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Florida
12th November 2026
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THE HOT STORY

Democrats gear up to challenge Trump

As Democrats in Congress prepare to leverage their majorities against President Donald Trump's education policies, they face challenges due to Trump's veto power. Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), the top Democrat on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, emphasized the need to “leave no rock unturned” in investigating the dismantling of the U.S. Education Department. With Trump prioritizing investigations into transgender issues while neglecting systemic racism, Democrats are exploring budgetary measures to impose conditions on federal funding. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) noted: “I think there will be an interest in using the power of the purse to establish guard rails.” Despite their efforts, there is skepticism about reversing Trump's education agenda, as many advocates push for accountability and reforms in higher education. Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, stated: “Even if he vetoes them, let's put the pressure on to get it to his desk.”

DESIGN MATTERS

Watch How Florida Math Was Designed Around B.E.S.T.

What does it really mean for a curriculum to be aligned? In a new video, McGraw Hill Florida Math contributing author Sarah B. Bush, Ph.D., takes educators inside the design process — and the difference between stamping benchmark codes on pages and designing one around what Florida's B.E.S.T. Standards ask students to become capable of doing. Built from the B1G-M instructional guides and the Math Standards Progressions, with the Mathematical Thinking and Reasoning Standards woven throughout, Florida Math moves students from exploration to representation to reasoning to application — so the evidence of alignment lives in what students think about, do, explain, and demonstrate. Watch the video and see how Florida Math builds math confidence for teachers, students, and Florida schools.

Watch the video

 

NATIONAL NEWS

Lawmakers seek longer school lunch periods

U.S. lawmakers have introduced the Healthy Meal Time Act, legislation aimed at ensuring students have sufficient time to eat nutritious meals and participate in recess during the school day. Sponsored by Reps. Kim Schrier (D-WA) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), the bill would direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Education, to study school meal and recess schedules and identify best practices. Although no federal minimum lunch period currently exists, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends at least 20 minutes of seated eating time. The proposed study would consider this guidance, time spent on activities other than eating, and the additional time students may need to consume minimally processed and unprocessed foods. Schrier, a pediatrician, emphasized that students sometimes skip meals to maximize recess time, arguing that better scheduling could improve nutrition, physical activity, concentration, and overall health.

HEALTH & WELLBEING

U.S. faces measles elimination crisis

The U.S. is at risk of losing its measles-elimination status from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) due to ongoing outbreaks. Florida has been a significant hotspot, particularly in Collier County, where a five-month outbreak occurred. The PAHO committee is set to meet in Washington, D.C., to decide on the U.S. status, which was first achieved in 2000. Dr. Erica Schwartz, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stated that the CDC's response to measles outbreaks will remain unchanged, regardless of the outcome. Epidemiologist Jennifer Nuzzo from Brown University's Pandemic Center noted that measles outbreaks are "sustaining themselves and seeding new outbreaks," indicating a troubling trend. As of November 5, the CDC reported 5,182 confirmed measles cases in 2026, the highest in decades, with 43 outbreaks recorded this year.

GOVERNANCE

Community outraged over Brevard superintendent's exit

During a packed Brevard County School Board meeting on Tuesday, community members expressed strong objections to the separation agreement for outgoing Superintendent Mark Rendell. A total of 34 speakers voiced their concerns, with many criticizing the conditions of the agreement. Despite the backlash, the board voted 3-1 in favor of supporting the agreement. "Most objected to the conditions," highlighting the community's discontent. 

DISTRICTS

Brentwood dropped from rezoning plan

Brentwood Elementary has been excluded from the potential options for Lincoln Park Elementary students if the latter closes, according to Shawn Dennis, assistant superintendent of operations for Escambia County Public Schools. “We took Brentwood out of the equation. The philosophy there is, anytime we can mitigate how many schools are impacted by a closure, the better thing,” Dennis said. The revised plan aims to rezone approximately 250 Lincoln Park K-5 students to other schools, including Ensley, Longleaf, and Pine Meadow. This decision is part of a broader effort to address declining enrollment, which has seen a drop of over 7,000 students since the COVID pandemic. The next School Attendance Zone Advisory Committee meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. on November 17.

Parents fight to save Sunset Hills

In a recent meeting, Tarpon Springs parents urged the Pinellas County School Board to reconsider its decision to close Sunset Hills Elementary. The board approved revisions to the district's fundamental schools and magnet programs policy, which includes closing Sunset Hills and expanding Tarpon Springs Fundamental Elementary to a K-8. Other changes involve discontinuing various magnet programs and adjusting choice seat allocations for district employees' children. The application period for choice programs is set to open on January 5.  

SAFETY & SECURITY

Volusia County enhances school safety with AI

Volusia County Schools (VCS) has expanded its safety measures by installing AI-assisted metal detectors at Ormond Beach Middle School, marking it as the ninth middle school to receive this upgrade. James Barringer, executive director for Student Services at VCS, said: "Safety and security is our top priority in Volusia County Schools, and I do think the parents appreciate that extra layer of safety that these provide to our students, families, and staff members." This initiative follows last year's implementation of metal detectors in high schools, aiming to enhance security without requiring students to open their backpacks. The district plans to equip all middle schools with these detectors before winter break, ensuring a safer environment for students and staff. 

STEM

NASA launches $1m student moon challenge

NASA has launched a $1m Moon Base Student Challenge, inviting U.S. high school and postsecondary students to design technologies supporting sustained human exploration near the lunar South Pole. The competition focuses on six technical areas: power generation and storage, habitat construction, life-support systems, surface mobility, communications, and astronaut safety. Open to students from academic, technical, and vocational backgrounds, the challenge requires no prior specialized engineering experience and aims to develop practical STEM skills while supporting NASA’s long-term lunar exploration ambitions. Teams must register by January 25, 2027, and submit initial concept papers by February 22. Up to 100 finalist teams will receive monetary awards and advance to a second phase, developing recorded presentations that demonstrate their designs and technical solutions. 

Coding champions emerge at EFSC

During the 2026 Annual Programming Competition at Eastern Florida State College, students showcased their coding skills in a challenging three-hour contest. Bradley Bellis from the Palm Bay Campus took first place, solving all five programming problems in just 55 minutes. Michael Hall from the Cocoa Campus secured second place, completing the problems in 1 hour and 30 minutes, while Aiden Dugan from the Melbourne Campus and Caleb Coomer from the Palm Bay Campus followed in third and fourth places, respectively. Claire Amorde, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, said: “The competition provides students with an opportunity to apply what they learn in the classroom while developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and technical skills that are highly valued by employers.”  

SOCIAL & COMMUNITY

Students honor veterans at FSU event

Approximately 300 Bay District Schools JROTC and military science students attended a Veterans Day program at FSU Panama City. The event provided students with a unique opportunity to hear veterans share their military experiences and learn about postsecondary education opportunities. Cmdr. Tristan Oliveria, commanding officer of Naval Support Activity Panama City, spoke during the program, emphasizing the importance of veterans' stories. A student even introduced herself to Col. Ryan C. Thulin, commander of the 325th Fighter Wing at Tyndall Air Force Base, highlighting the personal connections made during the event. "The event gave students an opportunity to hear veterans share their military experiences," said Oliveria.

CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION

New York leads U.S. school construction costs

K-12 school construction costs across the United States have increased by more than 9% between the fouth quarter of 2025 and and the fourth quarter of 2026, according to Gordian’s latest RSMeans Data. National average elementary school construction costs rose 12.3% to $291.16 per square foot, while junior high costs increased 11% to $285.86, high school costs climbed 9.2% to $287.61, and vocational school costs rose 9.7% to $263.16. New York remained the most expensive of the 10 cities surveyed, with elementary school construction reaching $378.52 per square foot and high school construction costing $380.77, compared with $243.75 and $240.48, respectively, in Houston, the least expensive market. Honolulu also recorded elevated costs, with elementary schools reaching $351.06 per square foot. Rising construction expenses are complicating decisions about renovations, replacements, energy efficiency, security upgrades, and technology investments.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Senate passes college disability access bill

The U.S. Senate has passed the bipartisan Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower (RISE) Act, legislation designed to make it easier for students with disabilities to access accommodations when transitioning from K-12 education to college. The bill would allow students who previously received disability-related services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to use existing documentation, including individualized education programs (IEPs) and Section 504 plans, as proof of disability when requesting accommodations in higher education. This would eliminate the need for additional testing or evaluations, reducing administrative barriers for students seeking continued support. The legislation was introduced by Sens. Jim Banks (R-IN) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA), alongside Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH). It now advances to the House of Representatives, where Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (OR) has previously introduced equivalent legislation. The House must approve the bill before the end of 2026, or lawmakers will need to restart the legislative process in 2027.

INTERNATIONAL

Bomb threats disrupt European schools

On Wednesday, hundreds of schools across Italy, Scotland, Ireland, and Northern Ireland have received bomb threats in an apparent coordinated campaign to disrupt education and public services. Italy's education ministry reported that more than 300 schools received emails warning of imminent explosions, prompting the evacuation of thousands of students. Similar threats triggered evacuations at schools in Scotland, Ireland, and Northern Ireland, although UK authorities have assessed the warnings as hoaxes. Police Scotland confirmed that threatening emails had been distributed widely across the UK and Northern Ireland but were not considered credible. The incidents follow a separate wave of bomb threats targeting airlines the previous week, which forced several aircraft to make emergency landings and disrupted European air travel.

Australian researchers call for stronger teacher wellbeing training

A University of Melbourne report has recommended making teacher wellbeing education a compulsory component of initial teacher education programs across Australia, aiming to improve workforce sustainability and address ongoing teacher shortages. The report, Start. And Stay: Incorporating Teacher Wellbeing into Initial Teacher Education, proposes at least one mandatory university subject dedicated to teacher wellbeing, alongside practical training integrated throughout teaching degrees. Researchers found that existing programs predominantly focus on student wellbeing, leaving graduates insufficiently prepared to recognize and manage their own professional challenges. Lead researcher Laura Dainton Smith emphasized that wellbeing must be a shared responsibility involving educators, school leaders, employers, and regulators, rather than an individual burden. The report also recommends stronger mentoring, supportive workplace cultures, and clearer professional support pathways for early-career teachers.
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