Pandemic looms over education priorities for Florida Legislature
Some Republican leaders want to address academic gaps by enhancing literacy and early learning programs. Others are looking at continuing remote learning options without impacting district funding.
Â
Updated Feb. 22
TALLAHASSEE â Floridaâs schools remain in the grips of the coronavirus pandemic, nearly a year after state officials first called for campus closures and canceled spring testing.
Many struggles continue. Local school officials and education groups have raised hopes that state lawmakers will prioritize schooling issues â whether financial, social or academic â during the legislative session that starts March 2. Those priorities affect much of the Legislatureâs work on the next budget because education constitutes roughly one-third of the stateâs total spending annually.