FAU Leadership Shake-Up: Florida Atlantic hired Josh McCowan as its new vice president and athletic director, stepping in after Brian White’s departure; FAU says McCowan raised more than $173 million at Mississippi State and will be formally introduced Aug. 7. Back-to-School Support: ReadyKids is hosting a free Aug. 1 “Kindergarten, Here We Come!” event in Pensacola with books, school supplies, and hands-on readiness activities for incoming kindergartners and families. Early Childhood Readiness: A new report says fewer than half of Florida kindergartners are prepared to start school, adding pressure as districts gear up for the Aug. 10 start in parts of the state. Higher Ed Pathways: Polk State and Florida Poly expanded their transfer partnership with a new “Eagle to Phoenix Pathway” that guarantees routes into 10 STEM bachelor’s programs. Policy Watch: A U.S. Senate panel advanced a bill aimed at blocking Education Department transfer-related agreements tied to special education and K-12 and higher ed programs. School Safety Drills: Jackson County ran a full-scale public safety exercise at Marianna K-8, testing everything from alerts and 911 calls to reunification with families. Workforce Training Focus: A Fort Myers business luncheon brought education leaders together to discuss local workforce development, trades training, and partnerships with high schools.