/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/ZBLCH5URDJ5RRZBFT65FL26Y4U.jpg "Ron DeSantis responds to a local TV reporter's question after he signed legislation to make it harder for social media companies to punish users who violate terms of service agreements. DeSantis also addressed his disapproval of how race issues are taught in U.S. history courses during his news conference.")
The debate over the teaching of U.S. history and civics in Florida’s classrooms picked up another notch, with activists and advocates arguing on social media as the governor pushed forward his agenda in a press conference. Read on for the latest on that story and more Florida education news.
Gov. Ron DeSantis continued his attack against “critical race theory.” He accused corporate media of attempting to inaccurately portray the approach and his views about it, Florida Politics reports. What’s this all about? PolitiFact Florida takes a look at the debate. Hear a discussion about the Department of Education’s push to further control the teaching of U.S. history in public schools on WLRN.
Summer learning
School districts are gearing up for summer classes. Lee and Collier county schools have set ambitious participation goals, the Naples Daily News reports.
Sarasota County schools are having trouble finding teachers for the summer. The district extended the job application window and announced a bonus for certain positions, the Herald-Tribune reports.
Coronavirus concerns
Florida reopened schools earlier than others. Did the state get it right? A national accreditation board for health departments said Florida should have done a better job providing the public accurate information about coronavirus cases in south Florida schools, the Miami Herald reports.
More on masks. The St. Lucie County school district has rescinded its mask mandate for the fall, TC Palm reports. • A mom who’s moving to Charlotte County started a petition to end masks in the schools for the fall, saying her family left Connecticut to escape harsh pandemic restrictions, WINK reports.
Other school news
And Florida State University’s new president is ... The trustees recommended Harvard vice provost for research Richard McCullough for the job. More from the Tallahassee Democrat. The Board of Governors still must confirm the selection when it meets in June.
High school yearbooks are out. The St. Johns County schools superintendent said a local high school never intended to embarrass any students by altering their yearbook photos to cover their bare skin, WJAX reports. • The editor in chief of a Escambia County high school’s yearbook was suspended after altering the photo of a student involved in a homecoming scandal, WEAR reports.
A central Florida charter school is accused of overcharging the state for student services. It’s not the first one to do so, the Orlando Sentinel reports.
An Okaloosa County teen will graduate high school without ever having missed a day of school. That’s 2,340 days of classes, the Northwest Florida Daily News reports.
The Santa Rosa County school district offers homeless students help to get into stable housing. At least five other districts are replicating the program, the Pensacola News-Journal reports.
What’s in a name? The Volusia County school asked parents for input on the name and mascot for two schools being consolidated into one, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reports.
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Explore all your optionsFrom the police blotter ... A Citrus County high school teacher was arrested on allegations of sending lewd photos to a student, the Citrus County Chronicle reports.
Don’t miss a story. Here’s the link to yesterday’s roundup.
Before you go ... School is still in session. So don’t speed through the zones. They’re still watching.
/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/tbt/d899cc0f-b0d6-4481-ad36-fc951db3f95b.png "Jeffrey S. Solochek - Education Reporter")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/YwAitb-j6uYYr9wKHhHOTxtPEQc=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/IVCOK6NKTFBUNP4FUI6X45CZ3E.JPG "DeSantis education agenda on the move in Florida Legislature")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/667FKE2J65KCQUDKDRR6JMNUSE.jpg "Bills to expand Florida vouchers march on, with costs still a question")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/EWBKJHWQCSCANJCIKVVXBPCX6I.jpg "Major voucher expansion passes in Florida House; bill still rolling through Senate")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/6LGEF3A3ZOJMZ3SAF2BGB7PP4A.jpg "New College can pay Interim President Richard Corcoran through June. Then what?")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/27YWQDQA7QNUVV2XAD2FRWDUMI.aspx "Federal judge dampens Florida effort to restrict race lessons")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/MXFQGIYYYFE2XMPK24WOGOSIZI.jpg "Florida GOP lawmakers advance bill targeting teacher, public employee unions")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/UR7VRUPJ3ZFHMHL727IAZKINVQ.aspx "Florida universities still may not enforce Individual Freedom act, appeals court says")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/NHKRGPXEFVHXXDUS5NUUSIFFL4.JPG "Did Pasco school board candidate play fair? His case could prompt new rules.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/SZRVSH42HFCNRMPQRBVC7QD4AA.jpg "As DeSantis targets diversity in education, FAMU students fear for future")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/UW5EMFIUMFHF5OZHRG4JOAZHVE.jpg "Pressure on Florida universities turns to faculty unions")