Enrollment in State Colleges Continues to Decline | Florida Education Trend – Florida Trend
Enrollment in state colleges continues to decline
Florida college officials are trying to figure out what lies behind a continuing decline in state college enrollment, which analysts say could decline by more than 9% over the next five years if the trend continues. The most recent year-end data on college system enrollment showed a system-wide enrollment of 293,493 students for the 2020-2021 school year. Estimates for the 2021-2022 academic year that were adopted on Tuesday by the state’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research reflected an enrollment of 277,279 statewide students, a drop of 5.5 percent, ie a decrease of 16,214 students. [Source: News Service of Florida]
‘They are desperate’: Florida schools grapple with vacant teacher positions and supply shortage
With a record number of teacher vacancies and a shortage of substitute teachers, public schools across the state are desperate to find and retain qualified substitutes as they are also pushing to hire and retain full-time teachers. . Florida public schools began the 2021-22 school year with nearly 5,000 vacancies, according to the Florida Education Association. This is the highest number since the teachers’ union started counting in 2016 and around 1,500 compared to the pre-pandemic tally in 2019. More alarming, union leaders said, was the tally of follow-up they did in October. More information on Orlando Sentinel and WFTS.
DeSantis’ budget proposal would mean more money for public schools and less for universities
Governor Ron DeSantis has released an education budget proposal for next year that includes record spending for public schools, but cut funding for universities. DeSantis is calling on lawmakers to provide $ 23.9 billion for the K-12 system, an increase of $ 1.1 billion from the current year. The proposal would provide $ 8,000 in spending per student, an increase of nearly $ 200. [Source: News Service of Florida]
After federal scrutiny, Florida education officials have returned $ 878,000 to some local school boards
After several months of legal challenges, state sanctions, and a special session that banned strict mask warrants in public schools, the Florida Department of Education returned $ 877,851 in public funds to eight school districts that had been punished for a COVID-related mask controversy. [Source: Florida Phoenix]
Lawmakers Call for Better Notification to Boost Mental Health in Florida Schools
A bipartisan pair of state lawmakers have a plan to improve Florida’s mental health with a bill next year. Its objective is simple: to better inform families that there is help. Florida’s national mental health rankings could be better. The annual assessment for nonprofit Mental Health America places the state in the bottom half of No.28. [Source: WFTS]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
›Florida science professor fired for refusing to wear a mask
A teacher in South Florida was fired for repeatedly refusing to wear a mask. The Broward County School Board on Tuesday unanimously voted to fire Piper High science teacher John C. Alvarez for blatant insubordination. Alvarez plans to appeal the decision to an administrative judge.
›The Brevard School Board accepts an agreement with the teachers’ union and will revise the school name change policy
The Brevard County School Board voted on Tuesday in favor of a new contract with the Brevard Teachers’ Federation, although the union president warned board members that a deal would not be possible next year without increases. Brevard Federation of Teachers president Anthony Colucci said the union had ratified the union contract with 83% of members voting for it.
›Governor DeSantis wants parents to ban critical breed theory
Gov. Ron DeSantis has said he wants to empower parents to ban Critical Race Theory (CRT) in Florida schools. In June, the state Board of Education banned “critical race theory†from public school classrooms. On Wednesday, the governor announced his intention to introduce legislation to combat the teachings. The “Stop Woke Act,” also known as the “Stop Wrong Against Our Kids And Employees Act,” would put the department’s ban into effect, DeSantis said.
›Orange County teachers rally for larger increases, upset by the $ 25 cost of living increase
Orange County teachers are fed up with a compensation proposal they see as “an outright scandal” rallied outside the school district headquarters on Tuesday, urging the Orange County School Board to offer its 14,000 teachers over $ 25 increase in cost of living for the year. “It’s pretty pathetic,” said Gretchen Robinson, who teaches at University High School and was one of dozens who gathered before the evening school board meeting. “Shame on you,†she said. “You better do better for the sake of our children.”
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