Education in Florida is increasingly reliant on local funding
While Florida homeowners struggle with rising home prices, unaffordable insurance and hurricane damages, they are also increasingly on the hook for education funding. According to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the percentage of education funding from the state dropped from 40% in 2014 to 31% in 2023. While federal funding increased starting in 2020, it still makes up 17% of school funding in the state. Local funding, which is primarily from property taxes, now accounts for more than half of education spending. [Source: Tampa Bay Business Journal]
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Future workforce: Trade shift
Growing up in Flagler Beach, Matthew Marcusky watched his older brother and sister go off to college and it was expected he would follow. He had other ideas. “I was pretty much ruling it out,” he says, “I didn’t want to sit in a classroom for another four years.” Marcusky cleaned pools after high school, then heard about a welding program at Orange Technical College, a part of the Orange County public school system. Members of Gen Z like Marcusky have swelled the numbers of students and apprentices pursuing careers that don’t require a four-year degree and student debt. [Source: Florida Trend]
Achievement gap persists in Florida schools after COVID pandemic
Educators across Florida and the nation have talked about their successes in overcoming student learning losses caused by inconsistent schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic. The recovery has been uneven, though, with a clear achievement gap among demographic groups. One analysis showed that students who started off behind fell even further behind. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Voters weigh resurrecting partisan labels in Florida school board races
When Florida voters went to the polls in 1998, they passed a constitutional amendment that made a series of election-related changes, including requiring nonpartisan races for county school board seats. But 26 years later, voters could change course. Voters are casting ballots on a proposal, known as Amendment 1, that would require partisan school-board elections starting in 2026. More from the News Service of Florida and WTSP.
Minutes, hours, days: What’s the best way for schools to make up lost time?
Studies looking into the effects of time lost to hurricanes suggest that many will have backslid, at least a little bit. So there’s been little opposition to making up the time. With more storm closures still possible, and lessons from the pandemic still fresh, districts looked to an array of options: extending school days, giving up teacher workdays, even canceling fall and spring breaks. Each option came with pros and cons. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Florida International is the state’s highest-ranked college according to WSJ
Florida International University is the state’s top school, followed by the University of Florida and the University of North Florida, in the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2025 Best Colleges in the U.S. ranking. FIU ranks 77th nationwide, with the University of Florida 83rd and North Florida at 170th.
› USF’s new dining, facilities partnership will impact 400 employees
The University of South Florida announced a 15-year partnership with Compass Group to take over food and facilities service management this week, ending a 22-year partnership with Aramark and changing the state employee status of around 400 employees.
› UF accelerates artificial intelligence research discoveries with HiPerGator
The University of Florida has selected 20 research projects in artificial intelligence for accelerated development using the university’s HiPerGator supercomputer. The program is a collaboration between UF Research, UF Research Computing and NVIDIA, which together are providing $2.4 million in seed funding and in-kind computer time and consulting for students, post docs and faculty working on specific projects.
› Big student housing project takes shape near Full Sail University's Winter Park campus
A proposal for a large student housing project near Full Sail University in Winter Park is moving forward. The property is owned by Silver City Properties, the real estate arm of Full Sail, which bought the land in 1997 for $1.6 million, according to county records. Representatives for Silver City Properties were not immediately available for comment.