Rocky Hanna

The Florida Department of Education is moving forward with penalizing Leon Superintendent Rocky Hanna following an investigation into his professional conduct. Hanna is accused of using his “official position to attempt to politically influence others under” his authority, according to a letter from DOE.

Leon school district officials are set to meet with representatives of Governors Charter School this week.

Alva Swafford Smith says the district won't defend teachers and administrators accused of violating new restrictions on what they can discuss in the classroom.

Of the 12 Florida school districts that defied Gov. Ron DeSantis' ban on local mask mandates, only five have their original superintendents.

Florida lawmakers created a voucher program three years ago called the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program. Since then, a new report finds the “flow of public funds to private education” has dramatically increased.

The clock is now running on when, or if, Chiles Principal Joe Burgess will serve a two-week suspension for doling out extra payments to some employees without properly tracking or documenting their time.

Leon County Schools has found itself at the center of several key pieces of legislation aimed at curbing school powers. Among the biggest: a new law that prevents schools from making decisions regarding a student’s health and wellbeing without consulting with parents. This is how a local fight between the school district and a parent, resulted in what opponents are calling the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

The Leon County School District is facing long-term financial headwinds in the form of school choice. More families are taking advantage of tuition assistance to send their kids to private schools or home school. And traditional public schools—and even charter schools—are left holding the bag.

Leon County Superintendent Rocky Hanna addressed Florida lawmakers Tuesday as they discussed education funding. He asked them to reconsider a plan to cut $200 million from a dozen school districts that defied the state’s rule against mask mandates.

Conflict is erupting over a House education budget item that would strip $200 million from a dozen local school districts that defied Gov. Ron DeSantis’ effort to ban mask mandates that did not allow parents to opt-out.