Florida education news: Robotics, contracts, school threats and more

By Jeffrey Solochek Published: July 9, 2018 STEM LESSONS: Participation in robotics programs grows in Tampa area schools, and with it comes greater success in science, engineering and math. CONTRACT TALKS: Pasco County teachers and district representatives discuss evaluations and other aspects of their contract while awaiting more solid financial figures. SCHOOL THREATS: South Florida law enforcement take seriously every threat made on…

Vermonters React To Education Agency’s Statewide Merger Proposal, Required By Act 46

By HOWARD WEISS-TISMAN & AMY KOLB NOYES JUN 5, 2018 A nearly 200-page report was released by the Vermont Agency of Education on Friday, and school districts around Vermont are going through the state’s school consolidation recommendations. Acting Education Secretary Heather Bouchey found it doesn’t make sense for 22 school districts to merge. But the proposal does point…

Trump Administration Backs Off Reshuffling of Student Debt Collection

An Education Department plan to begin cutting large debt collection firms out of the student loan system is on hold after Congress warned against move. By Andrew Kreighbaum July 9, 2018 The Department of Education planned this month to begin reshaping the role of private debt collection firms in handling student loans by pulling defaulted borrower…

New state law requires mental health education in school curriculum

By: Lexi Nahl Posted: Jul 09, 2018 09:27 PM EDT ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – Come September, school children across New York State could be walking into classes that discuss mental health for the first time. The New York State Mental Health Association said some schools already teach mental health, but a law mandating a mental health curriculum…

Obama education secretary slams Trump administration moves on affirmative action

By Jennifer Hansler,  Updated 10:51 AM ET, Mon July 9, 2018 Former Education Secretary John King Jr. expressed dismay that the Trump administration is “going backwards on civil rights issues” following the rollback of Obama-era policies on the use of race to promote diversity in higher education. Last week, the administration rescinded this guidance, which provided examples…

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos visits Toledo, northwest Ohio

By JAVONTE ANDERSON and | ADELAIDE FEIBEL Published on July 9, 2018 | Updated 6:18 a.m. As the nation’s highest ranking education official toured a northwest Ohio career center on Monday, a small contingent of protesters gathered outside to voice their frustration with her policies. U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos couldn’t hear the protesters’ chants nor see…

Feds say Texas illegally failed to educate students with disabilities

Vanessa Tijerina addresses the panel about her 13-year-old special needs child who has been denied special education for four years on December 13, 2016. U.S. Department of Education officials held a meeting in Edinburg on their tour of Texas to hear community members’ experiences with special education, continuing an investigation of whether Texas is capping…