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Jeffrey S. Solochek - Education Reporter
Jeffrey S. Solochek

Education Reporter

I've been an education reporter for more than 25 years, in Illinois, Texas and Florida. Why stick with it? Because I see education as key to our community, whether it's about children learning, teachers and staff working, or residents seeking the best for their tax dollars. Our school systems are critical to our society, and I strive to tell you what's going on there. I've worked at the Tampa Bay Times since 2000, covering statewide education issues as well as the districts in Hernando, Hillsborough and Pasco counties. Think I've missed something? Send your ideas my way. I read all my emails.

  1. Schools left out of Florida House property tax reduction plan
    • The Education Gradebook
    Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, speaks during the first day of the legislative session at the Florida State Capitol on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in Tallahassee, Fla.
  2. Florida schools continue to grapple with state diversity rules
    • The Education Gradebook
    Polk State College, led by president Angela Garcia Falconetti, has canceled its Introduction to African-American Studies course.
  3. Library book battles cost Florida school districts big money
    • The Education Gradebook
    Third grader Macarius Clark decides between which library book he wants to read during a summer reading camp at Westgate Elementary School in St. Petersburg. Debates over which books belong in Florida school libraries are costing some school districts hundreds of thousands of dollars.
  5. Pinellas school teachers, support staff get raises approved
    • The Education Gradebook
    Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association leaders discuss pay proposals with school district officials during collective bargaining on Sept. 8. The school board approved their contract agreement on Tuesday.
  6. 2 Pinellas schools get new principals
    • The Education Gradebook
    Skycrest Elementary in Clearwater is getting a new principal.
  7. Florida schools debate open space as charter schools seek access
    • The Education Gradebook
    Hillsborough County closed Just Elementary School in 2023 amid concerns of low enrollment. Several districts across Florida are discussing how to best use their vacant classrooms, as charter schools eye access to the space.
  8. Hernando schools first to use Florida’s chaplain program
    • The Education Gradebook
    The Hernando County school district is the first in Florida to permit volunteer chaplains to work with students under a 2024 state law.
  9. Pasco schools health insurance plan irks employees
    • The Education Gradebook
    The Hudson PreK-12 Campus on Cobra Way includes a primary school, middle grades academy, high school and district wellness center. Officials are encouraging employees to use one of the district's six wellness centers to offset their health care expenses amid rising insurance costs.
  10. Florida school districts prepare for influx of Schools of Hope
    • The Education Gradebook
    IDEA Victory was the first School of Hope charter school in Tampa. Others are expected after state lawmakers changed the rules making it easier for Schools of Hope to operate.
  11. Miami charter school group seeking foothold in dozens of Tampa Bay schools
    • The Education Gradebook
    James Elementary in Tampa is among the schools targeted by Miami charter school group Mater Academy in letters sent to school districts across the state under an expansion of the Schools of Hope program.
  12. Charter operators seek move into Florida public schools under new law
    • The Education Gradebook
    Sarasota County schools superintendent Terry Connor has raised concerns about a charter school operator's proposal to occupy space in three Sarasota district campuses.
  13. Florida schools, universities still dealing with Charlie Kirk legacy
    • The Education Gradebook
    Charlie Kirk at the protest Thursday October 10th, 2019 at the University of Florida. Kirk interacted with protesters and supporters while also taking time to promote his organization, Turning Point USA, upcoming event. A state lawmaker wants UF to rename Stadium Road after Kirk.
  14. Pasco schools declare 5th grade science ‘emergency’ after early testing
    • The Education Gradebook
    The Pasco County school district has prioritized improving fifth grade science lessons after seeing early progress monitoring results.
  15. Trump administration orders Florida schools to end courses for Latino teens
    • The Education Gradebook
    The U.S. Department of Education has called on schools to end programs it says give any special advantages to one demographic group over another.
  16. Education is key to long-term community success, Miami leaders say
    • The Education Gradebook
    Kindergarten students work on their projects at the Dr. Rolando Espinosa K-8 Center, during the first day of school for Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) in the 2025-2026 school year, on Thursday, August 14, 2025.
  17. Pasco schools reject two complaints about teachers’ Charlie Kirk posts
    • The Education Gradebook
    VILLA PARK, CA - SEPTEMBER 16, 2025 -- A memorial to Charlie Kirk rests on the sidewalk in front of the high school in Villa Park in Orange County on September 16, 2025.
  18. DeSantis backs investigating Florida teachers over Charlie Kirk comments
    • The Education Gradebook
    Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, shown at a 9/11 Memorial Service in Palm Harbor, said he supports investigating and possibly firing teachers and other government employees over their social media comments regarding Charlie Kirk.
  19. Florida pushed back on AP classes. Its first alternative option? Algebra
    • The Education Gradebook
    An image of the solution for an algebraic literal equation is displayed for students in math teacher James Dye’s College Algebra class on Sept. 9 at Mitchell High School in Trinity.
  20. Florida school finds connection between tardiness, bathroom mirrors
    • The Education Gradebook
    A Florida high school has removed its bathroom mirrors as part of plan to reduce student tardiness and improve student behavior.
  21. Pinellas schools to reduce student busing for high school magnets
    • The Education Gradebook
    The Pinellas County school district is scaling back its bus service for high school choice programs starting next fall.
  22. Pinellas planning to close more schools amid shrinking enrollment
    • The Education Gradebook
    Pinellas County Schools Superintendent Kevin Hendrick says the district will recommend closing schools as part of a long-term strategy to deal with declining student enrollment across all grade levels.
  23. What does Florida’s debate on open carry mean for schools?
    • The Education Gradebook
    Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, shown at an August press conference, has said Florida's ban on open carry of firearms is over. The changes would not affect schools and universities.
  24. Why is Florida targeting teachers’ online posts about Charlie Kirk?
    • The Education Gradebook
    Charlie_Kirk_Shot_63745.jpg