A federal judge is expected to decide this week whether to block a new state law that would restrict the way certain race-related concepts can be taught in public schools and in workplace training. Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker heard arguments Tuesday and promised…
Read More Judge Weighs Arguments On Florida Race-Related Instruction Law
Florida is preparing to launch mentoring and outreach programs geared toward bolstering fathers’ parenting skills and, in turn, helping at-risk youths as part of a $70 million initiative. The initiative was included in a new law (HB 7065) approved unanimously this year by the Legislature…
Read More Florida To Launch Fatherhood Mentoring And Outreach Programs
Two weeks after a deadly school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, reignited debates about gun violence and securing schools, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Tuesday that will require mental-health “crisis intervention” training for on-campus officers. The measure also will make other school-safety changes, including giving…
Read More Florida Gov. DeSantis Signs School-Safety Changes
Breaking from the Legislature’s efforts to punish school districts that imposed mask mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday directed Florida’s new education commissioner to ignore a plan that would have made the districts ineligible for $200 million. DeSantis, who signed the…
Read More Gov. DeSantis Nixes Mask Punishment For Florida Schools
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday tapped former state education commissioner Richard Corcoran to serve on the state university system’s Board of Governors. The Board of Governors oversees Florida’s 12 state universities and is tasked with such responsibilities as adopting regulations designed to carry out state…
Read More Florida Gov. DeSantis Appoints Corcoran To Board Of Governors
As the Florida Department of Education seeks proposals from textbook companies to provide social-studies materials to schools, it is making clear concepts such as critical race theory and social justice should not be included. The department is accepting bids from companies through June 10 to…
Read More Florida Targets CRT In Social Studies Books
Calling it a “blockbuster day for freedom,” Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed a bill that will require public-school students to observe “Victims of Communism Day” on Nov. 7 each year. The new law, which went into effect immediately, describes the day as being geared…
Read More Education: Florida Law To Require Lessons On Victims Of Communism
A leaked U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion that would overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade abortion decision ignited a sense of urgency Tuesday among Florida Democrats while drawing praise from Republicans. Authored by Justice Samuel Alito, Jr. and supported by other members of the conservative…
Read More SCOTUS Roe V. Wade Draft Ruling Ratchets Up Florida Debate
Following through on a recommendation from Gov. Ron DeSantis, the State Board of Education on Friday appointed Sen. Manny Diaz Jr. as Florida’s next education commissioner. Diaz, a Hialeah Republican, will replace Commissioner Richard Corcoran, who is stepping down effective Sunday. Diaz will assume the…
Read More Sen. Manny Diaz Appointed Florida Education Commissioner
Saying organizations that accredit colleges and universities have an “inordinate amount of power,” Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Tuesday that will force schools to periodically change accreditors. The measure (SB 7044) also significantly changes the process of reviewing professors’ tenure, a provision that has…
Read More Florida Gov. DeSantis Signs Higher-Ed Accreditation, Tenure Changes