News Service of Florida
Tying tangible experience to troubling data, five school superintendents addressed a House panel Feb. 18, with some asking for “more teeth” in a law to help find students who have gone unaccounted for this school year.
State economists estimate that 87,811 fewer students have enrolled in public schools than were predicted for the 2020-2021 academic year, which has been shadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
As lawmakers try to pinpoint how much of the enrollment drop is a result of students leaving traditional public schools for private schools or homeschooling, and how many simply can’t be found, the superintendents tried to give the House PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee a clearer picture.
Members of the Joint Committee on Medical Marijuana met to begin developing the practice standards that Florida-licensed physicians must follow when ordering smokable pot. But the group is split: Should medical practitioners condone smoking?
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.
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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.
Looks like medical marijuana is sparking a battle again. Members of the Joint Committee on Medical Marijuana met Thursday to begin developing the practice standards.