Florida education news: Civics lessons, school choice, consolidation and more

CIVICS LESSONS: Several Florida lawmakers follow Gov. Ron DeSantis’ lead in seeking to enhance students’ civic knowledge. The latest bill is a bipartisan effort to have teens not only take a course, but participate in a community project. "The best way students learn is by doing,” House sponsor Ben Diamond explained.

SCHOOL CHOICE: A newly released statewide survey from the pro-school choice Foundation for Excellence in Education shows strong support for school vouchers. Critics have called the report biased. • The Central Florida Urban League cheers Gov. DeSantis’ proposal to eliminate a waiting list for scholarships to low-income students who want to attend private school, Florida Politics reports.

IT’S HOT IN HERE: Hillsborough County schools will not begin to see air conditioning repairs until the summer, after new sales tax revenue starts rolling in.

CONSOLIDATION: University of South Florida Tampa faculty members urge school officials not to create a strong branch campus structure as the university consolidates its three sites.

APPOINTMENTS: Gov. Ron DeSantis withdraws his predecessor’s appointees to several college and university trustee positions, Florida Politics reports. DeSantis previously pulled back appointments to the State Board of Education and other seats requiring Senate confirmation.

PANIC ATTACK: A Putnam County high school holds an unannounced active shooter drill, and some students think it’s the real thing, WJXT reports.

NOW HIRING: The St. Johns County school district seeks a head start in finding new teachers for its classrooms, WJAX reports.

ON THE BUS: A Florida lawmaker proposes cameras for school buses to record drivers who pass illegally, WFLA reports. • The Marion County School Board agrees to a 10-year, $26 million bus replacement plan, the Ocala Star-Banner reports.

CHARTER SCHOOLS: The Duval County superintendent says she won’t recommend approval for a new charter school unless it improves its diversity plan, the Florida Times-Union reports.

TURNAROUNDS: Three Manatee County schools improve their academic performance under threat of being taken over by an outside operator if they don’t do better, the Bradenton Herald reports.

STREAM SCHOOLS: A Charlotte County Catholic school adds religion to its STEAM education program, the Charlotte Sun reports.

CENTRAL OFFICE: The Martin County School Board considers buying the former Stuart News offices to create a central district headquarters, TC Palm reports.

DUAL ENROLLMENT: Bethune-Cookman University ends its dual enrollment program for Volusia County teens as a cost-cutting effort, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reports.

SECURITY: The Volusia County school district implements student discipline changes after a week of safety and security problems at a local high school, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reports.

INCENTIVES: A planned international boarding school for Bay County would not cost taxpayers, the Panama City News Herald reports.

$10K SPEAKER: A Palm Beach County high school faces scrutiny after paying $10,000 for a motivational speaker to address teachers, the Palm Beach Post reports.

LABOR NEWS: Brevard County teachers plan their third picket of the School Board over pay and working conditions, Florida Today reports. • The Sarasota County teachers union says a new contract for the district superintendent demonstrates the School Board’s disdain for teachers, the Herald-Tribune reports.

LET’S MAKE A DEAL: University of Central Florida former president Dale Whittaker reaches a pricey settlement for his departure, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

NAME GAME: The residents of a Manatee County community continue to push the School Board for a new name for their new school, the Herald-Tribune reports.

INVESTIGATED: An Okaloosa County school principal faces a reprimand over the way he handled a teacher investigation, though most of the complaints against the principal were deemed unfounded, the Northwest Florida Daily News reports.