AGP Executive Report

Statehouse Race: Former Hawthorne Mayor Jacquelyn “Jackie” Randall won Florida House District 21 by 174 votes, beating Antione Fields, with unofficial totals split across Alachua and Marion counties. Enrollment Watch: Miami-Dade County Public Schools reported first-day K-12 enrollment of 300,509—about 18,910 fewer students than last spring—while district leaders say the October count will be more definitive. School Spotlight: Sarasota’s Pine View School for the Gifted earned top marks in U.S. News’ 2026-27 rankings, placing No. 1 in Florida and No. 13 nationally. Student Safety & Accountability: A former Florida teacher accused of sexually abusing a 17-year-old is facing a lawsuit alleging “heinous sex acts” caused permanent psychological injuries. Learning in the Field: Sanibel Sea School’s free “A Week in the Field” program is expanding hands-on marine and environmental science experiences for high school students. Health Alert: Gulf Coast officials are warning about Vibrio vulnificus, a potentially deadly bacteria linked to warm saltwater and coastal conditions.

Local School Politics: Sarasota County voters flipped the school board, ousting a conservative majority and installing two former teachers, with the district facing budget cuts tied to shrinking voucher funding. Teacher Pay: In Escambia County, fewer than 900 teachers are expected to qualify for Florida’s state-mandated salary increase, raising concerns about eligibility rules that exclude some staff. Catholic School Vouchers: Florida’s Catholic bishops pushed back on the AG’s demand for vaccine religious exemptions to keep voucher participation. College & Student Rights: FIU students challenging discipline for a silent ICE protest are back in federal court, arguing the university’s indoor “expressive activities” ban violates the First Amendment. Higher Ed Research: Florida Atlantic University received a $600,379 DEP grant to develop 3D-printed materials that capture phosphorus to help prevent harmful algal blooms. Athletics & Education: FHSAA sanctioned Evangelical Christian School and softball coach Johnny Manetta over recruiting violations; meanwhile, a Louisiana court order could let some NFL players return to college football.

Catholic Schools vs. Florida AG: Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is escalating a fight with the Miami archbishop and Catholic bishops over vaccine religious exemptions tied to state scholarships and vouchers, arguing Catholic schools lack a “legitimate religious reason” to refuse opt-outs. Climate in the Classroom: A WUSF-Hechinger investigation finds Florida pushed textbook publishers to reduce or remove references to “climate change,” raising concerns about self-censorship and what students learn. District Leadership Shakeups: Indian River County Schools Superintendent Dr. David Moore says he’ll step down at the end of June 2027, while Alachua County School Board hired McPherson & Jacobson for a $47,200 superintendent search. AI in Schools: Episcopal School of Jacksonville is rolling out a faculty-led AI framework after an AI Lab symposium to set classroom policy for the 2026-27 school year. School Safety Tech: CENTEGIX praised Illinois’ “Alyssa’s Law” for requiring mobile panic-alert systems and updated building maps for faster coordination with first responders. Campus Food Access: UF revoked Krishna Lunch’s campus privileges after a February vehicle crash, citing a memorandum of understanding. Miami-Dade Superintendent Start: Incoming Superintendent Rafael Villalobos will begin Sept. 2, with Jose Dotres shifting to a transitional role.

FSU Coaching Pressure: Florida State’s Mike Norvell is “coaching for his job” as the Seminoles chase a turnaround in 2026, citing long road struggles and tough ACC results. Miami Expectations: No. 7 Miami opens Sept. 4 at Stanford with a title-or-bust mindset after last season’s College Football Playoff run and a new QB in Darian Mensah. Community College Support: South Florida State College Foundation received a $40,000 grant to help DeSoto County residents, part-time students, and student-parents with tuition, housing, books, childcare, and transportation. Teacher Tragedy: A beloved Jupiter Middle School U.S. history and civics teacher, Kevin Burns, died after being caught in a current while snorkeling. STEM Mentorship: North Greene High School teacher Olivia Kuper was named a Society for Science Advocate, earning a $5,000 stipend to expand student research opportunities. School Board Runoffs: Manatee County voters set two Nov. 3 runoffs for School Board District 2 and District 5. Free Speech Policy Shift: Florida State University removed a syllabus policy that said instructors would police “potentially divisive” language after a College Fix inquiry. Climate Textbook Changes: A WUSF/Hechinger investigation says Florida officials asked publishers to soften climate-change wording in science textbooks. Drought Watch: Florida’s worst drought in 25 years continues, with Southwest Florida families reporting wells running dry. Local Education Funding Gap: Key Biscayne K-8 PTSA launched a $324,000 campaign to fund reading/math interventionists, paraprofessionals, and more STEM/robotics support.

New School-Year Rules: Florida schools start the year with fresh requirements, including annual autism-specific training for staff and new cursive writing expectations for grades 3-5, plus a law tightening how threat-related disciplinary records flow from high schools to colleges. Local Education Politics: Orange County voters elected Angie Gallo as school board chair, ousting a Moms for Liberty-backed incumbent and signaling a push away from culture-war fights. Academic Spotlight: Five Brevard high schools earned U.S. News & World Report recognition, led by West Shore (No. 47 nationally) and Edgewood (No. 94). Health & Safety for Students: A Tampa Bay APRN published guidance urging patients to ask about hormone provider training and credentials before starting HRT. Community Support: United Way of West Florida’s “Stuff the Bus” drive raised about $48,000 in school supplies for students across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

Florida Primary Results (Brevard): Voters in Brevard County headed to the polls Tuesday for city, school board, and county commission races, with winners advancing to the Nov. 3 general election. Miami-Dade Leadership Transition: Rafael Villalobos, selected as Miami-Dade County Public Schools superintendent-to-be, is spending the interim period gathering input from teachers, families, unions, and community leaders before taking over Feb. 14, 2027. HBCU Funding Push: A new report says states have narrowed funding gaps for historically Black land-grant institutions after federal pressure, though advocates say the work isn’t finished. Scholarship Boost: The SFSC Foundation created the Ruth E. Handley Memorial Scholarship to support Highlands, DeSoto, and Hardee County students pursuing education careers. Higher Ed & AI: Barry University is expanding AI-focused programs, including a university-wide AI certificate and an “AI for Good” dual-enrollment course for high school students. Back-to-School Support: South Florida nonprofits and local leaders are ramping up fall services, including major backpack and school-supply giveaways. Teacher Pay Focus (Orange County): Orange County School Board chair winner Angie Gallo says improving pay for teachers and support staff will be a top priority.

AI in Schools: OpenAI rolled out “ChatGPT for Teens” for ages 13–17, adding stronger limits on self-harm, violence, eating disorders, and explicit sexual/graphic content, plus study-focused prompts meant to reduce cheating. Back-to-School Costs: Miami-Dade is scaling back universal free breakfast and lunch, with 121 schools still offering free meals districtwide while other schools return to paid lunches (with a 30-day grace period for applications). Special Education Support: Juno Counseling and Wellness launched educational consulting to help families navigate IEPs, 504 plans, evaluations, and school placement. School Bus Safety: Lee County reminded drivers that passing a stopped school bus is illegal, with cameras back on the road and $225 citations for violations. Policy & Religion: Florida Catholic bishops pushed back against the AG’s push tied to vaccine exemptions and voucher eligibility, arguing the state is overreaching. Local Election Watch: Primary results updates continued across multiple counties, including Escambia and Volusia school board races.

Florida Primary Day: Florida voters head to the polls Tuesday in a closed-primary system that will decide November matchups, including the governor’s race after DeSantis’ term limit. Higher Ed & Workforce: USF Health opened a $33M nursing expansion aimed at training more nurses as Florida faces a projected shortage. Campus Free Speech Fight: A South Florida State College professor is suing after she says she was fired over a “political” short story assignment, with free-speech advocates backing her First Amendment claim. Student Health Policy: New federal data shows U.S. kindergarten vaccination rates dipped again and exemptions hit a record high, fueling renewed debate over vaccine guidance. Local Learning Programs: Jacksonville’s Cathedral Arts Project reported academic gains from a city-funded arts program for military families’ children. Back-to-School in Tallahassee: FAMU students began move-in ahead of fall classes, with Tallahassee State College also starting classes this week.

FSU Trial Update: Phoenix Ikner’s Florida State University campus shooting trial was delayed again, now set for June 8, 2027, as defense attorneys cite a heavy capital case load and mental health issues needing deeper investigation. Nursing Education Leadership: The University of West Florida’s Orvis School of Nursing named Tarnia Newton associate dean for Inclusive Excellence and Belonging, starting Sept. 1, 2026, to expand student success and faculty development. Catholic Schools vs. State Law: Florida’s attorney general and Miami’s archbishop are sparring over vaccine exemptions for Catholic schools, with the dispute centered on religious freedom and potential loss of state funding tied to school choice scholarships. Student Support & Community: United Way’s “Stuff the Bus” drive in Florida’s Panhandle raised over $20,000 and filled buses with supplies for students in Bay, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson and Washington counties. College Football Polls: Ohio State and Oregon lead the preseason AP Top 25, with Alabama at No. 13, as Florida’s higher-ed community also watches the season’s kickoff.

Early Childhood Screening: A new report highlights how many families miss developmental screeners, even though a short check can quickly flag speech and walking delays and connect kids to therapies. Special Education & Medicaid ABA: Florida’s Medicaid program spent $6.57B on applied behavior analysis for children with autism and special needs, and state officials are now reviewing services as federal guidance and fraud concerns mount. School Board Politics: Ahead of Florida’s Aug. 18 primary, Duval County school board races are drawing heavy spending, with candidates in District 6 pulling in six-figure sums that could shift the board’s direction. Student Safety & Accountability: Florida authorities say four children were found caged in a semi-truck for years and allegedly denied school and medical care, prompting serious criminal charges. Higher Ed Under Pressure: LGBTQ+ leaders in higher education describe how bans and grant cuts have chilled campus programming and forced some universities to scale back Pride-related efforts. Arts in Title I Schools: A case study on Leisure City K-8 shows arts expansion tied to improved math and English outcomes alongside broader school and family engagement. Workforce & Career Training: Texarkana College plans a commercial pilot program by August 2027, signaling continued growth in aviation-focused education pathways.

AI in school-adjacent media: SFA Athletics is partnering with FanWord, an AI storytelling company, to generate game recaps and stats—sparking questions about what happens to student media jobs and human reporting. Community history in education: Evinston, Fla., honored the late Lloyd W. Johnson Sr. with a street renaming and historical marker, spotlighting his legacy as an early Black school bus driver and education advocate. After-school activity: South Florida families are being urged to keep kids active after the bell, with local programs like an after-school jiu-jitsu option blending movement, supervision, and social time. STEM scholarships: MAST Academy graduate Gregory Smith received a $20,000 robotics scholarship from FPL as he heads to Columbia University, highlighting how funding can keep talented students on STEM paths. Nursing workforce push: Florida lawmakers expanded the LINE Fund to help nursing education grow and meet the state’s demand for more nurses. College access and campus life: UF volunteers and resident assistants are supporting fall move-in for thousands of students ahead of the Aug. 20 start. Back-to-school savings: Florida’s sales tax holiday runs through Aug. 20, covering many school supplies, clothing, and eligible tech items. School board politics: Equality Florida and the SPLC Action Fund announced $250,000 for mail and outreach aimed at “pro-equality, pro-academic freedom” school board candidates in key races.

Parental Rights & Curriculum: Florida lawmakers are advancing HB 173, a major parental-rights push that could reshape what families control in schools and minors’ healthcare. Teacher Misconduct: A Hillsborough County middle school teacher, Christian Schneider, was arrested after investigators said he sent inappropriate messages to a former teenage student and admitted communicating inappropriately since 2023. School Choice Watch: Arkansas expects about 5,500 more students to join its Educational Freedom Account program in 2026-27, raising the projected cost to more than $367 million—another reminder of how school choice spending scales. Higher Ed & Health: Tallahassee leaders are rallying around a near-final plan to merge Florida State University and Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare into “FSU Health,” pitching it as a regional economic engine. STEM K-12 Expansion: Jacksonville educator Dr. Cynthia Smith’s tuition-free K-12 STEM school, Minds of the Future Academy, received full accreditation and is moving forward with community-backed enrollment. Local School Spotlight: Brevard’s “State of the Schools” highlighted graduation and readiness gains, plus expanded career and technical education programs at Eastern Florida State College.

STEM K-12 Expansion: Jacksonville educator Dr. Cynthia Smith says her tuition-free Minds of the Future Academy has earned full accreditation and is now positioned to serve East Side students with STEM and workforce training. School Enrollment Snapshot: Columbia County School District reported 9,508 students in 2024-25, down 277 from the prior year, with elementary grades making up nearly half of enrollment. Teacher/Student Tech Debate: Parents are pushing schools to cut classroom screen time and add family opt-outs for education technology. High School Football Safety & Discipline: A Hernando vs. Sunlake Kickoff Classic game was stopped early after a bench-clearing brawl, while other preseason matchups highlighted both big wins and weather-related cancellations. Student Opportunities in Career Ed: A South Sumter High School FFA student was selected as a delegate for the National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis this October. College Campus Growth: Florida Tech opened Crimson Crossing, a new 556-bed residence complex, as the university expands student housing.

College & Career: University of North Florida expects a record 18,500+ enrollment for fall 2026, adding 30+ faculty and new programs as students move into campus housing. Personalized Cancer Care: Florida lawmakers approved $2M to expand FIU’s myFORCE program, using patients’ tumor responses to guide FDA-approved treatment options. Pre-K Impact: A new study led by FIU researchers finds public school pre-K students tend to perform better academically through high school. School Safety & Health: Florida pediatricians say new federal childhood vaccine guidance won’t automatically change Florida K-12 requirements, which still allow medical and religious exemptions. Policy & Voting: Florida AG Uthmeier rewrote the ballot summary/title for Amendment 3 after a judge said the original wording was misleading. Background Checks: A Chartwells employee at Fletcher Middle School was terminated after a Level 2 fingerprint screening found an old drug conviction. Weather Disruption: Severe storms hit the Tallahassee area with 60 mph winds and hail, affecting schools and events.

Federal Civil Rights Probe: The U.S. Department of Education opened a civil rights investigation into Florida State University over dozens of scholarships, alleging race and sex discrimination. College Campus Life: FSU students moved into dorms as the fall term begins, with families helping with move-in day. Student Support & Homelessness: Addition Financial renovated free student support centers at five Central Florida schools, expanding access to food, clothing, hygiene items for more than 20,000 students facing homelessness. School Safety Policy: Illinois signed Alyssa’s Law, encouraging mobile emergency alert systems—an effort rooted in lessons from Parkland and tied to broader school safety debates nationwide. Early School-Year Nutrition: Florida ranked 44th in a Childhood Nutrition Index for kids ages 1–5, scoring in the “Low” category based on access and consumption indicators. Back-to-School Transportation Tech: DeSantis accelerated a $56 million Clyde Morris Boulevard project near Embry-Riddle and highlighted new partnerships tied to advanced air mobility and autonomous vehicles.

Teacher Shortages: Florida Education Association counts show 3,157 advertised instructional vacancies statewide and 2,379 support-staff openings as of Aug. 4, with South Florida still struggling to fill hundreds of roles. Back-to-School Support: Walt Disney World says it has donated more than 1 million school supplies to Central Florida classrooms over the past decade, continuing its annual drive for teachers and students. HIV Funding Cuts: Federal direct funding for community HIV clinics is set to end next month, including two Orange County sites, after CDC grant nonrenewals—raising concerns for testing and PrEP access. Amendment 3 Update: Florida AG James Uthmeier submitted court-ordered revised ballot language for the property tax measure after a judge said the prior title/summary read like a slogan. Student Safety & Discipline: A Sumter County family sues over alleged abuse by a teacher’s aide, while Hillsborough reports a scooter rider incident involving alleged exposure and molestation. Higher Ed Growth: FSU launched Florida’s first graduate credential in quantum science and engineering, with applications open for Spring 2027.