After passing law requiring later start times for Florida schools, lawmakers now want to repeal it
With school districts across the state expressing support, Florida senators Monday started moving forward with a bill that would repeal requirements aimed at later daily start times in many high schools. Lawmakers in 2023 approved the requirements, citing a need for older students to get more sleep. The requirements are slated to take effect in 2026, but as the deadline has neared, districts have said they are struggling to comply. More from the News Service of Florida and the Tampa Bay Times.
Legislators file measures to make public the hiring process of university presidents
The Florida Legislature will consider a higher education bill that sponsors say would strengthen transparency in the hiring of state university presidents. The proposal would also establish term limits for members of the State University Board of Governors, the Board of Education, state university boards of trustees and Florida College System boards of trustees. Another provision would require the Board of Governors, which oversees the state’s public universities, to file full, public financial disclosures. More from WUSF and the Tallahassee Democrat.
Commentary: Supporting public education means we must address critical issues head on
No matter what party line you follow or what your background is, we can all agree on a few simple principles: that every child in our state deserves a free, world-class public education that prepares them for success and that every Floridian should be able to afford to take care of their families. In order to move public education forward in our state, we must address the hard truths and facts about where we are today. [Source: Florida Politics]
Florida’s undocumented students could be banned from most public universities
A bill expected to receive a vote this legislative session, would ban undocumented students from attending most Florida public universities and colleges. That follows the Florida legislature stripping undocumented students of in-state tuition, last month. [Source: Central Florida Public Media]
See also:
» Why making undocumented students pay higher tuition could cost Florida
Florida school book fight gets green light from federal judge, case on First Amendment rights to proceed
With major publishing companies and authors arguing a 2023 state law violates First Amendment rights, a federal judge Friday refused to dismiss a lawsuit against members of the State Board of Education over the removal of school library books. U.S. District Judge Carlos Mendoza rejected a state motion to dismiss the case, which also names as defendants members of the Orange County and Volusia County school boards. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Panama City colleges focusing on area high school graduates amid growth in enrollment
While some larger universities nationwide are experiencing stagnant enrollment rates, two colleges in Panama City are experiencing significant growth. Gulf Coast State College’s full-time enrollment increased nearly 10% from 2024 to 2025, while FSU Panama City saw a 16% increase in admissions during the same time frame.
› Think you can cheat with AI? A UF professor creates watermarks to detect AI-generated writing
Artificial intelligence is putting instructors and employers in an awkward position when it comes to accepting written work, leaving them wondering: Who wrote this? A human or AI? But imagine a digital watermark that could remove the guesswork and actually flag AI-generated text whenever someone submits their writing. A University of Florida engineering professor is developing this technology right now.
› An 'impossible task': Brevard Schools mulls doing away with alternative learning centers
In Brevard Public Schools, expelled doesn't really mean expelled — at least, not in the traditional sense. The terminology the district uses to describe the punishment handed down to students for certain offenses has caused debate among board members and staff since January, with board members asking for clearer language and questioning if the current disciplinary process even works.
› Florida rethinks use of cameras to enforce school speed zones
In an attempt to deter speeding in school zones, municipalities across Florida over the past year have set up cameras to record violations and established fines for wrongdoers. The effort has yielded thousands of citations in several areas. It also has generated a growing number of complaints by drivers who contend they were wrongly accused. Similar issues have arisen with the use of cameras to catch drivers illegally passing school buses.