Florida's graduation rate hit a record high, but education leaders say that isn't the whole story
The high school graduation rate in Florida reached an all-time high of 89.7% for the 2023-2024 school year. It's an increase of 1.7% from the previous year. However, some education leaders point out that graduation rates are only one measure of student success, and argue that it doesn't necessarily show if they're ready for life after high school. More from WUSF and the Tampa Bay Times.
ESE, tech ed top teacher 'demand' list
Exceptional-student education and technology-education teachers top a list of “high-demand teacher” need areas for 2025-2026, according to an annual report that went before the State Board of Education on Wednesday. The rankings take into account issues such as numbers of teachers who are providing instruction in academic areas where they are not certified. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Commentary: Billions on the line amid growing skepticism of the value of college
Florida is a national leader, yet at a crossroads. While Florida’s economy continues to grow, a mounting wave of skepticism toward the value of postsecondary education threatens to undermine billions in potential economic gains by potentially leaving Florida’s workforce unprepared for the changing future and unfit to serve what aims will be the world’s 10th-largest economy in the world by 2030. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Florida bill would ban students in the US without legal permission from some public universities
A Florida state lawmaker has filed a bill that would ban some public colleges and universities from admitting immigrants who are in the country without legal permission. Representatives for Florida’s public college and university systems did not immediately respond to questions on how many students could be affected by the bill, which would ban public schools of higher education with an acceptance rate of less than 85% from admitting students in the country without legal authorization. [Source: AP]
More than 500,000 students participating in Florida’s school choice scholarship program, state says
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that the state of Florida has surpassed 500,000 students participating in Florida's school choice program during a news conference in Jacksonville on Friday. According to the Florida Department of Education, school choice is designed to support quality public and private educational choice programs, by providing information and assistance to promote successful outcomes for students, families, institutions and communities. [Source: First Coast News]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› University of Miami has the lowest acceptance rate in Florida, again
The University of Miami had the lowest acceptance rate among Florida colleges for the second year in a row. That's according to a new analysis by The Business Journals, which used U.S. Department of Education data to identify the most selective schools across the nation for fiscal year 2024.
› Are Hillsborough County’s closed schools any closer to reopening?
Over the past two years, the Hillsborough County School Board has closed a half-dozen schools as part of its redrawing of school boundaries. Many of them had received low grades from the state for years, and all were under-attended, a symptom of the lopsided enrollment numbers — largely caused by Florida’s school-choice push — that led the district to redesign those boundaries. But all of the schools are still owned by the district.
› Fort Lauderdale student's law future looks bright after elite international competition win
A teenager from Fort Lauderdale is making Miami proud, holding a trophy no other student in South Florida has. It's a life-sized gladiator helmet, given to the world's best mock trial competitor. The "Gladiator" is an international competition with room for just three percent of mock trial hopefuls. Marvin Exantus is the first teen in Broward County to win the competition and has big plans for his future.
› Seminole County Schools awarded $2.7 million grant to fund firefighting academy
Seminole County Public Schools has been awarded a historic $2.7 million grant for a program designed to prepare students interested in a fire and emergency services career. According to a news release, the Bear Brigade Fire Academy at Winter Springs High School marks the largest single-program grant in the district’s history. The innovative program aims to equip students with the skills needed for careers in fire and emergency services.