School districts feel effects of teacher shortage

School districts in Northwest Florida and across the state are struggling to find certified teachers in several crucial subject areas.  The State Board of Education approved a report last week that details a shortage of certified educators in public schools, mainly in math, science and English. The shortage isn’t exclusive to Florida; it has been…

State Board of Education eyes changes to school safety law, bullying scholarship

The State Board of Education had its first and only meeting before the Legislative session begins in March and the board members indicated that they hope lawmakers revisit some of the most heated issues in education.  School safety was constantly mentioned as a top priority for this year, by all members but especially by Andrew…

Commission issues school safety recommendations, including a call to Florida lawmakers for more funding

The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission on Wednesday released its long-awaited findings and recommendations in the aftermath of the Feb. 14 Parkland high school shooting — including a call to allow some teachers to carry weapons on campus. Read More Read Initial Report

Lawmaker seeks tweak to Florida retirement laws, to help with teacher shortfall

Florida’s teacher shortage has been well documented and growing. It has come at a time when national data show educators quitting the profession at the highest rate in years.  A Sarasota Democrat hopes to ease the resulting burden school districts face with a simple tweak to state retirement laws. Read More

DeSantis’ education committee talks challenges of K-12 spending campaign promise, teacher pay

Governor-elect Ron DeSantis’ transition committee on education met Wednesday to discuss how the state could begin to implement his campaign proposal that 80 percent of all education funding be directed “into the classroom.” The short answer: it’s not going to be simple.  Many committee members said the first step is to define what “classroom spending” would…

Should Teachers Carry Guns? The Debate, Explained

The idea of arming teachers—or loosening state restrictions to allow concealed-carry permit holders to bring guns into schools—is often circulated after school attacks. It gained attention after the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., in 2012 and was revived in the wake of the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High…

Why Principals Need to Make Student Mental Health a Priority

Within the first eight days of school this year, three students in a suburban district East of Los Angeles killed themselves.  None of the deaths were related—the students had been from different schools, in different grades, and didn’t appear to know one another.  But the quick succession of suicides left the community reeling. Read More

Florida ‘Best and Brightest’ bonus lawsuit heads to mediation

A year-old case contending Florida’s “Best and Brightest” teacher bonus program discriminates against educators of a certain age or race is headed to mediation in November.The complaint focuses on the part of the 2015 program that relies upon  college entry exam scores, which many teachers — particularly those who entered the profession through a community college…