Florida Education Association

How Florida assesses K-12 students' academic progress may be changing. Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to eliminate most of the state's standardized tests, called Florida Standards Assessments (FSA). Instead, the state would rely on progress monitoring.

Attorneys for a group of parents are pushing back against the state’s attempt to scuttle a lawsuit challenging Gov. Ron DeSantis’ efforts to prevent mask mandates in schools.

The Florida Department of Education issued an emergency order Friday waiving accountability measures tied to state exams. Concerns about consequences of testing loomed with exams already underway for some students.

Florida Republican legislative leaders are lauding a sweeping school-choice proposal, while Senate Democrats have vowed to “fight like hell” against it.

Governor Ron DeSantis says Florida’s K-12 schools will continue to offer parents the choice of remote or in-person learning through the Spring semester.

Florida’s education commissioner is promising parents will have the option to continue distance learning for the rest of the school year. But, after Wednesday’s state Board of Education meeting, it’s not yet certain that districts will receive full funding for online learners.

A three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal, in a 31-page decision, flatly rejected the conclusions of Leon County Circuit Judge Charles Dodson, who in August sided with teachers unions that challenged Corcoran’s order. The unions argued, at least in part, that the order violated a constitutional guarantee of “safe” and “secure” public education.

A stay that was applied to Second Circuit Judge Charles Dodson’s ruling that DOE’s order was constitutional was reinstated by the First District Court of Appeal.

Here’s what’s transpired in the case over the last several days and what comes next as more districts prepare to start the 2020-2021 school year:

After winning an initial round in the closely watched legal fight, teachers unions have asked a Leon County circuit judge to lift a stay on his ruling that a state mandate to reopen brick-and-mortar schools is unconstitutional.