Critics question cost of Florida school vouchers

The big story: Interest in Florida’s private school voucher program is higher than ever, as evidenced by the latest award numbers released by scholarship funding organization Step Up For Students.

While knowing more than 430,000 students have received vouchers is informative, some organizations say it would be more beneficial to have details about how many are using them, and where. Beyond that, the 31 groups led by Florida Policy Institute want specifics about what will happen if the demand outstrips the nearly $3 billion that lawmakers set for the program.

On Wednesday, they sent a letter to education commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. asking for more transparency in how the vouchers are working, and how taxpayers will be protected from budget shortfalls. Read more here.

Hot topics

Black history: Unencumbered by restrictive state curriculum laws, some Florida private schools are offering in-depth lessons on civil rights and Black history, WMFE reports.

Book challenges: A team of school media specialists asked the Palm Beach County School Board for relief, saying their job requirements are growing too onerous, WPTV reports.

Campus politics: The State University System has temporarily suspended its controversial survey of student and staff political views, Fresh Take Florida reports.

Elections: A majority of seats on the Miami-Dade County School Board are up for election in 2024. The list of hopefuls is growing, the Miami Herald reports.

Rezoning: The Alachua County School has delayed consideration of redrawn attendance zones amid mounting questions and concerns, the Gainesville Sun reports.

Security: Leon County high schools will begin requiring all fans attending football games to pass through metal detectors, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.

Sex education: Florida school districts have until the end of September to submit their sex education lessons to the state Department of Education for approval, the Tallahassee Democrat reports. It’s a new requirement.

Start times: Florida joins California as the first states to mandate later high school start times, Stateline reports.

Transportation: The Alachua County school district will end “courtesy” bus rides in January, as it attempts to manage a continuing driver shortage, the Gainesville Sun reports.

From the police blotter ... Security was heightened at Pasco County’s Zephyrhills High School after a series of fights that led to 14 students being suspended. • A Volusia County middle school student was arrested on allegations of bringing a gun to school, WOFL reports. • Two members of an Escambia County High School cheerleading staff are under investigation over allegations that they misused team funds, WEAR reports.

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