In 2022, the Florida Lottery raised over $2.3 billion for education initiatives

Florida Lottery – Scratch-off ticket counter — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Image by: The Toidi In the fiscal year 2021–2022, the Florida Lottery stated that it transferred $2.3 billion to the state’s Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF). This is the second year in a row that contributions to education have topped $2 billion in a single

Veterans can now teach in Florida schools without a degree

Veterans holding books – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Africa Studio The Sunshine State currently has 9,000 teacher vacancies that must be filled before the summer comes to a close and the new 2022 academic year begins. Last week, Florida’s Department of Education announced that military veterans can now fill those empty roles. “Our public

Regardless of recent budget surplus, Florida teachers are among the worst paid in the U.S.

Education School Teachers Teaching — Courtesy: Shutterstock — rawpixel.com TAMPA. Fl. — In a Florida political season dominated by educational arguments over everything from sexual orientation to policy and curriculum, Florida’s teacher’s union, the Florida Education Association, says teachers in the Sunshine State are still close to the bottom of the barrel for salaries. The

Lawmakers pushing Florida high school diplomas to require financial literacy

Financial Literacy — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Monthira Florida lawmakers are considering making a financial literacy course a requirement for high school graduation as more states look to improve the younger generation’s understanding of how to manage their personal finances. A bipartisan bill making its way through the Florida House of Representatives would require high school

Thousands of teachers & students absent amid Omicron surge

FL schools dealing with Omicron outbreak — Courtesy: Shutterstock — FamVeld Schools in Florida are reporting loads of absences among students and teachers this week, a sign that the highly transmissible Omicron variant is already interrupting the new semester. With COVID-19 cases skyrocketing throughout the Sunshine State, Gov. Ron DeSantis has pledged to keep schools

Florida’s largest school districts ease up on masks

Running at School – Face Mask: Shutterstock — Monkey Business Images ORLANDO, Fla. — Two of Florida’s largest school districts are easing up on mask requirements this week. Beginning Monday, Orange County students will not be required to wear a face mask if their parents provide a note opting them out. High school students in

Florida misses deadline to receive $2.3 billion in federal aid

U.S. Department of Education – Federal Aid – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Evgenia Parajanian Several Florida school districts are not happy and speaking up. According to a letter sent to the state Monday, Florida is the last state to submit its plans to the U.S. Department of Education that is required before more than

More than 10,000 students in Hillsborough County isolated or quarantined a week into new school year

COVID-19 Quarantine – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Halfpoint Just a week into the 2021-2022 school year, over 10,000 students and staff in the Hillsborough County Public Schools district have been either quarantined or isolated as districts throughout the entire state struggle throughout the fight against COVID-19. With more than 213,000 students, Hillsborough is the

As 2021-2022 school year kicks off, Florida continues to roll out $1,000 bonuses to teachers & principals

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis School – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by YES Market Media ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – As several Florida educators remain waiting or have received their $1,000 bonuses, Gov. Ron DeSantis made a quick stop at a school in St. Petersburg to hand-deliver checks to teachers. DeSantis was joined by Florida Department of

High COVID-19 cases call for universal masking in Florida schools

Ready to go to School – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Volurol Districts are sticking with their plans to return to in-person learning, but some school mask rules may be subject to change.  In the last week, the state of Florida has reported more than 73,000 COVID-19 infections. This is the highest number of cases