NIH funding cap threatens medical research at Florida universities
The announcement that the National Institutes of Health will cap funding for medical research has researchers fearful that their work will be decimated. Eight Florida schools would be on the hook for a combined total of more than $150 million. Among the work the NIH supports in the state, a University of West Florida researcher is studying early detection of Alzheimer’s disease, a Florida State University team was awarded $3.4 million to study disparity of care, and a Florida Atlantic University engineer got an $1.8 million award to design statistical methods related to genome decoding. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Florida Education Association says budget doesn’t adequately fund public education
The Florida Education Association says the budget fails to address critical issues like low teacher pay, staff shortages and declining student performance. While the proposal does include small pay increases for educators, the union argues that the raises do not keep pace with inflation and will not significantly improve per-student funding. More from WTVT and Florida Politics.
Florida's voucher overhaul hands millions to wealthy families
Once reserved for low-income students and those with disabilities, state scholarships, often called vouchers, are now available to all – and they’re fueling an unprecedented pipeline of public money, estimated at $3.4 billion this year, into private, mostly religious schools across the Sunshine State. All that money is doing more than just expanding Florida’s voucher program. The new rules are transforming it. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
See also:
» Behind the numbers: An analysis of Florida’s school voucher explosion
These are the most, least educated states. How did Florida rank?
According to the data, Florida earned just shy of 54 points overall, largely lacking in the educational attainment category. But on the other hand, Florida ranked third out of all states on the list when it came to education quality specifically. This isn’t the only area where Florida’s earned high marks, though. Last year, Florida came out as the top state in the nation for both education and its economy, according to a study by U.S. News & World Report. [Source: Click Orlando]
Elected or appointed? What’s the best way to pick a Florida superintendent?
Florida remains an anomaly in the nation, with more than half its school district superintendents elected rather than appointed. The subject repeatedly gets scrutinized in local districts. Those with appointed superintendents point to concerns such as the difficulty in getting the superintendent to respond to the community, instead being responsible to a school board majority. Those with elected leaders speak of how difficult it is to remove a person who enacts an unpopular agenda, or doesn’t work well with the board. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
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ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Florida Poly nabs top ranking for in-state value, lands in top 10 nationally
Florida Polytechnic University is the best value college in the state and the second-best in the South, according to new rankings from Research.com. The outlet serves as an online resource for higher education. Its Best Colleges in America rankings also put the Lakeland-based STEM school in the top 10 in the U.S. for educational value.
› Florida-based companies tap into the University of Florida business graduate talent pool
Promising students draw numerous Florida companies to UF every year, as recruiters look for exceptional business graduates with the ability to problem solve, think strategically, and lead with excellence and innovation. Over the past four years, more than 1,600 Warrington graduates have joined companies in Florida in some of the state’s growing industries – including financial services, energy, and real estate – throughout Tampa Bay, Orlando, and Jacksonville.
› FAU names Adam Hasner, former legislator, private prison exec, as its new president
Florida Atlantic University selected a former high-ranking state legislator as its new president Monday, the latest ex-politician to assume the helm of one of the state’s public colleges or universities. Adam Hasner, who represented the Boca Raton area in the state House of Representatives from 2002 to 2010, rising to the chamber’s No. 2 leadership post, was chosen unanimously from three finalists by the university’s board of trustees.
› USF Future of Food Think Tank's bold vision to fight food insecurity
The Future of Food Think Tank at the University of South Florida held its official launch in late January, convening a diverse group of researchers, health professionals and community leaders to tackle one of the most critical challenges of our time—food insecurity. The event served as a platform for thought leaders to discuss the far-reaching impacts of food insecurity on health, economic stability and sustainability, while emphasizing the need for innovative, interdisciplinary solutions.