DeSantis seeks $29.7 billion for Florida K-12 education budget
Governor Ron DeSantis released his proposed education budget this week, and despite asking for a historic $29.7 billion for K-12 education, advocates say it’s not enough. DeSantis has asked for a record $1.5 billion for teacher pay, an increase of about $246 million. He’s also asked for about $1.7 billion for early childhood education. More from WFSU and the Tampa Bay Times.
Open enrollment begins for the Florida Prepaid college tuition program
Open enrollment for the Florida Prepaid college tuition program launched over the weekend. Some prices are lower than last year, with the cheapest plan for a newborn now costing $29 monthly for a one-year university plan. A full four-year university tuition plan for a newborn starts at $120 per month. Overall prices are fairly steady, as tuition for state universities has not gone up in over a decade. [Source: WLRN]
What does the Department of Education do for Florida schools?
President Donald Trump is preparing to gut the U.S. Education Department to the full extent of his power, directing his administration to slash spending while pressuring employees to quit. The Education Department was created in 1980. There are about 4,400 employees. The department has an approximate $268 billion annual budget and provides funding and management for programs like school meals for low-income kids, teacher training and academic support. [Source: NBC Miami]
How important is homework? This Florida school district says it matters.
Just how important is homework? One Florida school district has renewed the debate with a move to reverse its past practice of not grading assignments sent home to practice classroom lessons. Pasco County superintendent John Legg said the lack of consequences for failing to get the work done has contributed to declining proficiency in the state’s key academic standards. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
More than 120,000 students apply for Florida education choice scholarships in record opening weekend
Initial demand for Florida’s K-12 scholarships has set a new record. Step Up For Students, the nonprofit organization that administers 98% of the state’s scholarships, opened applications for the 2025-26 school year at 9 a.m. Saturday. By the end of the weekend, more than 120,000 students had applied. That’s the most demand Florida’s scholarship programs have ever seen in their first two days after opening applications. [Source: Florida Politics]
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ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Florida Polytechnic University forges partnership with Lakeland business incubator
Leaders of Florida Polytechnic University and Catapult Lakeland signed memorandum of understanding Friday that will give students and faculty access to the business incubator in downtown Lakeland. The partnership seeks to empower students and faculty with hands-on STEM education and entrepreneurial opportunities, Florida Poly said in a news release.
› AI is hitting Tampa classrooms. So far, teachers and students love it
AI in schools has generated buzz in the past year. Questions have swirled over students using it to cheat and chatbots producing unreliable information. “There are real risks,” said Robin Lake, director of the Center for Reinventing Public Education, such as deepfakes, plagiarism and student data security. “But I also see a lot of opportunity.”
› UF’s first art and mechanical engineering major combines creativity with STEM skills
Captivated by cubism, color, construction, and deconstruction, Rokheyatou “Roxie” Faye is the first Gator to double major in art and mechanical engineering at the University of Florida. Her creative and technical focus epitomizes how UF students are diversifying their academic pursuits to get a leg up in the competitive job market.
› ‘Aggressive timeline’: Jax UF campus could ramp up by August
A Jacksonville City Council committee has learned classes at the University of Florida campus in the Urban Core could start sooner rather than later at 801 West Bay Street. “We intend to introduce initial academic programming in an existing building on the campus site as soon as this August, that’s an aggressive timeline, but that’s the timeline we’re working towards. So it would be an initial degree program this August,” said Kurt Dudas, the Vice President for Strategic Initiatives at the University of Florida, to the Finance Committee.