 schools for the 2027-28 school year, part of the "Redefining Broward Schools" initiative led by Superintendent Howard Hepburn. “This has ended up not being a very fun job,” said Board member Maura McCarthy Bulman, reflecting the difficult nature of the discussions. The closures aim to save money and create larger schools with more resources. However, parents from Dolphin Bay and Lloyd Estates Elementary expressed strong opposition, fearing disruptions to community services and educational quality. Oakland Park Commissioner Tim Lonergan emphasized the broader impact of closing Lloyd Estates, stating: “You are making a decision that affects childcare, family and city services.” The School Board is set to hold a workshop on October 6, with a final vote expected in December.

WORKFORCE

Teacher accused of bias in class

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has sent a letter to Sarasota County Schools regarding allegations against a Pine View School history teacher. The teacher is accused of labeling an eighth grader a "misogynist" and disregarding the student's parents' wishes to avoid political discussions in class. Uthmeier stated that the teacher "routinely brings up political topics" and has included the student as the "conservative perspective" in discussions. The letter also mentions previous HR investigations involving the teacher initiated by parents. Uthmeier emphasized that if the allegations are true, the teacher should be dismissed and her educator certificate revoked. The district has until October 1 to respond to the letter.

FINANCE

Billionaire's $100m gift transforms education

Stephen Ross, a billionaire developer, has made a remarkable $100m donation to Pine Crest School, facilitating the opening of a new campus in West Palm Beach. The school described the contribution as "extraordinary," emphasizing Ross's commitment to education and the community. "We are profoundly grateful for the Foundation's generosity," the school stated. This donation is among the largest ever made to a K-12 institution, following a notable $128m gift to a Pennsylvania prep school in 2007. Ross's philanthropic efforts also include significant contributions to Vanderbilt University and Cleveland Clinic. He expressed his belief in West Palm Beach's future, stating: "World-class education is foundational social infrastructure for a growing community." The new campus will be built on 57 acres of land purchased for $6.6m.

SOCIAL & COMMUNITY

Sneakers for every student at Pinedale

All 475 students at Pinedale Elementary School in Jacksonville received new sneakers from the nonprofit Soles4Souls through its 4EveryKid program. This initiative aims to eliminate "footwear-related barriers" for students in need, in collaboration with The Giving Closet Project. Founder Jennifer Smith said: "The sneakers we receive from Soles4Souls are put into custom care packages for homeless and/or low-income youth." Over the past six years, Soles4Souls has provided around 2,500 pairs of sneakers to youth in Duval County Public Schools. Jamie Ellis, a spokeswoman for Soles4Souls, emphasized the impact of new shoes, saying: "Behind every number is a child who now walks into school feeling more confident." This year, 7,500 children across multiple cities, including Jacksonville, are benefiting from this program.  

SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION

Miami-Dade's bus camera cash grab

Miami-Dade County Public Schools' bus camera ticketing program, relaunched in May after a hiatus, has generated significant revenue. Between May 18 and June 4, the program issued 7,902 citations, totaling nearly $1.8m. The overall citations from May 18 to July 15 exceeded $2.2m. The program, a collaboration with Bus Patrol, aims to enhance school bus safety by catching drivers illegally passing stopped buses. Despite previous public complaints and a temporary suspension, the program resumed with a revised compensation structure.

SPORTS

Senators split on college sports bill

The Protect College Sports Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by Senators Maria Cantwell and Ted Cruz, is nearing U.S. Senate approval with support from 77 senators. However, Florida Senators Ashley Moody and Rick Scott voted against it, primarily due to provisions that impose a three-year probation for schools wishing to change conferences. Scott said: “We don't need federal law that forces schools to lose revenue if they want to change their conference.” The bill's restrictions are particularly concerning for Florida's major universities, including Miami and Florida State, which aspire to join more prestigious conferences. USF's chief executive of Athletics, Rob Higgins, expressed hope for adjustments to the bill, stating, “If the few provisions in the bill regarding conference membership are adjusted to become satisfactory, universities in our state will continue to thrive in the future.”

HIGHER EDUCATION

Cornell urges higher education rethink as AI and rising costs challenge universities

Cornell University has published a more than 200-page faculty report calling for changes to higher education as universities face disrupted government funding, declining public trust, rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI), and growing concerns about graduate preparedness. The report recommends diversifying funding, embracing a broader range of ideologies, expanding project-based learning, improving students’ time-management and problem-solving skills, and developing a new tuition model as the cost of a full-price Cornell undergraduate degree approaches $400,000. It also highlights employer skepticism about graduates’ ability to navigate ambiguous problems and setbacks, and argues that universities should prioritize developing human-centered judgment as AI reshapes education and the workplace. The committee rejected shortening undergraduate degrees to three years or shifting further toward online education, while also recommending a review of research incentives that prioritize publication quantity over quality.

UF shines as 8th-best public university

The University of Florida (UF) has been ranked the 8th-best public university in the United States according to the 2027 U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges rankings. This marks the 10th consecutive year that UF has secured a spot in the Top 10. "For 10 consecutive years, the University of Florida has been recognized among the nation's top public universities," said UF Board of Trustees Chair Mori Hosseini. The rankings are based on factors such as graduation rates, faculty resources, and student selectivity. UF President Stuart Bell noted, "This 10-year milestone is a reflection of the sustained excellence happening across the University of Florida." UF was also ranked 34th among public and private universities overall. Other Florida schools included the University of Miami at 55th and Florida State University at 59th.

INTERNATIONAL

South Korea moves to curb early private education with preschool testing ban

South Korea will prohibit private academies from conducting placement tests for preschool-aged children starting October 1 as part of efforts to curb intensive early childhood private education. Under the revised rules, academies will be barred from using written, oral, practical, and interview-based evaluations, as well as assessments that use test scores to grade specific abilities. Diagnostic assessments conducted through observation or interviews will still be permitted after a child has enrolled, provided parents give prior consent. Violators will face fines of ₩1m ($735) for a first offense, ₩2m for a second offense, and ₩3m for a third or subsequent offense.
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