Florida schools say they'll comply with federal push to eliminate DEI
The big story: Two weeks have passed since the U.S. Department of Education issued a 'dear colleague' letter telling school systems to get rid of race-based decision making or face a loss of federal money.
Districts across Florida have been taking steps to adhere to the advice.
Collier County officials, for instance, issued a statement saying they would work actively to prevent 'any form of discrimination.' It stressed that it never had any office or team assigned to oversee diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, initiatives. Read more from the Naples Daily News.
The Lee County school district announced it would get rid of its DEI office and would review all its policies and procedures, the Fort Myers News-Press reports.
Many districts and the state education department said the federal guidance had little effect for them, as they already had implemented state law requiring the same rules.
That didn't stop education commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. from joining leaders from 11 other states in urging U.S. education secretary nominee Linda McMahon to stop sending 'dear colleague' letters aimed at pushing states to follow the White House's priorities. Read more from The 74.
Campus speech: An appearance at Florida State University by Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk drew fans and protesters, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.
Charter schools: The Sarasota County school district is reviewing its working relationship with charter schools as their number grows, the Herald-Tribune reports.
Discipline: The Brevard County school district is reconsidering its model for handling student expulsions, Florida Today reports.
Financial aid: Santa Fe College has made strides toward overcoming its financial aid distribution problems after months of delay, WUFT reports.
Legislation: Two Republican lawmakers have proposed putting the selection of university presidents back in full public view, Florida Politics reports. • A state senator has filed a bill that would set new parameters for how schools deal with teachers who get arrested, including a timeline for informing parents, WJXT reports.
School consolidation: Some Highlands County parents are upset with the district's plan to merge Lake Placid middle and high schools, saying they haven't been provided adequate information or time for feedback, Highlands News-Sun reports.
School cameras: The city of Palm Bay has suspended enforcement of school speed zone violations amid questions of glitches in the camera system, WKMG reports. • Miami-Dade County drivers have complained that they are wrongly receiving citations accusing them of illegally passing school buses, the Miami Herald reports. They blame the company monitoring the cameras attached to buses.
Security: A Manatee County mom wants justice for her son, who she says was attacked at school, WWSB reports.
Sex education: The Broward County school district's sex education curriculum remains held up by the Florida Department of Education, the Sun-Sentinel reports.
State of the schools: Volusia County superintendent Carmen Balgobin offered her assessment of where the district has been and where it's headed, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reports.
Teacher hiring: The Bay County school district is negotiating with a cultural exchange program to bring foreign teachers to the district, WJHG reports.
Textbook selection: A state appeals court has ruled the Indian River County school district violated the state's open records law when selecting social studies textbooks in 2016, TC Palm reports.
From the police blotter ... A Broward County high school student was arrested on allegations of writing a threat of violence on the wall of the school's bathroom, WSVN reports.
Today in Tallahassee ... The Senate Education Prek-12 Committee takes up three bills when it meets at 3:30 p.m. The 2025 legislative session officially begins tomorrow.
Don't miss a story. Here's the link to Friday's roundup.
Before you go ... Shaggy and Sting will appear together later this month at the Reggae Rise Up Florida Festival in St. Petersburg. Here's a preview.
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