Why do so many Florida universities hire politicians as presidents?
Three of Florida’s public universities will likely select new presidents next year. There’s a good chance that at least one will be a former lawmaker. Nationally, less than half of college and university presidents come from outside academia, according to a recent study from the American Council on Education. Just one in 20 formerly served as elected or appointed government officials. But in Florida, former lawmakers make up five of the seven college and university presidents selected in the past two years. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Politics, religion, and protests in schools: Top 5 education storylines of 2024
Florida schools removed books at record rates; university presidents left under the gun, and ostensibly nonpartisan elections featured partisan endorsements during a year in which our Republican-dominated state Legislature and a governor seeking to remake the education system shared the driver’s seat in Tallahassee. [Source: Florida Phoenix]
Florida leaders want university rankings lifted
By 2030, state university system leaders want Florida Atlantic University and the University of North Florida to be ranked in the top 100 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The goal, if achieved, would mean that eight of the state’s 12 universities would be in the top 100 nationally. More from the News Servicc of Florida and the Jacksonville Business Journal.
Hundreds apply for restitution for abuse suffered at Florida reform schools
Hundreds of people who say they suffered physical or sexual abuse at two state-run reform schools in Florida are in line to receive tens of thousands of dollars in restitution from the state, after Florida lawmakers formally apologized for the horrors they endured as children more than 50 years ago. [Source: AP]
State to study return on investment of Women/Gender Studies programs
The state Board of Governors plans to commission a study of the economic return from Women- and Gender-Studies programs at Florida’s public universities. One lawmaker warned the effort is “trying to stage” an argument to get rid of the programs. The governors, who oversee the State University System, included such programs at specific universities along with more practically oriented fields of study in Computer Science, Civil Engineering, Finance, and Nursing, according to a request for proposals issued this month. [Source: Florida Phoenix]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Florida Poly president says no to a $100,000 inauguration
Florida Polytechnic University’s new president took a look at the $100,000 price tag for his proposed inauguration ceremony and decided the money would be better spent on scholarships for students. “I am deeply committed to ensuring that the resources entrusted to us are used to directly benefit those we serve – our students,” Devin Stephenson wrote in a letter to university faculty, staff and students.
› Microschools are going big, in Tampa and beyond
The National Microschooling Center, a nonprofit that works with policymakers and connects schools to resources, estimated last year that the United States had 120,000 microschools serving 1.5 million students. Its CEO, Don Soifer, said in an interview that he believes microschools have a “2% market share” in the American education ecosystem now, a number he expects to climb in the coming years.
› UF publishes best practices for improving math education in the new year
Math scores improved on Florida standardized tests this year, but a team of researchers say we still need to do better as a state at teaching math. Over the course of ten weeks, University of Florida researchers met with students, parents, teachers and leaders as part of a statewide listening tour. Their goal? Figure out how to improve math education in the state by holding 100 focus groups with 500 participants.
› Dept. of Education future, board changes, refurbishments: What 2025 brings to Brevard Schools
From the appointment of a new board member to updates to new schools to uncertainties surrounding how the county could be impacted by education-related changes under President-elect Donald Trump, Brevard Public Schools is in for quite a year in 2025. In 2024, the district saw a variety of changes.