Audits find financial issues with some Florida charter schools
The Florida Auditor General's office has released two reports that detail significant issues and financial trends in the Sunshine State's charter schools, charter technical career centers and district school boards. There are 720 charter schools and charter technical career centers operating in Florida, with the majority in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. State law requires these schools to be annually audited by an independent certified public accountant. [Source: The Center Square]
Florida schools can use religious chaplains for counseling. Will they?
In April, Gov. Ron DeSantis gave Florida’s public schools permission to bring volunteer religious chaplains on campus to counsel students whose parents have said it’s OK. As the law took effect Monday, many district officials said they have no plans to implement it. One of the biggest concerns in Florida has centered on who might show up seeking to be chaplains. The law requires background checks but does not include any training requirements. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Florida’s top nursing schools turn away students amid ongoing nurse shortage
With a recent influx of state money, Florida colleges with high-performing nursing programs hired more faculty, built new facilities and expanded their programs to accept additional qualified applicants. Yet it’s still not enough to end a nursing shortage that is predicted to leave Florida with 21,000 unfilled jobs this year and more in the future. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Time to choose a college? Some important ratings and rankings for Florida universities
When organizations such as U.S. News and World Report rank the nation's top universities and programs, Florida schools often end up in the Top 100, even the Top 10. But they're also a bargain. Florida was ranked lowest in 2023-24 for average tuition and fees for full-time in-state students at public four-year institutions at $6,360, according to the latest College Board Pricing Report. The average price for the country was $11,260. [Source: Palm Beach Post]
Florida schools, counties push back against tax exempt affordable housing
Leaders in some of Florida’s fastest growing counties have raised major worries that the Legislature’s Live Local legislation would cause financial troubles for school districts and local governments. Among the concerns: More families and students would move in, without generating the taxes for services to support them. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Hermitage Artist Retreat in Sarasota gives Florida teachers a chance to let their creative juices flow
A group of Florida art teachers has been selected to participate in a very prestigious art retreat near Sarasota. While landscapers are hard at work transforming the nine-acre Hermitage Artist Retreat, music teacher and musician Kayleen Justus is working on her craft. Justus is a high school music teacher from Tallahassee. She's one of the teachers selected to participate in the State Teachers Artist Residency program.
› Florida school board, sued for book bans, wants to take testimony of 7-year-old student
A Florida school board is trying to take the deposition of one of its 7-year-old students in the hopes it helps tank a federal lawsuit filed over some of its book ban decisions. The Escambia County School Board, which is simultaneously arguing its own members can't be deposed, says it "has the right to explore the claims and defenses in the case directly with the students."
› Duval student test scores lag state despite some schools 'knocking it out of the park'
Student test scores in English and math rose slower in Duval County during the past school year than they did statewide and in most Northeast Florida counties, widening an achievement gap despite numeric gains, state data released last week showed. While emphasizing strong gains at individual schools, new Superintendent Christopher Bernier said the scores will be starting points for new efforts to raise the school district’s academic performance.
› Central Florida preschools look to boost learning by getting kids tinkering and building
A new program informed by Harvard University research is looking to improve preschool education in Central Florida by encouraging young children to assume a “maker mindset.” Launched last month, the Empowering Communities to Shape Their Worlds program is an educational approach that relies on building and tinkering.