Governor Ron DeSantis spent a week in Italy with an 85-person delegation representing different industries in Florida including higher education.

The list includes classics and newer favorites that were removed or discontinued in Florida K-12 schools during the 2023-24 school year.

In Central Florida, FAMU and the University of Central Florida are recognized for providing additional support or resources to military students and their families.

Set to open in time for the fall 2025 semester, the vocational school will offer workforce training in welding, industrial electricity, HVAC systems and more.

A judge said a Florida dues deduction ban unconstitutionally violated existing collective bargaining agreements for the Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association and the Hernando United School Workers unions.

Among other measures, Florida voters rejected ballot measures that would have enshrined abortion rights, legalized recreational marijuana, and established partisan school board elections.

Culture war issues ratcheted up tensions during the pandemic years, and Florida continues to lead the nation in book removals.

"All of those people came together because they knew how important it was to get the kids back on the island and back in their school. So, I just feel really, really grateful,” said Principal Katie Fradley.

For the second year in a row, Florida removed more books from school libraries than any other state, according to PEN America.

Derek Barrs will take an open seat on the Flagler County School Board in northeast Florida, succeeding a member who resigned in September. That allowed DeSantis to appoint a replacement rather than have the seat go on the ballot for voters to decide. Barrs won DeSantis’ endorsement in his bid for the board. But he lost his Aug. 20 race by 290 votes to Janie Ruddy, a former teacher in the district.

Brett Kemker will serve as interim regional chancellor beginning in January.

To save money long-term, the district is looking to switch to a self-insured health insurance plan — one that takes on more risk, but allows for more flexibility — which is in line with other large school districts in the state.