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Florida education news: Grand jury report, civics and a push for parental consent in testing

A roundup of stories from around the state.
 
A vigil at Pine Trails Park in Parkland for victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Credit: Al Diaz, Miami Herald
A vigil at Pine Trails Park in Parkland for victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Credit: Al Diaz, Miami Herald
Published Dec. 13, 2019

SECURITY UPDATE: A special grand jury says several Florida school districts play games with their crime incident data — specifically mentioning Miami-Dade and Broward counties — and that stricter penalties are needed to ensure compliance with the state’s school security laws. More from the Associated Press. See also the full report.

CIVICS: A Florida House committee advances legislation to create a high school civics practicum program, saying students would better learn the topic by actively participating in it. For more on students and civics, hear our podcast interview with Armwood High senior Haley Manigold, who’s working with other students to try to get a law passed through the Legislature.

MENTAL HEALTH: Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis visits at Tampa school to unveil her latest proposals to help students who feel isolated in school. “It might seem simplistic,” she said. “But really, something as simple as saying hello, how are you doing, are you doing okay, you want to sit with me? ... can change everything.”

TESTING: Schools would need parental consent to administer state tests to students under new legislation filed by Florida Rep. Shevrin Jones, Florida Politics reports.

SCHOOL DAYS: The Broward County school district joins the list of districts giving students a full week off for Thanksgiving, starting next year, the Sun-Sentinel reports.

NEW WHEELS: The Okaloosa County school district gets nine new cars for driver education, courtesy of a state fine on driving violations, the Northwest Florida Daily News reports.

VAPING: The Indian River County school district considers installing vape sensors to help curtail the growing usage, but privacy concerns arise, TC Palm reports.

TOP TEACHERS: Leon County names its 2020 Teacher of the Year, WCTV reports.

PAY FREEZE: Polk County school-related employees won’t be getting raises this year, as the School Board approves a new contract without extra wages, the Ledger reports.

READING LESSONS: A grassroots Alachua County group pushes to have a new literacy program used in after-school activities as a way to overcome the district’s achievement gap, WUFT reports.

NIMBY: Some Santa Rosa County residents complain about the school district’s purchase of 41 acres for a new school near their community, the Pensacola News-Journal reports.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA: Leon County school district officials continue to grapple with the details of a policy to permit medical marijuana usage in schools, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.

COMMUNITY SCHOOLS: A Clay County high school prepares to adopt the community partnership model for the coming year, Clay Today reports.

ON THE MOVE: Hillsborough County assistant superintendent Tricia McManus takes a similar role in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school district in North Carolina, the Winston-Salem Journal reports.

BAD ACTS: An Okaloosa County middle school teacher is arrested on allegations of lewd acts with a student, the Northwest Florida Daily News reports. • A Lee County high school student is arrested on a probation violation after lighting up and smoking in class, WINK reports. • A Manatee County private school teacher resigns amid an investigation that he sent inappropriate photos to a student, the Herald-Tribune reports.

ICYMI: Yesterday’s Florida education news roundup