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The Florida Coaches Coalition (FCC) has made significant progress in advocating for better salaries for public high school coaches, particularly in football. With support from former NFL player Corey Simon, now a state senator, and state representative Adam Anderson, legislation was introduced to the Florida Senate to address the issue. The proposed Senate Bill 538 aims to remove restrictions on coaching stipends, allowing school boards to negotiate salaries without limits. Currently, Florida coaches earn stipends averaging between $3,300 and $8,400, significantly lower than their counterparts in neighboring states. The bill could lead to a substantial increase in coaching salaries, with an estimated cost of $2m for each of the state's 67 school districts.

 

Bradenton.com

Tampa Bay Times

An audit of Florida's Family Empowerment Scholarship revealed significant overspending and oversight failures, with lawmakers from both parties expressing concern. The audit highlighted that "the amount of money we cannot account for as being in the right place at the right time exceeds $270m on any given day," according to Sen. Don Gaetz. Recommendations include creating a unified deadline calendar and separating scholarship funds from school district money to improve accountability. Despite the rapid growth of the program, critics argue that the current system is mismanaging taxpayer dollars. The audit's findings were presented to education committees, prompting bipartisan criticism and calls for reform to ensure funds are properly tracked and allocated.

 

The Florida Times-Union

Daytona Beach News Journal

Florida House Republicans are advancing a proposal to lower the minimum age for purchasing long guns from 21 to 18, reversing a key aspect of the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Act. The bill, HB 133, passed the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee with an 11–5 party-line vote. Bill sponsor Rep. Tyler Sirois, R-Merritt Island, argued that allowing 18-year-olds to buy firearms aligns with other adult responsibilities, stating: “I believe that the correct public policy is to allow individuals over the age of 18 to exercise their right to keep and bear arms.” In contrast, Democrats highlighted the dangers of such a change, referencing the Parkland shooting and the recent Florida State University incident, with Rep. Johanna López warning: “Lowering the minimum age to purchase a firearm from 21 to 18 is dangerous.”

 

WPTV

Susan Popkin and David Bateman highlight the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in education, recalling a time before significant reforms in the 1970s. With recent cuts to the federal Department of Education, advocates fear a regression in the support provided to students with disabilities. Denise Marshall, chief executive of the Council of Parents Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA), expressed concern, stating: “It does seem like so far ago, but right now we’re witnessing all we accomplished could go away in the blink of an eye.” The National Center for Education Statistics reports that the number of students receiving special education accommodations has increased to 7.5m. However, experts warn that the reduction in the Department's workforce will hinder the distribution of essential resources, leading to disparities across states.

 

EdSurge

Three charter school operators have filed notices to occupy space rent-free in up to 33 Duval County public schools under Florida's "Schools of Hope" rules. This initiative could significantly impact the school district's funding, as state money is allocated per student and would shift to the charter schools. While hundreds of notices have been sent statewide, one operator indicated plans to open only a few schools. State Senator Darryl Rouson has proposed legislation to eliminate the rule allowing charter schools to co-locate within district-run schools. The district is expected to develop shared facility plans to manage the space effectively.

 

The Florida Times-Union

The Leon County School Board has elected Marcus Nicolas as chair for the 2025-26 year and Darryl Jones as vice chair. The board revisited discussions on cost reduction, particularly regarding under-enrolled schools, with board member Alva Smith suggesting potential closures. Rita Brown, director of Brownsville Preparatory Institute, proposed leasing space in these schools for a pre-K program, highlighting the opportunity to align public and private education efforts.

 

Tallahassee.com

According to a recent poll by the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, parents of young schoolchildren believe that enhancing emotional support is crucial for improving school safety. Nearly 60% of parents advocate for better teacher training to identify and assist students with emotional or behavioral issues, while only 35% support the presence of onsite police officers. Sarah Clark, co-director of the Mott Poll, said, “Many people equate school safety with preventing tragic shootings,” but parents view safety as protecting children from bullying and emotional distress. The poll also revealed that 48% of parents want more school counselors and 42% support expanding friendship and inclusion efforts.

 

Keys News

The Volusia County School District in Central Florida is set to implement a new drone program aimed at enhancing school safety. Announced by the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, the initiative involves a partnership with Texas-based Campus Guardian Angel, which focuses on protecting students and staff during active shooter situations. The Florida Legislature has allocated over $550,000 for this program. The Campus Guardian Angel system can deploy non-lethal drones within seconds of an emergency alert, providing real-time video to law enforcement and utilizing deterrents like flashing lights and pepper-spray bullets. The program is expected to begin implementation in early 2026, with potential for statewide expansion following a successful pilot.

 

Bradenton.com

The Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center, an educational resource for Miami-Dade County students, is facing eviction from its location after the county issued a notice to vacate by November 23. The center, which has served over 20,000 students annually, is led by Theodora Long, who expressed her determination to fight for the center. The conflict centers around a signed agreement regarding programming at Crandon Park, with Miami-Dade aiming to expand its offerings while the center argues it has legal rights to remain until 2039. Although the county has temporarily rescinded the eviction notice, the nature center remains concerned about its future and the preservation of Marjory Stoneman Douglas's legacy.

 

The Miami Herald

The Education Foundation of Martin County celebrated its top educators at a lively Teacher of the Year event. Chanda Leon from Martin County High School was named the 2025-2026 Martin County Teacher of the Year and will represent the district in the Florida Teacher of the Year competition.

 

WPTV

During the Applauding Brevard's Champions Employee of the Year Breakfast, Christopher Hattaway, School Resource Officer at Rockledge High School, was named Brevard Public Schools Employee of the Year. The event celebrated 97 outstanding support professionals.

 

SpaceCoastDaily.com

Wekiva High School’s Magnet Academy of Culinary Arts has received a $5,000 ProStart Grow Grant from The Rachael Ray Foundation and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. Culinary program director Christopher Bates called it an investment in student innovation and professionalism. The grant will fund a student-run mobile ice cream business selling creative flavors like smoked Mexican chocolate and bergamot earl gray. Wekiva previously earned national recognition at the 2025 National ProStart Invitational and the “Seize the Spotlight” competition.

 

The Apopka Chief Newspaper

A Florida school district recently recorded over 1,000 violations of drivers illegally passing stopped school buses within just one week. The Lee County School District reported an average of 250 violations daily, prompting the implementation of a new law allowing the installation of cameras on buses to capture offenders. Starting in December, violators will face ticketing after a warning period in November. The 2023 law aims to enhance safety for children, as nearly 3,000 crashes involving school buses occurred in Florida in 2022.

 

Naplesnews

News-Press.com

OpenAI has introduced ChatGPT for Teachers, a specialized version of its artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot tailored for K-12 educators and school districts. The tool will be available free of charge to educators in the U.S. until June 2027. According to Leah Belsky, vice president of education at OpenAI, “Our objective here is to make sure that teachers have access to AI tools as well as a teacher-focused experience so they can truly guide AI use.” The platform allows teachers to securely manage student information, receive personalized support, and collaborate with colleagues. OpenAI emphasizes that student data will be protected and not used for model training. While ChatGPT for Teachers is not designed for student use, it aims to equip educators with the necessary experience to foster responsible AI practices in their classrooms.

 

CNBC

Florida is ramping up its cybersecurity training programs to address the growing demand for skilled professionals in the field. The World Economic Forum highlights that over 4m cybersecurity jobs remain unfilled, with a 12% increase in job listings in the U.S. over the past year. The University of West Florida (UWF) and Miami Dade College (MDC) are leading the charge, offering accredited degrees and hands-on training. UWF has received significant funding, including a $9.6m federal grant for its CyberSkills2Work program, which aims to train nearly 4,700 professionals. MDC, recognized as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense, provides state-of-the-art training facilities. 

 

Florida Politics

Japan’s Education Ministry has issued a safety notice to Japanese schools and universities involved in education exchanges with China, amid rising tensions following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on a potential Taiwan contingency. In fiscal 2023, 3,133 Japanese students were on short-term programmes in China, with 7,078 on long-term courses in 2022. Education minister Yohei Matsumoto announced the move after a Cabinet meeting.

 

The Japan News

The Lilliput Church of England Infant School in Poole, U.K., has banned songs from the popular film K-Pop Demon Hunters due to concerns over its themes not aligning with the school's “Christian ethos.” Acting principal Lloyd Allington informed parents in a letter that some community members are “deeply uncomfortable” with references to demons in the film. K-Pop Demon Hunters, Netflix's most-viewed film, features a fictional K-pop girl band battling demons. Allington acknowledged the positive feedback from parents but emphasized the need to respect differing views, stating: “For some Christians, references to demons can feel deeply uncomfortable.”

 

Star-Telegram