AGP Executive Report

FAMU Safety: A shooting near Florida A&M’s Bragg Stadium after homecoming left 12 people injured, including six children. As students return to class, the university is offering counseling; police say no arrests have been made. Student Welfare: A special-needs teacher in Flagler County faces felony child-abuse charges after allegedly throwing and pinning a 6-year-old student. Book Access: Florida schools recorded 3,212 book-ban instances in 2025–26, among the highest totals nationwide, as bans rose sharply across the country. School Rankings: Twelve Palm Beach County public schools made the state’s top 100 K–8 rankings from U.S. News & World Report. College Support: South Florida State College received $35,947 in scholarships for nursing, allied-health and first-generation students.

Campus Safety: A shooting near Florida A&M’s Bragg Memorial Stadium after a homecoming game left 12 people injured, including six children; 11 were shot. Five victims were released from hospital, while one remained in critical condition. No arrests had been made, and police asked the public to share tips, photos and video. FAMU offered students mental-health support. School Finance: A Pinellas County charter school is set to close this month after falling short on bills, leaving families facing disruption. Books and Learning: Escambia County’s school board removed more than 250 additional books. Civic Education: Port St. Lucie staff visited six St. Lucie County schools during Florida City Government Week, introducing students to local services and careers in government. STEM Opportunities: Florida Power & Light invited schools to apply for education grants of up to $50,000.

Campus Safety: A shooting near Florida A&M’s Bragg Stadium after the homecoming game injured 12 people, including six juveniles. Police say a fight preceded the gunfire; no arrests have been made. University Hiring: Gov. Ron DeSantis says Florida has stopped H-1B hiring at state universities and urged other states to follow suit. School Health: Florida has paused plans to remove four school vaccine requirements as doctors challenge the proposed changes. School Stability: A Pinellas County charter school is set to close this month, reportedly unable to pay its bills. Library Books: Palm Beach County schools have pulled 1,800 books for review under state pressure.

School Closure: Pinellas MycroSchool, a charter alternative high school, plans to close at the end of October after enrollment fell to 80 students and it ran short of money for payroll. The district says it will work with each student to find a path to finish school. Student Safety: A Florida high school teacher was arrested after allegedly pinning a special-needs student against a wall during a classroom altercation. Vaccine Rules: Florida has paused plans to remove school vaccine mandates as hospitals and doctors prepare for possible changes; the proposals also face a challenge in administrative court. School Performance: Palm Beach County says 12 of its K-8 schools made Florida’s top 100 in new rankings.

Career Training: Polk State College is taking pre-registrations for a welding program launching in spring 2027. A $2.8 million state grant will fund hands-on training aimed at filling local, high-wage jobs. Student Safety: A Florida teacher was arrested on suspicion of physically abusing a student with special needs; the allegations add to scrutiny of how schools protect vulnerable students. Social Media Rules: Florida’s proposed Safe Screens Act would cap teens’ social media use at two hours a day, block overnight access and restrict features such as autoplay and infinite scrolling. School Vaccines: State plans to drop four school vaccine requirements are on pause as doctors and hospitals warn of potential health risks. Charter School Finances: A news analysis found five state-funded charter schools paid more than $30 million over four years to companies run by Erika Donalds, wife of gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds; one company could collect $15.7 million in fees for the 2026-27 school year.

Student Safety: A Wadsworth Elementary teacher was arrested on child-abuse charges after allegedly rough-handling a 6-year-old student with special needs. Vaccine Policy: Florida has paused plans to remove school vaccine requirements as physicians challenge the proposed rollback in court. Reading and Learning: Reports say Florida public-school students are struggling to meet reading levels, while a Miami nonprofit works to improve scores; a new Florida Atlantic University study also finds movement can help students learn complex patterns. School Funding: A lawsuit seeks to overturn Taylor County’s school-tax referendum, while Duval County voters are weighing a tax renewal supporters say would help fund teacher pay. School Recognition: Forty-seven Broward County schools earned Florida Schools of Excellence designations.

Student Safety: Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is proposing the Safe Screens Act, including an overnight quiet mode and tighter limits on teen social media. School Choice: Sarasota County has opened its fall application window and added a spring window for families seeking public schools outside their attendance zones; families must provide transportation. Books & School Funding: Escambia’s school board removed more than 250 books, while Palm Beach County schools are reviewing 1,800 under state pressure. In Taylor County, a lawsuit seeks to overturn a school tax referendum. Higher Education: Florida Polytechnic won approval from a new accreditor, but the group lacks federal recognition, so the university will keep its current accreditation for now.

Book Access: Escambia County’s school board voted 4-0 to remove 258 books, including The Devil’s Arithmetic, used in Holocaust education. Most titles were challenged in Clay County. Palm Beach County schools are also reviewing 1,800 books under state pressure. Student Safety: Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is proposing new teen social-media restrictions, including an overnight app shutdown from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. School Health: Florida’s proposed rollback of four school vaccine requirements is facing legal challenges from physicians. Higher Education: FGCU has selected a builder for a new 158,040-square-foot academic and health sciences building, including a simulation center for healthcare students; it is expected to open in 2029.

College & Careers: South Florida State College’s nursing programs earned continued accreditation through spring 2034, as Florida grapples with low nursing-exam pass rates. Vaccine Rules: Physicians are challenging the state’s plan to drop four school-entry vaccine requirements in administrative court; Catholic parents are also seeking religious exemptions. School Funding: Voters face school-tax measures, while a Taylor County lawsuit seeks to void referendum results. Miami teachers warn a failed tax vote could mean $15,000 pay cuts. K-12 Trends: Orange County Public Schools lost 8,000 students, including 5,000 immigrants, while Brevard County schools earned top U.S. News rankings.

School Tax Vote: Taylor County voters are suing to remove a school sales-tax referendum from the Nov. 3 ballot, arguing its wording exceeds the legal limit and misstates how the money would be used. The school board has hired outside counsel. Student Health: Florida’s proposed changes to school and daycare vaccine requirements are being challenged in administrative court. Campus Climate: The Florida Bar fired a computer technician after racist and homophobic messages were sent to University of Miami football player Damon Wilson II; the employee denied sending them. Student Support: Broward County will provide free menstrual products at at least seven schools. FAMU: Homecoming week included the unveiling of a mural honoring Sybil C. Mobley, founding dean of the university’s School of Business and Industry.

Vaccine Rules: Families, a physician and the Florida Academy of Family Physicians are challenging the state’s proposed removal of four vaccine requirements for school and daycare entry, arguing the health department exceeded its authority. College Access: Florida’s Board of Education barred undocumented students from postsecondary and dual-enrollment programs, while a separate report found voucher funding now exceeds state aid to Miami-Dade Public Schools. Nursing Pipeline: A new state report says Florida ranked 47th in first-time nursing licensure exam pass rates and last for practical-nursing pass rates in 2025; faculty shortages and limited clinical placements also constrain training. Campus and Classroom: Miami Dade College is working with universities and employers to integrate AI across business programs. Broward County will offer free menstrual products at at least seven schools. Book Removals: A federal appeals court ruled Florida school board members must testify about decisions to remove specific library books, though legislative privilege still applies to the policies behind those decisions.

Student Safety: A substitute teacher was arrested after witnesses said he kicked a student with disabilities at Matanzas High School; he told deputies the kick was accidental. School Health: Families, a doctor and a medical group are challenging Florida’s proposed removal of four vaccine requirements for school and daycare entry, arguing the state lacks authority to change the rules. Access & Funding: Florida’s Board of Education has barred undocumented students from postsecondary and dual-enrollment programs, while a separate report says voucher funding now exceeds state aid to Miami-Dade public schools. Campus News: Carnegie Mellon named computer scientist and entrepreneur Jignesh Patel to lead its planned Miami campus, overseeing recruitment and academic development. School Governance: A federal court ruled that Florida school board members can be deposed over book removals. Enrollment: Orange County Public Schools’ enrollment fell by 8,000, including 5,000 students identified as immigrants, according to reported data.

Student Safety: A substitute teacher at Matanzas High School was arrested after allegedly kicking a student with disabilities; he faces a child-abuse charge. Access to College: Florida’s Board of Education barred undocumented students from postsecondary and dual-enrollment programs, a policy change affecting students’ routes to college. School Funding: Voucher funding now exceeds state aid to Miami-Dade public schools, while voters in parts of Central Florida will decide school tax measures amid rising costs and shifting enrollment. Health Rules: Florida clarified which vaccines will remain mandatory for school entry as the state moves to drop four requirements, drawing opposition from health advocates. Campus Security: Public colleges are pushing back against Florida’s plan to arm campus staff.

Vaccine Dispute: Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski accused Attorney General James Uthmeier of bullying Catholic schools over vaccine rules and religious exemptions, with voucher funding caught in the dispute. School Funding: Florida voucher funding now tops state aid to Miami-Dade public schools, while voters in several counties face school tax measures, including renewals supporting school salaries and resources. Access to College: The state Board of Education has barred undocumented students from public colleges and dual-enrollment programs. Student Pathways: Florida Virtual School is expanding its cybersecurity program to offer college credits, and Parker Elementary in Bay County was named Florida’s 2026 Community Partnership School of the Year.

School Tax Ballots: Central Florida voters will decide in November whether to renew school property taxes or approve new levies. Districts say the money would support teacher and staff pay, campus safety, mental-health services and student programs. School Vaccine Rules: Florida has clarified which four vaccines would no longer be required for school entry and which would remain mandatory. Health advocates and parents have rallied against the proposed school and daycare changes.

School Vaccine Rules: Florida’s health department says a proposed rule change would drop hepatitis B, chickenpox, Hib and pneumococcal vaccines from school-entry requirements; immunizations mandated by state law would remain required. Student Safety: Florida has approved new rules for temporary classroom door locks, intended to balance security with first responders’ access. A Taylor County audit also found hundreds of school employees lacked access to 911 panic alerts. Special-Needs Students: A Jacksonville school aide was jailed after being accused of repeatedly striking a student with a shoe, renewing concerns about student protection and oversight in schools. College Affordability: Florida’s minimum wage is set to reach $15, a change that could affect college students who rely on hourly jobs to help cover expenses.