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After a prolonged 43-day government shutdown, President Donald Trump signed a deal on November 12 to restore federal operations, impacting thousands of furloughed employees and essential services. The agreement includes rehiring laid-off federal workers and ensuring back pay for those affected. It also guarantees a Senate vote on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies. For the 2.9m Floridians awaiting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, the U.S. Department of Agriculture stated that funds would be released within 24 hours of reopening. Jessica Garon, a spokesperson for the American Public Human Services Association, mentioned that most states could issue full benefits within three days. However, the shutdown has led to cuts and restrictions in SNAP, with new work requirements for able-bodied individuals and increased costs for states. "The federal government has paid for benefits with each state handling the actual management," the article noted.

 

News Herald

A federal judge in Boston has ruled that a coalition of eight states, including New York, California, and Massachusetts, can continue their lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s decision to cut $600m in federal grants intended for recruiting and training teachers. U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley found that the states may pursue claims that the funding cuts were unconstitutional and violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), though she dismissed their attempt to reclaim the funds in her court, stating that monetary remedies must be sought in the Court of Federal Claims. The lawsuit, filed in March, argues that the Department of Education unlawfully terminated the Teacher Quality Partnership and Supporting Effective Educator Development grants, which support educator training in high-need districts. The Trump administration claimed the grants funded training in “divisive ideologies” like antiracism, part of a wider effort to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion programmes.

 

Bloomberg Law

Courthouse News Service

Reuters

First Lady Melania Trump is leading a new initiative to enhance career and education opportunities for children in foster care. On November 13, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing the “Fostering the Future” program, which collaborates with federal agencies, nonprofits, educational institutions, and the private sector. The initiative aims to create an online hub for foster youth to access essential resources, including vouchers and grants. Melania Trump expressed her pride in the initiative, describing it as “both empathetic and strategic.” She urged leaders from various sectors to join her cause, emphasizing the need to “rise above the ease of inaction.” The program is an extension of her “Be Best” campaign, which began in 2021 and provides scholarships to foster youth, with participating schools including Vanderbilt University and the University of Miami. The initiative involves several federal agencies, including the Departments of Health and Human Services and Treasury.

 

Bloomberg

U.S. News

During a recent state Board of Education meeting in Wakulla County, members unanimously endorsed a new declaration aimed at enhancing educational values. Board chair Ryan Petty and University of West Florida interim president Manny Diaz Jr. emphasized the need for schools to collaborate with parents to prepare children for adulthood. The Heritage Foundation's Phoenix Declaration outlines seven key categories, including parental choice, transparency, and character formation. While some foundations support the initiative, the Florida Education Association criticized it as a politically motivated effort that detracts from essential funding and support for public schools. 

 

TCPalm

Florida Phoenix

Bradenton.com

The Miami Herald

Orlando Sentinel

Sun Sentinel

Florida lawmakers are reviving the debate over cursive writing instruction in elementary schools. New bills, HB 127 and SB 444, aim to mandate that students from second to fifth grade learn to read and write in cursive, with proficiency required by fifth grade. Rep. Toby Overdorf, a co-sponsor of the bills, emphasized the importance of being able to read historical documents, stating, "Being able to see history is critically important, and not look at it like it's code." Cursive instruction has not been legally required since 2010.

 

The St. Augustine Record

TCPalm

Charter school operators are making moves to co-share public school buildings in Brevard County through the “Schools of Hope” program. One operator, BridgePrep, has filed to access over a third of Brevard’s public schools, raising concerns among advocates. Holly Bullard, Chief Strategy and Development Officer at the Florida Policy Institute, said: “The idea that one organization, BridgePrep, filed to co-locate in over a third of Brevard’s public schools defies logic and should incense parents and taxpayers alike.” The program aims to support charter schools when public schools are under capacity, with some schools reportedly operating at less than 50% capacity. Recent notices indicate that multiple charter operators, including Mater Academy and Somerset Academy, are seeking to take over school buildings starting in the 2027-28 school year.

 

Florida Politics

The Palm Beach County School District has received 69 requests from three charter school providers to establish "Schools of Hope" for the 2027-28 school year across 46 campuses. These schools aim to provide alternatives to traditional education. "Schools of Hope" allow certain charter providers to co-locate on existing school campuses, enhancing educational options in the area. Village Academy in Delray Beach is among the schools targeted for this initiative, which reflects a growing trend in the county's educational landscape.

 

Sun Sentinel

The Special Education Research Collaborative (SPARC) has released a comprehensive study revealing that many teachers certified in special education do not remain in the field. The study highlights that over 15% of special education teachers leave their positions annually, often transitioning to general education roles. Allison Gilmour, the lead author and a principal researcher at the American Institutes of Research (AIR), said: "Our shortages aren't really from not having enough people; it's having people teaching the wrong thing." The research indicates that inadequate professional development and support contribute to high turnover rates. In Texas, for instance, nearly 36% of special education teachers left their positions each year during the study period. The findings suggest that states must enhance mentoring and professional development tailored to the unique challenges of special education to retain qualified educators.

 

Education Week News

Pinellas County Schools are addressing a significant decline in student enrollment, which has dropped by nearly 3,600 this year. To tackle this issue, district leaders are hosting "Planning for Progress" community meetings at Boca Ciega High School. The aim is to gather community feedback on potential new programs and discuss possible school closures. The school board recently reviewed enrollment data, revealing that families are increasingly opting for charter schools or homeschooling, contributing to the ongoing decline in public school enrollment. "We need to hear from the community," said district leaders, emphasizing the importance of public input in shaping the future of education in Pinellas County.

 

Tampa Bay Fl News

The Indian River County School Board is set to discuss a plan to relocate K-8 magnet schools to existing middle schools and redraw attendance boundaries during its meeting on November 17. The initiative aims to address declining middle school enrollment and the rising interest in the K-8 model. If approved, the changes will take effect on July 1. The plan includes moving Vero Beach ninth graders to the main campus of Vero Beach High School and adjusting boundaries for several elementary and middle schools.

 

TCPalm

Miami-Dade County Public Schools is gearing up for a marketing campaign to highlight its extensive choice and magnet programs. Superintendent Dr. Jose Dotres emphasized: “We have the largest number of magnet and choice programs in this entire country.” With a decline of about 13,000 students from the previous year, the district aims to attract and retain students by showcasing diverse educational opportunities. Programs like the Visual and Performing Arts magnet and the Law Enforcement and Intelligence magnet provide students with unique experiences, such as mock trials and jazz band performances. “These programs are here to help us recruit students but more importantly, to maintain the students that we have,” Dotres said.

 

NBC Miami

Osceola County School District leaders are considering changes to the school bell schedule, aiming to enhance student well-being by allowing teens more sleep. The proposal suggests that elementary schools start earlier at 7:30 a.m., while high schools would begin later at 8:30 a.m., reversing the current schedule where high schools start at 7:15 a.m. Parents are encouraged to provide feedback through online surveys before any final decisions are made. A similar proposal is also under discussion in neighboring Orange County, where high schools currently start at 7:20 a.m. and elementary schools at 8:45 a.m.

 

Fox 35 Orlando

A grant awarded to Vessels of Hope, a nonprofit linked to Mount Pleasant, supports a program aimed at educating students about voting. Tina Certain, an Alachua County School Board member, emphasized the importance of community involvement in schools, stating: "Each school has an advisory committee that must include at least one member of the community." Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward and State Rep. Yvonne Hinson also encouraged student engagement in local government. The program, funded by a $5,000 grant from Cox Charities, provided students with a $400 stipend for their participation and included lessons on the history of voting and the struggles faced by marginalized groups.

 

The Gainesville Sun

The ninth annual Jail Break 5K in St. Augustine attracted nearly 900 participants and raised $40,000 for the St. Johns County Education Foundation Inc., also known as Investing in Kids, or INK!. "This was the most well-attended race so far," said Cathy Newman, INK!'s executive director, who aims for 1,000 competitors next year. The event included a School Team Challenge, where the school with the most registered participants won a trophy, $1,000, and "bragging rights." St. Augustine Public Montessori School claimed this honor.

 

The Florida Times-Union

Organizations in Osceola County are collaborating for the third annual Basket Brigade, supporting the School District of Osceola County's Families In Transition (FIT) program this Thanksgiving. The initiative, which includes Scouting America's Scouting For Food campaign, aims to collect food donations for families in need. Over 24,000 pounds of food have been collected, with the goal of assembling more than 1,000 baskets for distribution.

 

Osceola News-Gazette

Ontario’s Ministry of Education has announced that all school boards in the province will be required to open new Student and Family Support Offices designed to handle parent concerns that were not resolved at the school level. The five school boards currently under provincial supervision, Ottawa-Carleton, Dufferin-Peel Catholic, Thames Valley, Toronto District, and Toronto Catholic, must open their offices by January 2026, with full details posted on their websites by January 19. All other boards must open theirs by September 1 2026. Each office will be overseen by a supervisor, respond to inquiries within two business days, and aim to provide resolutions within five. The government says the initiative is part of broader reforms to modernize the school board governance structure.

 

CBC News

Toronto Star

Toronto Today