Florida’s tests start Monday. Will remote students show up?

The Florida Standards Assessments begin Monday with reading for third graders and writing for fourth through tenth graders. They’re all being conducted in person. Will the approximately one third of children still attending classes remotely show up? Read on for that story and more Florida education news.

District officials say they’re putting accommodations in place for students who have health concerns about testing on campus. They also said they understand that family considerations come first. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

More coronavirus concerns

Sue you. A student is suing the University of South Florida after the school did not refund fees for services that went unprovided because of the pandemic, Florida Politics reports.

Gov. DeSantis requested $1,000 pandemic bonuses for principals and classroom teachers. He ran into criticism that he ignored other school employees, WTSP reports.

Vaccinations soon will be available to Floridians age 16 and older. Many central Florida college students are reluctant to get one, Spectrum 13 reports.

Monroe County schools reopened their middle and high schools to full-time in-person classes this week. Most students returned, the Florida Keys Weekly reports.

Tallahassee action

A House committee advanced a resolution asking voters to end school board member salaries. The measure, which has no Senate companion, narrowly won approval, Florida Politics reports. More from the News Service of Florida.

What are you thinking? House legislation to require “intellectual diversity” surveys on Florida’s university campuses is near a final vote in the Senate, Florida Politics reports.

In praise of civic awareness. The Florida House unanimously passed two civic education bills touting the U.S. patriotism, the Associated Press reports.

Schools are still seeking “missing” students. A new estimating conference report projects that many of them will be returning in the fall, the News Service of Florida reports.

Other school news

The Hillsborough County school district is confronting significant budget shortfalls. It hired a new chief financial officer to lead the effort.

Hackers are trying to extort $40 million from the Broward County school district. What do districts do to try to prevent such cyber attacks? WPTV reports.

“It’s not about me.” The Lee County School Board member who called for a state investigation into her district said her concerns date back two years, and involve race relations and other issues, WINK reports.

A Miami-Dade County private school worked to confront racism after the death of George Floyd. Some parents and prominent alumni pushed back, saying the school’s effort conflicted with its Catholic foundation, the Miami Herald reports.

Manatee County School Board member Scott Hopes accepted appointment as county administrator. He pledged to leave the board, meaning Gov. Ron DeSantis would appoint a successor, the Herald-Tribune reports.

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Sarasota County’s new superintendent gave his first state of the district speech. He identified several challenges he wants to tackle in the coming months, the Herald-Tribune reports.

From the police blotter ... A Duval County substitute teacher was arrested on allegations of child abuse after an altercation with a student, WJXT reports. • A Palm Beach County teacher was arrested on accusations of solicitation of a minor, WPEC reports.

From the court docket ... A former Hillsborough County high school teacher pleaded guilty to more than 300 criminal charges that he secretly recorded students undressing.

Don’t miss a story. Yesterday’s roundup is just a click away.

Before you go ... The University of Florida is headlong into an artificial intelligence initiative. So this April Fool’s video isn’t entirely ridiculous.