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Florida
25th September 2026
 

THE HOT STORY

Florida cracks down on school books

Florida's education commissioner, Henry Mack, has mandated stricter rules for reviewing library and classroom books, warning districts to act or face “corrective measures.” In a memo dated September 23, Mack emphasized the need for continuous audits of instructional materials, stating, “Reactive review is insufficient.” He highlighted the importance of protecting students from inappropriate content, citing recent complaints from parents about specific books. Mack's directive includes a nine-point plan for districts to follow over the next 90 days to ensure compliance. Failure to adhere could result in the loss of state funding. He criticized the current process, saying, “A process that depends on a parent discovering explicit material... is unacceptable and must end.”

STATE NEWS

Florida gubernatorial race now a toss up

An independent election forecaster has reclassified Florida's gubernatorial race as a "toss up" between Republican Byron Donalds and Democrat David Jolly. Despite registered Republicans outnumbering Democrats by over 1.5m, Donalds' win probability has dropped to 60%, down from 68% earlier in September. Decision Desk HQ stated: "In our gubernatorial forecast update, Florida's gubernatorial race has shifted into the Toss Up column." This change indicates that both candidates now have a plausible path to victory. The shift is seen as a significant rating change favoring Jolly and his running mate, Gwen Graham. Jolly's campaign advisor, Mark Riddle, emphasized that the toss-up designation "won't change our approach," focusing on key issues like housing and healthcare. Meanwhile, Donalds has distanced himself from Trump in his campaign messaging, highlighting local issues instead.

NATIONAL NEWS

Clock change debate hits schools

The Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent and end twice-yearly clock changes, faces uncertainty in the Senate amid concerns about its effects on students and schools. The House passed the legislation 308-117 in July, but some senators have raised concerns that permanent daylight saving time could leave students traveling to school in darkness during winter mornings, particularly in northern states. The article cites sleep experts who argue that permanent standard time would better align with circadian rhythms, particularly for teenagers, and could support sleep, learning, and mental health. Supporters of permanent daylight saving time emphasize the benefits of additional evening daylight, while some educators warn that moving school start times later could conflict with sports, extracurricular activities, and instructional schedules.

Education central to American Dream

A new Gallup and Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream survey found that 92% of Americans consider a quality education important to achieving the American Dream, even as dissatisfaction with K-12 education remains widespread. Adults who are more satisfied with schools are also more optimistic about upward mobility and opportunities for future generations, while most respondents said schools are not doing enough to prepare students for the workforce or help them improve their circumstances. A separate recent poll found that just 32% of adults are satisfied with U.S. education options. However, views are more positive at the individual level, with 58% saying they received a quality education, and 57% saying they have access to good schools for themselves and their families.

WORKFORCE

Teachers voice concerns in survey

In a recent survey conducted by NBC6 and Telemundo 51, over 1,200 teachers from Miami-Dade and Broward shared their pressing concerns regarding the education system. Eighty percent of respondents considered leaving South Florida due to the high cost of living, with 62.4% feeling financially worse off than the previous year. “Can't afford to live on my own,” one teacher said, highlighting the financial strain many educators face. Additionally, 70% reported declining student enrollment, and 65.8% noted staffing shortages in their schools. The survey also revealed widespread anxiety about immigration enforcement affecting students, with 71% of teachers acknowledging its impact. Despite these challenges, 45% of teachers expressed happiness in their roles, though many voiced concerns about inadequate support and resources.  

POLICY

Teachers question classroom device dependence

Nearly all elementary school students use laptops, tablets, or other devices in class, according to a Walton Family Foundation and Gallup survey of more than 2,000 K-12 public school teachers. About a quarter of elementary teachers said devices are used for main lessons during all or most class periods, while 46% said technology is a distraction to some extent. Although 61% said digital tools can help students learn more effectively, about two-thirds supported moving device-based classes back to paper, and teachers generally favored stronger monitoring, filtering, and access to non-digital materials over broad screen-time limits. Teachers with greater control over classroom technology reported more positive views of devices, while those in wealthier districts were more likely than teachers in high-poverty districts to consider digital tools a good fit for learning.

ENROLLMENT

Broward schools face enrollment crisis

The Broward County School Board is grappling with a significant decline in student enrollment, with a recent count showing 12,300 fewer students than last year, a 5.6% drop. This decline exacerbates the existing issue of over 60,000 empty seats in the district, leading to a projected budget shortfall of over $430m. Board member Rebecca Thompson emphasized that the potential closure of 10 schools is not solely about saving money but ensuring "the best opportunities" for students. Parents from schools like Dolphin Bay expressed concerns about the impact of closures on their children's stability and support systems. The district's total enrollment has decreased from 204,721 four years ago to 177,575 this year, with charter schools also experiencing a decline. The upcoming Nov. 3 referendum is critical, as failing to pass could result in a loss of $358m for the district, according to board member Allen Zeman.

FINANCE

Hillsborough County tax extension on ballot

Hillsborough County voters will decide in November whether to extend a half-penny sales tax for another decade, starting January 1, 2029. This tax, approved seven years ago, has generated approximately $1.5bn for school improvements, funding over 1,000 projects, including roof replacements and HVAC upgrades. Tametha Simmons, principal of Bryan Elementary School, emphasized the importance of these improvements, stating: “The improvements are meaningful.” The tax costs the average taxpayer about $86 annually, with 25% of revenue coming from tourists. The district aims to address significant infrastructure needs, as about 20% of schools are between 90 and 100 years old. 

Tampa Bay schools approve $8.2bn budget

This month, Tampa Bay school districts approved a combined budget of over $8.2bn for the current school year, reflecting changing enrollment trends and increased voucher spending. Pinellas County's budget decreased by 2.4% to $1.75bn, with 79% sourced locally. Hillsborough's budget fell by 5% to $4.2bn, with local contributions rising nearly 9%. Pasco's budget increased by 1% to $2.32bn, driven by a $16.5m rise in Family Empowerment Scholarship spending. Nakylah Carter, a data reporter covering education, noted that despite the overall budget increase, per-student funding has declined since 2009.

SPECIAL EDUCATION

Scholar Education tackles special education crisis

Scholar Education has successfully raised $2m in a series seed round to enhance its platform aimed at addressing the special chief executive of Scholar Education. The investment will enable the company to expand its services beyond classroom support, focusing on streamlining special education evaluations and reducing wait times and costs for families. Scholar Education currently assists over 20,000 teachers and students through its digital assistants, BaxterBot and PAWfessor Bruce, which provide personalized support and accommodations. The funding will also support the development of Scholar Health, aimed at improving the efficiency of special education evaluations and connecting assessment results to classroom implementation.

EARLY YEARS

Proposed Head Start overhaul sparks debate over bilingual instruction and school readiness

The Trump administration has proposed requiring English-only classroom instruction in Head Start, potentially affecting nearly 290,000 dual-language learners nationwide, including thousands of children in Los Angeles County. The proposal would remove requirements for staff to speak students’ predominant home languages, provide certain assessments and screenings in families’ preferred languages, translate essential parent materials, and maintain foreign-language classroom resources. The administration says the changes would give providers greater flexibility and strengthen English proficiency and school readiness, while critics argue they could hinder language acquisition, family communication, and student development. The Administration for Children and Families estimates that one-third of non-tribal Head Start programs would need to change curricula, replace materials, and retrain or replace teachers, at an estimated one-time cost of at least $99 million. The proposal is undergoing public comment through October 6.

SPORTS

Transgender sports rules diverge across states following Supreme Court decision

A U.S. Supreme Court ruling has allowed state laws barring transgender girls and women from girls’ and women’s school sports to remain in place, while stopping short of requiring such restrictions nationwide. According to the article, 27 states currently have laws restricting transgender girls’ participation in girls’ sports at publicly funded K-12 schools and colleges, while other states remain free to maintain more inclusive policies. Professional leagues and sports organizations generally establish their own eligibility rules, with several organizations, including the NCAA and International Olympic Committee, adopting restrictions on transgender women competing in women’s categories. The article notes that transgender athletes represent a very small share of sports participants and that research on potential athletic advantages remains limited. Legal experts also said the Supreme Court’s reasoning could influence future disputes involving Title IX, equal protection, and transgender rights beyond athletics.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Education Department announces $174m investment in HBCUs

The U.S. Department of Education has announced a one-time investment of more than $174m in historically Black colleges and universities, in addition to their regular annual federal funding. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the funding is intended to help HBCUs continue providing education and preparing students for a changing economy, while addressing barriers to federal and state grants and improving their competitiveness for research and development funding. The latest award follows a $438m one-time investment last year, bringing the administration’s combined one-time HBCU investment for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 to more than $612m. The administration is also providing more than $61m in additional one-time funding for tribally controlled colleges and universities. The United Negro College Fund welcomed the HBCU investment, although its president, Michael L. Lomax, said needs across HBCU campuses remain significant.

Education Department panel deadlocks over ABA’s role in law school accreditation

A U.S. Department of Education advisory committee has deadlocked over whether the American Bar Association should retain its status as the federally recognized accreditor of U.S. law schools, leaving Education Department Under Secretary Nicholas Kent to make the final decision in the coming months. The department previously recommended against renewing the ABA legal education council’s accreditor status, arguing that it is not sufficiently separate and independent from the broader ABA and criticizing the organization for moving too slowly to revise requirements concerning law schools’ diversity policies. Critics of the ABA’s accreditation role argued that ending federal recognition would have limited immediate effects because only five law schools rely on ABA accreditation for access to federal student loans. Supporters warned that removing the ABA could disrupt U.S. legal education and create a patchwork of state lawyer licensing requirements, while also alleging that federal accreditation rules were being applied unevenly to the organization.

Education Department sued over canceled student loans still appearing on credit reports

Two student-loan borrowers have sued the U.S. Department of Education, alleging that loans canceled years ago remain listed as active on their credit reports, damaging their credit scores and limiting their ability to borrow. The Project on Predatory Student Lending, which represents plaintiffs Mandy Woods and Jorge Cortes and is seeking class-action status, says more than 300,000 borrowers still have $4.6bn in canceled debt reported as outstanding. Woods borrowed about $65,000 to attend Ashford University, while Cortes borrowed about $54,000 for ITT Technical Institute, with the Education Department later canceling loans for eligible former students after taking action against both institutions. Woods said her credit report continues to show nearly $72,000 in federal student-loan debt because of accrued interest, despite the discharge, and that she was recently denied three credit cards. The lawsuit alleges that the department is violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act by continuing to report canceled balances, amid broader disruption in the federal student-loan system and a default population that has reached more than 9.3m borrowers.

FIU faculty question future amid turmoil

Faculty members at Florida International University (FIU) are expressing concerns about the university's future amid hiring restrictions and a pause on raises, all while President Jeanette Nuñez received a $400,000 bonus. During a recent Faculty Senate meeting, Nuñez stated, “Obtaining recurring dollars for raises was my administration's number one priority.” Despite the financial challenges, she emphasized that her bonus was not drawn from the university's core budget. Comparatively, the new president of the University of Florida is set to earn a total compensation of up to $3m. Tensions escalated when faculty raised issues regarding controversial topics, including the university's immigration policy and a pig roast event scheduled during a Jewish holiday. Some faculty members criticized Nuñez's tone during the meeting, describing it as “not okay” and “aggressive.”

INTERNATIONAL

Italy moves to ban face-covering veils in schools and introduce 30% classroom limit

Italy’s government has approved measures banning burqas and niqabs in schools and introducing a 30% cap affecting certain students without Italian citizenship or with limited Italian-language experience in first-year primary, middle, and high school classes. The face-covering ban does not apply to hijabs, while the classroom rules vary by education level and include exemptions where students cannot be distributed among nearby schools, with additional Italian-language instruction provided instead. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the measures as tools to promote integration, while Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara said the limit is “purely linguistic” and intended to prevent “ghetto classes.” Schools would also be required to report cases where persistent parental language barriers hinder a child’s integration, with free Italian courses offered. Opposition politicians have criticized the measures as politically motivated and difficult to implement, while the government has rejected claims that it is responding to pressure from the hard-right Futuro Nazionale party. The decree can take effect immediately but must be ratified by parliament within 60 days.
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