Public Education /tags/public-education Public Education en-US WLRN Mon, 26 Feb 2024 15:17:07 GMT 'Irresponsible': Concerns over bill aiming to teach the history of communism in kindergarten /education/2024-02-26/education-florida-history-communism-hb1349 Florida's latest education controversy stems from a bill that would require public schools to teach kids about the evils of communism as early as kindergarten. Two academic experts discuss whether children and their teachers are prepared for these conversations. Mon, 26 Feb 2024 15:17:07 GMT /education/2024-02-26/education-florida-history-communism-hb1349 Helen Acevedo Meet Coco Gauff's grandmother, a civil rights trailblazer in Palm Beach County /education/2023-09-25/coco-gauff-grandmother-yvonne-lee-odom-civil-rights Coco Gauff's maternal grandmother, Yvonne Lee Odom, helped integrate Delray Beach public schools more than 60 years ago as a teenager. Mon, 25 Sep 2023 17:32:34 GMT /education/2023-09-25/coco-gauff-grandmother-yvonne-lee-odom-civil-rights Wilkine Brutus A 'dream' homecoming: Keys high school alumni return to lead their alma maters /south-florida/2023-05-25/florida-keys-high-school-principals-alumni The Monroe County School District announced that two new principals would take over schools that are also their alma maters. It means that all three public high schools in the Florida Keys are run by educators who hold diplomas from the same schools they lead. Thu, 25 May 2023 12:00:00 GMT /south-florida/2023-05-25/florida-keys-high-school-principals-alumni Gwen Filosa Will politics escalate the censorship of books in South Florida's public libraries too? /education/2023-04-28/lantana-librarian-book-ban-fear Florida is second in the nation in school book censorship. The director of a library in Palm Beach County is concerned that public libraries could start facing the same challenges. Fri, 28 Apr 2023 16:48:01 GMT /education/2023-04-28/lantana-librarian-book-ban-fear Wilkine Brutus House passes major school voucher expansion /education/2023-03-17/house-passes-major-school-voucher-expansion The bill would make every Florida student eligible for taxpayer-backed school vouchers — a priority of House Speaker Paul Renner of Palm Coast. Fri, 17 Mar 2023 20:23:54 GMT /education/2023-03-17/house-passes-major-school-voucher-expansion Ryan Dailey - News Service of Florida South Florida advocates form coalition to oppose 'overbearing state control' /government-politics/2023-03-07/south-florida-advocates-form-coalition-to-oppose-overbearing-state-control The new Economic Prosperity and Education Coalition or EPEC was launched to oppose the policies of Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-controlled state legislature. The collective includes Equality Florida, United Teachers of Dade, the South Dade Branch of the NAACP and P.S. 305. Tue, 07 Mar 2023 17:20:09 GMT /government-politics/2023-03-07/south-florida-advocates-form-coalition-to-oppose-overbearing-state-control Kate Payne Florida House proposes school voucher expansion, Dems call it 'attack' on public education /education/2023-01-20/florida-house-proposes-school-voucher-expansion-dems-call-it-attack-on-public-education Calling it a move toward “universal choice,” House Speaker Paul Renner on Thursday announced legislation (HB 1), a proposal that would make every student in Florida eligible for school vouchers — a move that Democrats blasted as a Republican attack on public education. Fri, 20 Jan 2023 18:00:00 GMT /education/2023-01-20/florida-house-proposes-school-voucher-expansion-dems-call-it-attack-on-public-education Ryan Dailey - News Service of Florida Keys charter school gets $500,000 grant after pandemic hits mental health, STEM classes /news/2022-12-08/key-west-charter-school-gets-500-000-grant-after-pandemic-hits-mental-health-stem-classes At Sigsbee Charter School, located within a Navy base in Key West, the pandemic led to a drastic increase in mental health referrals and a decline in students taking science, technology, engineering and math classes. Teachers believe the issues are linked — and now they will have access to a grant to tackle the problem. Thu, 08 Dec 2022 18:30:07 GMT /news/2022-12-08/key-west-charter-school-gets-500-000-grant-after-pandemic-hits-mental-health-stem-classes Gwen Filosa National union president: DeSantis has 'dehumanized' teachers /education/2022-09-22/national-union-president-desantis-has-dehumanized-teachers During a visit to Broward schools, Randi Weingarten of the American Federation of Teachers — one of the country's largest teachers unions — called on Gov. Ron DeSantis to work with her members to help students, rather than trying to "divide parents and teachers" through what she says are divisive and damaging policies. Thu, 22 Sep 2022 13:46:29 GMT /education/2022-09-22/national-union-president-desantis-has-dehumanized-teachers Kate Payne New report estimates vouchers will divert $1.3 billion in public money to private schools this year /education/2022-09-21/new-report-estimates-vouchers-will-divert-1-3-billion-in-public-money-to-private-schools-this-year The state of Florida is estimated to divert more than $1 billion in public funding to private schools during the 2022-2023 school year, according to an analysis by the Florida Policy Institute and the Education Law Center. Lawmakers have significantly expanded the state's school voucher system in recent years. “Enough is enough,” said one superintendent. Wed, 21 Sep 2022 15:27:57 GMT /education/2022-09-21/new-report-estimates-vouchers-will-divert-1-3-billion-in-public-money-to-private-schools-this-year Kate Payne