Latest news with #AdvancePlacement
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Federal DEI threats are a tough lesson for Palm Beach County schools
What is the real lesson that the federal government is teaching students at the Palm Beach County School District when it comes to diversity, equity and inclusion? Money talks and policy, no matter how much needed, just walks? It's clear that the Trump administration frowns on DEI policies and programs. Whether it's rolling back contracting goals with minority- and women-owned businesses, removing photos of distinguished Jewish graduates from a display case at the U.S. Naval Academy, or purging photos of the Enola Gay from the U.S. Defense Department because of, well, "gay." That anti-DEI sentiment has hit home as the Palm Beach County School Board, in an emergency vote, ended district DEI programs for fear of losing $300 million in federal funding. No more diversity goals in minority- and women-owned contracting, hiring or curriculum programs. No more data collection to determine how effectively the district is using its resources to help more than three-quarters of its students who aren't white. 'The threat was real': Palm Beach County School board to end DEI programs over objections We don't blame the School Board for this painful decision. We do blame a narrow-minded Trump White House for putting them in this position. Editorial: Florida Senate poised to pass legislation to protect state parks. Get it done. A federal judge in New Hampshire ruled to limit Trump's withholding of federal funds from schools that have certain DEI programs, but that decision isn't a nationwide pause on the policy. The cuts could move forward as the controversy plays out in court. In the meantime, money still talks and the harsh lesson of school budgets under the Trump regime continues to be taught. The district earlier this month got bad news that it could lose up to $47 million in state revenue as state lawmakers consider cuts to popular college and career coursework like Advance Placement and industry certification programs. The fact that those cuts are coming at a time of dwindling public school student enrollment isn't helpful. State funding follows students. The fewer the students, the less money Palm Beach County and other school districts have to work with. Editorial: After FSU shooting, will we repeat our cycle of anguish, anger and inaction? The Trump administration already cancelled the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement, which provides funding to local farmers to provide food to school districts. Now comes the threat of more federal cuts, amounting to another budgetary body blow the district simply can't afford. The district needs every dollar it can get to assist schools with significant numbers of low-income students, educate special needs students and train teachers. The money has to come from somewhere. If not the federal government, the Florida Legislature, then locally in either higher property and sales taxes. Or, residents could sit back, grumble and just tolerate deep cuts to school services that will affect the district's bond rating and overall status for quality education. Money talks. Principled programs that are key to a child's education? Not so much. That's a lesson Palm Beach County school students shouldn't accept. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County schools end DEI effort for money's sake | Editorial
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Florida's public schools need better options than state budget cuts
The Palm Beach County School District is the nation's 10th largest school district and one of Florida's best. Unfortunately, the quality county parents have come to expect from their public schools could be in jeopardy, thanks to proposed budget cuts pending before the Florida Legislature that will cost our schools up to $47 million. State lawmakers are proposing cuts to popular college and career coursework like Advance Placement and industry certification programs. Although their budget proposals contain a record appropriation for K-12 education, the bulk of the $800 million in new money is going to pay for "school-choice" programs. State funding follows the student. So, the fewer students attending public schools, the less money Florida's 67 school districts have to work with. Lawmakers will insist that they aren't trying to dumb down public education. State budget projections beginning in the summer of 2026 call for a revenue shortfall of almost $7 billion. The cuts have to come from somewhere, but it shouldn't be borne by the almost 3 million students currently attending Florida's public schools. Instead of talking cuts, the legislature should find ways to fully fund public education — even if it means raising new revenue to do it. Editorial: Trump's government cuts will stifle Florida food banks, expand hunger crisis Finding other options to spending cuts to public schools may amount to political heresy for the crowd at the state capitol. But, it's a better alternative to losing viable educational programs in order to balance the state budget. A robust public education is an investment in Florida's future that is a wise one. Unfortunately, state lawmakers seem poised to continue to pursue spending cuts that will ultimately undermine the education of our children. Up until now, Florida's budgetary outlook was, well, rosy. Once buoyed by billions in federal funding to avert the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-dominated legislature spent lavishly on partisan priorities and political pablum (like small tax breaks) with relative ease. Universal school vouchers was one of those priorities. But it's now a $3.9 billion program that has expanded eligibility to allow more parents to use more public school funding to pay for private schools and offset homeschooling expenses. As the federal funding wound down, the belt-tightening concerns started to grow. Last month, the Florida Revenue Estimating Conference updated its general revenue projections and cited 'weaker' state and national economic variables. The revised forecast, Amy Baker, coordinator of the Legislature's Office of Economic & Demographic Research, said comes with 'a strong caveat' that the 'greatest risks going forward are all to the downside.' The Trump administration's trade policies and disruption of government services haven't helped either. Fewer federal dollars mean fewer resources and limited access to key programs. It takes money to provide updated textbooks and technology, not to mention the educators and support staff to run key programs, whether its career and technical education, college preparatory courses, special education or extracurricular activities. The bottom line? Deep cuts to schools ultimately undermines student achievement and narrows their opportunities as young adults. Opinion: Florida politicians want to restrict voters' rights to amend our Constitution So now, Florida's school districts must grapple with potential cuts to AP courses, International Baccalaureate, dual enrollment, and Advanced International Certificate of Education diplomas that allow students to get college credit and compete for scholarships while in high school. It also will become harder to administer industry certifications that many believe are fast tracks to technical career opportunities and a viable alternative to a four-year college degree. For a state that typically punches well below its weight in educational spending, this new round of budget cutting means more hitting below the belt. Public schools shouldn't be rushed to the chopping block when the economy sours, but that's been the state's go-to. State lawmakers face a challenge. Simply penny pitching isn't the solution. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: FL lawmakers shouldn't take money from public schools | Editorial
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Yahoo
Allen Park police praised a teen for a good deed. Social media buried him in criticism
Earlier this month, Allen Park police gave a shoutout to a student it identified by just a first name, John, who made "jail cuff holders" as a high school welding project, and it posted his photo holding his work on its Facebook page. Now, more than 2,500 comments later, many of them unflattering and some downright mean, the suburban Detroit department is trying to understand what when wrong — and seeking to protect the student from the fallout, which includes cyberbullying. In a digital age, social media has the power to make everyday people heroes, but it also can put innocent bystanders in the crosshairs of a cultural war that is being waged online that has virtually no rules. What's more, it's increasingly unclear when social media posts go bad what public agencies should do about them. In this case, it appears, at least from the police department's perspective, a teen who sought to do a good deed became the target of social media criticism that inexplicably went viral. "Our thanks to AP student, John, who made jail cuff holders as a school project," the post, which included a photo of the young man, said. "He generously donated his project to us. We think he deserves a day off for all his hard work." AP, in the post, stood for Allen Park not Advance Placement, what many high school call their college-level classes and some commenters obviously assumed as they mocked the student. The post went on to urge John to "keep up the great work!" Many readers, however, did the opposite. "Once I did the post, the initial feedback was positive," Allen Park Police Sgt. Patrick Moore told the Free Press on Friday. "People thanked him and complimented him on his work, and I didn't think anything of it until yesterday." That's when, he said, he started getting notifications "the comments turned negative." In comments, folks criticized all sorts of things, from the black hoodie the student was wearing that had the date 1776 printed on it, to concerns that the student has what they deemed to be an unhealthy interest in policing. Some comments, the police said, made assumptions about the teen's politics, while others seemed to have nothing to do with the original post and were more of a response to the current political climate. By Friday afternoon, after reviewing the responses, Chief Eron Feltz, deleted the post. He also called the Allen Park High student a "great kid." Moore — who was taken aback by many of the comments he characterized as "anti-police" sentiment and even "slander" — said in the past few days he tried to take steps to try to minimize harm. "The student had no idea this post had gone the way it had," Moore explained, adding that when the young man found out, he seemed to take the news good-naturedly, said he hadn't been physically bullied at school, and "actually seemed amused with it." As social media evolves, police departments — and other public agencies and figures, including the nation's president — are trying to figure out how to harness the power of social media to make government more transparent and responsive. They also can quickly spread unverified information and untruths. Moore said that as the comments turned negative, he restricted them. Then, the sergeant said, he learned he made some errors when he initially wrote the post. It was the police officer who works with the school, he said, that suggested John make the hardware, metal loops that attach to a wall or bench that handcuffs can be attached to, because the jail needed them. It wasn't John's idea. Moore started looking at how he might set the record straight. Police said they also talked to the student's mom. Why not just take the post down? Well, Moore said, as public agency, the police are still figuring out how to treat social media posts. The department, he said, tries to regard them as a public record, and deleting the post, he initially said, would be akin to deleting a police report. And how do you unpublish what is, essentially a public record, without destroying it? The police chief, who later spoke to the Free Press, however, decided to delete the post. Moore, who is responsible for posting to social media for the department, said that the relatively new way of communicating directly with the public has its good points — and bad. But for the most part, he said, the benefit seems to outweigh the harm. With social media, he said, the department can communicate directly with the public. It can alert residents to dangers and keep them informed. It can — as it tried to do —recognize officers for their service and bravery, and citizens too. It also can, as it did last fall, defuse tension when everything seems to going wrong. In October, an early morning roadway mishap with doughnuts became an opportunity for Krispy Kreme to thank Allen Park officers. An unsecured door latch to a delivery truck at about 1 a.m. apparently left several boxes and trays of its haul on the road. Weather: Thaw finally coming for Detroit as police joke about polar bears A funny social media post by the department and ensuing news media coverage, led to the doughnuts maker sending boxes and boxes of the glazed treats to the department. More than a public relation's stunt, the doughnuts were recognition of the officers' hard work. Friday, Moore said, he didn't understand exactly why so much vitriol was expressed toward John — and his school project. Moore was reluctant to say whether he has had second thoughts about the post — or whether, if he could go back in time knowing what he does now, he'd do it again. But he did say that despite the comments, the department appreciated what John did. Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Teen faces undeserved wrath after Allen Park police praise him online
