education

An administrative law judge is weighing a Department of Health rule governing school mask mandates. The two-day trial kicked off Thursday in Tallahassee with the districts arguing the Department overstepped its authority when it issued the rule, and the state saying those claims are overblown.

Wells Fargo is giving $100,000 dollars to support minority businesses. The money is going to Florida A&M University's Small Business Development Center to create a minority business incubator.

Leon County is getting a new charter school in Red Hills Academy. The State Board of Education overrode a rejection by the local school board Wednesday, making Red Hills the district’s 6th charter school.

An administrative law judge won’t throw out a challenge to a Department of Health rule attempting to stop local school boards from issuing mask mandates. Six school boards are seeking to overturn the order amid an ongoing fight with Gov. Ron DeSantis. The court is slated to hear the case Thursday morning.

Florida school kids will be learning about patriotism in their civics classes. The move is part of standards changes approved Wednesday by the State Board of Education.

Republicans are gearing up to fight vaccine and mask mandates imposed by local governments. Sen. Keith Perry's, R-Gainesville, proposal comes amid lawsuits between state and local governments over such measures.

A plea for help by the National School Boards Association is having a ripple effect in politics—riling local school board members, already-angry parents, and causing the Florida Association of School Boards to distance itself from its national arm. In Leon County, angry parents blasted their local school board after the national association likened certain threats to domestic terrorism.

The Leon County School District has dropped its mask requirements for students in grades Pre-K through 8th. Leon Superintendent Rocky Hanna says he’s following through on his promise to parents to revisit the policy when positivity rates fell.

The federal government recently announced it would investigate threats against local school board members. The announcement comes amid growing acrimony between parental groups and public school leaders over issues like face masks and critical race theory. Yet, where some see a threat—others see an exercise of free speech.

The State Board of Education on Thursday ratcheted up discipline against eight county school boards that have maintained student mask mandates to try to prevent the spread of COVID-19.