Florida

News, analysis, and opinion about K-12 education in Florida
A ranger patrols the grounds of the Alamo in San Antonio on March 26, 2020.
Texas' new social studies framework underscores American exceptionalism and the state's own history. The Battle of the Alamo—shown here in San Antonio on March 26, 2020—has long been a flashpoint in debates over what topics Texas students should know. Over the past five years many states have confronted the push for right- or left-favored topics and themes in their history standards.
Eric Gay/AP
Social Studies Communism, American Exceptionalism Latest Flashpoints in State History Standards
Several Republican states will add Christian teachings and anti-communist lessons to their history standards.
Sarah Schwartz, November 25, 2025
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6 min read
A student takes a break from soccer during recess at Perkins K-8 School on Nov. 13, 2025, in San Diego.
A student takes a break from soccer during recess at Perkins K-8 School on Nov. 13, 2025, in San Diego.
Gregory Bull/AP
School & District Management Immigrant Student Enrollment Is Dwindling at Schools Amid Stepped-Up Enforcement
In many school systems, the biggest factor is that far fewer families are coming from other countries.
The Associated Press, November 17, 2025
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6 min read
Governor Ron DeSantis speaks at a press conference at FHP Troop D Headquarters on International Drive in Orlando on Aug. 1, 2025. During the press conference, DeSantis addressed law enforcement and the Florida Highway Patrol's efforts and responsibility to apprehend illegal immigrants in the state.
Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at a press conference at FHP Troop D Headquarters in Orlando on Aug. 1, 2025, where he discussed law enforcement and the Florida Highway Patrol’s role in apprehending undocumented immigrants in the state. A new study links increased immigration enforcement in Florida to declines in student test scores.
Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel via TNS
Student Achievement When ICE Arrests Rise, Student Test Scores Fall, New Study Suggests
The working paper focused on a Florida district where both foreign-born and U.S. born students saw test scores drop.
Ileana Najarro, November 13, 2025
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4 min read
Student Keiran George uses her cellphone as she steps outside the Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts High School in downtown Los Angeles on Aug. 13, 2024.
Student Keiran George uses her cellphone as she steps outside the Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts High School in downtown Los Angeles on Aug. 13, 2024. California last year approved limits on the use of the devices in schools.
Damian Dovarganes/AP
Ed-Tech Policy Do School Cellphone Bans Work? What Early Findings Tell Us
A pair of research projects look at the impact on discipline and academic achievement.
Arianna Prothero, October 24, 2025
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6 min read
Volusia County School District Staff
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School & District Management Sponsor Supercharged by STEM Learning: How FIRST® Robotics Boosted Volusia County Students’ State Exam Scores by 50%
Hands-on STEM programming developed by the global, youth-serving nonprofit, FIRST, is proven to improve test scores, build self-confidence, and prepare student participants for real-world success.
Content provided by FIRST
Anna Hicks prepares a measles, mumps and rubella vaccine at the Andrews County Health Department, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in Andrews, Texas.
Florida's governor and surgeon general have announced plans to end the state's vaccine mandates. In this photo, a measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine is prepared at the Andrews County Health Department in Andrews, Texas, on April 8, 2025.
Annie Rice/AP
Student Well-Being & Movement Florida Moves to End School Vaccine Mandates. Will Other States Follow?
Florida state leaders announced plans to get rid of all vaccine mandates, including for schools, making it the first state to do so.
Arianna Prothero, September 3, 2025
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5 min read
Students interact with Waffles at Alaqua Animal Rescue in Freeport, Fla., on Aug. 23, 2025. The rescue incorporates lessons on respecting the animals' autonomy with students so the animals only interact with humans when they choose to do so.
Students interact with Waffles the pig at Alaqua Animal Refuge in Freeport, Fla., on Aug. 23, 2025. The animal sanctuary teaches students to empathize with animals—which, in turn, has helped many children draw connections to their own feelings.
Micah Green for Education Week
Student Well-Being & Movement How Rescue Animals Are Teaching Students Emotional Awareness
Field trips to a Florida animal sanctuary have helped students learn compassion.
Madeline Will & Olina Banerji, August 29, 2025
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4 min read
Boston Latin Academy student Lila Conley, 16, works on a pre-calculus problem during the Bridge to Calculus summer program at Northeastern University in Boston on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023.
Boston Latin Academy student Lila Conley, 16, works on a precalculus problem during a summer bridge program at Northeastern University in Boston on Aug. 1, 2023. The College Board's AP Precalculus program expanded access to college-level coursework for students in high school.
Reba Saldanha/AP
Mathematics Precalculus Is the Fastest-Growing AP Course. That’s Reshaping K-12 Math
Schools report growing demand and success from students taking the relatively new College Board math course.
Ileana Najarro, July 30, 2025
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5 min read
A new billboard welcoming visitors to "Florida: The Sunshine 'Don't Say Gay or Trans' State," is seen on April 21, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. Florida's state government and LGBTQ+ advocates have settled a lawsuit challenging a law that bars teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools.
A billboard welcoming visitors to "Florida: The Sunshine 'Don't Say Gay or Trans' State," is seen on April 21, 2022, in Orlando. The billboard was a commentary by an LGBTQ+ rights group on a controversial law backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis regarding the teaching of certain topics. A federal appeals court on July 2 refused to block a related law, one barring teachers from using pronouns or titles that don't match their sex assigned at birth.
John Raoux/AP
Law & Courts Appeals Court Backs Fla. Law Barring Transgender Teacher's Use of Her Pronouns
A federal court upheld Florida’s ban on K-12 teachers using pronouns that differ from their sex assigned at birth when speaking to students.
Mark Walsh, July 2, 2025
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4 min read
Shannon Perry, a special education teacher from Centreville, Va., wears a handmaids costume while attending a "No Kings Day" protest on Presidents Day in Washington, in support of federal workers and against recent actions by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, on Feb. 17, 2025, by the Capitol in Washington. The protest was organized by the 50501 Movement, which stands for 50 Protests 50 States 1 Movement.
Shannon Perry, a special education teacher from Centreville, Va., wears a handmaid costume while attending a No Kings protest against the Trump administration on President's Day in Washington on Feb. 17, 2025. The two national teachers' unions helped organize the rallies, which culminated in huge walkouts nationwide on June 14.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Teaching Profession How Teachers' Unions Are Confronting the Second Trump Era
Can teachers' unions thread the needle between countering widespread anti-union measures and broadening membership and public support?
Sarah D. Sparks, June 25, 2025
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17 min read
Photograph of the back of a teenage boy sitting at a computer and writing math equations in a notebook with a calculator near by.
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Artificial Intelligence Why This School System Is Integrating AI Literacy With Algebra 1
A new course offered by the Florida Virtual School aims to build students' understanding of math and AI concepts.
Lauraine Langreo, April 16, 2025
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3 min read
People Waiting In Line Before Brass Scale On Blue Background
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Law & Courts Religious Charters, LGBTQ+ Books, and More: A Winter Legal Roundup
This winter, key court cases tackled school desegregation, parental rights, religious charters, LGBTQ+ policies, and education funding.
Mark Walsh, March 19, 2025
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7 min read
January Littlejohn of Tallahassee, Fla., center, stands as President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. At left is second lady Usha Vance and at right is first lady Melania Trump.
January Littlejohn of Tallahassee, Fla., center, stands as President Donald Trump, during his March 4 address to Congress, highlighted her case alleging that school officials secretly aided her child's gender transition.
Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP
Law & Courts Parents Lose Appeal in Gender Case Trump Called ‘Child Abuse’
A federal appeals court ruled against parents who contend their school district aided a "secret" gender transition of their child.
Mark Walsh, March 13, 2025
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4 min read
Clayton Hubert is an art teacher who wears many hats as an educator, including driving the school bus each morning, as seen here on Jan. 16, 2025, in Lamberton, Minn.
Clayton Hubert, an art teacher, wears many hats as an educator, including driving the school bus some mornings, as seen here on Jan. 16, 2025, in Lamberton, Minn. Many teachers say the expectations of the role have grown far beyond classroom instruction.
Kaylee Domzalski/Education Week
Teaching Profession Teaching in 2025: ‘Every Day Is a Crazy Day. It’s Fine.’
The profession is changing, and it's more challenging than ever. Resilient teachers are adapting. But at what cost?
Sarah D. Sparks, Caitlynn Peetz Stephens & Ileana Najarro, March 4, 2025
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26 min read
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