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Florida
23rd April 2026
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THE HOT STORY

Justice Department delays accessibility deadline

The U.S. Department of Justice has postponed the deadline for public institutions to make their digital content accessible to individuals with disabilities, extending it to April 26, 2027, for larger entities and 2028 for smaller ones. This decision has sparked outrage among disability rights advocates, including Corbb O'Connor, president of the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota, who said, "Yet again, the blind have been told to wait to live on terms of equality." The delay comes after years of anticipation for clearer guidelines under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which had not previously defined digital accessibility standards. Jennifer Mathis, who helped craft the original rule, criticized the postponement as "mindless and cruel," emphasizing the need for certainty in accessibility regulations.

THE LATEST IN SPECIAL EDUCATION

What’s Shaping Special Education in Florida Today

As guidance around special education continues to evolve, Florida leaders are navigating how best to support students with learning disabilities while staying aligned to current research and practice. To help leaders stay current, a curated collection of the latest special education insights and free resources brings together expert perspectives, research‑aligned guidance, and recent district evidence.

Notably, a Miami‑Dade County Public Schools study examining students with IEPs using Read 180 found significant gains in reading performance, including increases in Lexile® measures and FAST ELA scores. Together, these resources highlight current thinking on special education as intervention and instructional approaches used to support students with learning disabilities within broader systems of support.


 

STATE NEWS

Cursive writing returns to Florida schools

Starting in third grade, Florida students will learn cursive writing, becoming proficient by fifth grade, as mandated by a new education bill (SB 182) signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. The bill also requires public schools to display portraits of Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Previously, cursive was dropped in 2010 but reinstated in 2014 as a rule. Bill sponsor Sen. Shevrin Jones, D-Miami Gardens, said, “While the bill changed significantly from the original intent... we compromised with some other educational policies.” The bill also introduces a teacher training program to support struggling educators and waives zoning rules for micro schools. However, the implementation of these provisions remains uncertain due to budget negotiations.

NATIONAL NEWS

K-12 funds stay on track

The U.S. Department of Education will continue distributing key K-12 funding through its existing grants system this summer, easing concerns among state and local officials that a planned transition to other agencies could delay critical payments. Programs such as Title I and special education funding under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act will be delivered via the traditional July 1 channel, giving states more time to prepare for a future shift to the Department of Labor, where many education programs are expected to move. Officials said the decision aims to prevent disruptions that could have impacted summer programs or school openings. However, uncertainty remains over whether future funding rounds, including those scheduled for October, will follow the same process.

Ten Commandments gain classroom ground

Court rulings are reinforcing mandates for displaying the Ten Commandments in U.S. public schools, as advocates seek to enhance the role of religion in education. The movement gained momentum in Texas, where a U.S. appeals court recently upheld a law requiring the Commandments to be displayed in classrooms. “No child is made to recite the Commandments, believe them, or affirm their divine origin,” the court stated. This initiative has sparked mixed reactions, with some teachers resigning rather than comply. States like Louisiana, Arkansas, and Alabama are also pushing similar laws, with at least 30 measures introduced nationwide. The American Civil Liberties Union expressed disappointment over the rulings, emphasizing that “the First Amendment safeguards the separation of church and state.” The ongoing debate over religion in schools continues, with potential appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court looming.

DISTRICTS

Broward School District under scrutiny

The Broward School District is facing a state review after Florida's Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas discovered a flyer for a Democratic gala featuring six School Board members and the district's logo. The flyer stated: “The Broward School Board of Broward County celebrates the Broward Democratic Party's Obama Roosevelt Legacy Dinner.” Kamoutsas expressed concern, stating: “Public school systems do not exist to promote, align with, or lend credibility to partisan political organizations.” He has referred the matter to the Office of Inspector General for further action. Board Chairwoman Sarah Leonardi acknowledged the logo's inappropriate use and committed to taking decisive action to prevent future occurrences, including developing a formal policy and mandatory training for staff. Kamoutsas expects all board members to denounce the logo's use in political contexts.

Boca Raton welcomes innovative school

The Boca Raton Innovation Campus will soon welcome Palm Beach International Academy, a private school for students in grades six to 12. The academy offers a flexible, personalized curriculum that allows students to learn at their own pace, with the option for in-person instruction. Laura Loughead, the academy's director of marketing and communications, noted that the Boca Raton location is accredited and can grant degrees, unlike its sister site in Wellington. The facility will accommodate a maximum of 50 students at a time, with total enrollment potentially higher.

New rules shake up Escambia schools

Escambia County Public Schools is proposing significant changes to its Student Codes of Conduct for the 2026-2027 academic year. Among the new rules, students who drive to school must consent to random drug screenings, with refusal leading to revoked parking privileges. Public displays of affection will now be classified as Level 1 or Level 2 infractions. Additionally, elementary students will be prohibited from accessing social media platforms like TikTok and Snapchat on school grounds. "Students are not allowed to use cellphones during the entire school day," the new guidelines state. Other changes include stricter dress codes and regulations on electronic devices.

Future heroes take the oath

Over 250 students from Brevard County participated in the 2026 Enlistment Ceremony of the Space Coast at Viera High School in Melbourne. U.S. Space Force Col. Brian Chatman addressed the enlistees and their families, stating: “The oath you're about to take is very similar to the one George Washington administered to the Continental Army back in 1776.” Brevard County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Mark Rendell emphasized the importance of education and mentorship in shaping future service members, saying: “These students represent the best of Brevard Public Schools.”

WORKFORCE

Health care costs soar for teachers

The Orange County School District is facing significant financial challenges regarding its Employee Benefit Trust Fund, which started the year with $25m. Officials plan to inject an additional $61m to cover health care costs, but without changes, they may need to allocate $145m for the 2026-2027 school year. Angie Gallo, a school board member, said, "The only way to make the insurance fund solvent is to raise our premiums and our deductibles," which could heavily impact teachers. The district has nearly 24,000 employees and must maintain three months of reserves in the fund. Gallo noted that health care costs have surged from a projected 10% increase to 23%, making it unaffordable.

Teachers face uncertain futures in Lee County

The Lee County School District is notifying some teachers that their contracts may not be renewed due to a projected $46.7m budget deficit. This deficit is attributed to declining enrollment, inflation, and the growth of state school choice programs. Riley Kempton, a district spokesperson, said: "As we are realigning our school budgets to match state funding, yes there have been staff that have been told their contract will not be renewed." The Teachers Association of Lee County President Kevin Daly criticized the Florida Legislature for not finalizing the state budget, which complicates staffing decisions. He stated: "Legislators in Tallahassee have one constitutionally assigned job, and that is to pass a budget, and they have not yet."

GOVERNANCE

Miami-Dade seeks new education leader

Dr. Jose Dotres, the superintendent of Miami-Dade County's third-largest school district, is in the final year of his contract, prompting the School Board to initiate the search for his successor. The board is currently determining the search timeline, with some members suggesting a frontrunner could be identified by next August. Justin DeLeon from the Partnership for Miami highlighted the need for a leader focused on addressing the district's declining enrollment, which has left over 130,000 seats empty. Additionally, the board is seeking voter approval for a referendum to continue extra teacher pay and security, crucial for retaining quality educators amid South Florida's affordability crisis.

NUTRITION

Free meals cut for Charlotte schools

Charlotte County Public Schools announced that only eight schools will continue to provide free meals to all students next school year under the Community Eligibility Provision, a federal program. This change follows updated federal eligibility requirements that some schools no longer meet due to a decrease in the percentage of directly certified students. "Families with students attending schools that do not qualify are strongly encouraged to complete a Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application after July 1," the district stated. The eight schools that will continue to offer free meals include Peace River Elementary School and Neil Armstrong Elementary School, while 12 other schools will lose eligibility.

SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION

AI supports transportation leadership

Writing for School Bus Fleet, Melody Coniglio of West Geauga Local School District presents artificial intelligence as a practical support tool for school transportation leaders, helping with parent communication, board reporting, training materials and policy summaries while preserving human judgment. Drawing on a well-attended “ChatGPT for Beginners” session at NAPT ACTS 2025, the author argues AI is a “productivity multiplier” that reduces drafting time and improves consistency across messages. Coniglio emphasizes careful prompting, avoiding sensitive data and reviewing outputs, while framing AI as a way to free up more time for leadership, operations and staff support.

INTERNATIONAL

ATA challenge pushed to 2027

The Alberta Teachers’ Association’s constitutional challenge to Alberta’s Back to School Act has been postponed until July 2027, giving its legal team time to incorporate upcoming Supreme Court of Canada decisions that may affect arguments around the notwithstanding clause. The law, passed in October 2025, ended a three-week strike, sent more than 51,000 teachers back to work, and imposed a four-year agreement. The union argues the act breached constitutional rights, but an injunction bid was denied in March.
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