education

In‑depth nonprofit reporting on Jacksonville’s schools and educational issues — policy, equity, student success, and innovation in Northeast Florida’s classrooms.

Featured image for “Part of schoolbook law ruled unconstitutional”

Books are stacked in a school library. | SKT Studio, stock.adobe.com

Part of schoolbook law ruled unconstitutional

A federal judge ruled against part of a law that led to removal of books for “sexual” content.…

By Jim Saunders - News Service of Florida

Featured image for “For incarcerated students, online school is a disaster”

A photo and letter from Xavier Nicoll is posted on the kitchen of his grandparents Bill and Julie on April 24, 2025, in Naples. Xavier has been incarcerated longer than his original sentence due to behavioral issues during virtual school. | Marta Lavandier, AP

For incarcerated students, online school is a disaster

Despite evidence that online learning failed many students in the pandemic, Florida relies on it for juvenile detention.…

By Bianca Vázquez Toness - Associated Press

Featured image for “Westside High parents decry uniform crackdown”

Westside High parents decry uniform crackdown

Parents say their children have been removed from class for entire days for uniform violations.…

By Brianna Andrews - News4Jax

Featured image for “St. Johns County teachers are making more, but is it enough?”

Some 52,000 students are enrolled in the St. Johns County School District. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today

St. Johns County teachers are making more, but is it enough?

Voters agreed last year to raise teachers’ pay, with senior teachers getting the biggest boost.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Q&A | Duval superintendent lists goals ahead of school year”

Duval County Superintendent Christopher Bernier speaks during a town hall sponsored by the Jacksonville NAACP and Upsilon Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. on June 24, 2025. | Photo by Will Brown

Q&A | Duval superintendent lists goals ahead of school year

Superintendent Christopher Bernier met with Jacksonville Today to discuss district finances, literacy efforts and more.…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Some Duval students will pay $4.25 for lunch, previously free”

Elementary students eat lunch in Canton, Miss., on Aug. 9, 2019. | AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis

Some Duval students will pay $4.25 for lunch, previously free

Dozens of Jacksonville schools will start charging for lunch again after a five-year break.…

By Megan Mallicoat

Featured image for “ACT 4 | Douglas Anderson works to step back into spotlight for the right reasons”

A student rehearses for the 2025 Douglas Anderson Extravaganza at the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

ACT 4 | Douglas Anderson works to step back into spotlight for the right reasons

How do we know another Douglas Anderson scandal won’t happen? Here’s what the district and school have changed since 2023.…

By Megan Mallicoat

Featured image for “ACT 3 | Was Douglas Anderson worse than other schools? District data issues make it hard to compare ”

Douglas Anderson School of the Arts students rehearse for the 2025 Douglas Anderson Extravaganza at the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

ACT 3 | Was Douglas Anderson worse than other schools? District data issues make it hard to compare

Did something about the school lead teachers to misbehave? Did being an arts school play a part?…

By Megan Mallicoat

Featured image for “ACT 2 | Douglas Anderson student accusers lacked faith in school’s response ”

Douglas Anderson School of the Arts students rehearse for the 2025 Douglas Anderson Extravaganza at the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

ACT 2 | Douglas Anderson student accusers lacked faith in school’s response

Part 2 of The Show Must Go On, based on tens of thousands of pages of records, as well as…

By Megan Mallicoat

Featured image for “Ex-Duval teachers’ union VP to plead guilty”

The Duval Teachers United building on July 27, 2025. | Jessica Palombo, Jacksonville Today

Ex-Duval teachers’ union VP to plead guilty

Ruby George was charged last year with 12 counts of fraud.…

By Megan Mallicoat

Featured image for “ACT 1 | Douglas Anderson teacher received mostly ‘unofficial’ discipline before arrest”

A Douglas Anderson School of the Arts student rehearses for the 2025 Extravaganza at the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts. Extravaganza dates back to 1986 and has served as one of the highlights of the school's academic calendar. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

ACT 1 | Douglas Anderson teacher received mostly ‘unofficial’ discipline before arrest

This is the first in a series, The Show Must Go On, examining the handling of reports of teacher misconduct…

By Megan Mallicoat

Featured image for “Tools for school: Duval County supply giveaways”

Children's backpacks are a staple in schools throughout Duval County. | Jessica Palombo, Jacksonville Today

Tools for school: Duval County supply giveaways

Jacksonville Today compiled a list of school supply giveaways throughout Duval County ahead of the 2025-26 academic year.…

By Jacksonville Today

Featured image for “Florida business leaders call for better math education”

Associates from RS&H, an architecture and engineering company, talked with students about the projects they're doing and what careers are available in the industry. | Keith Richard, courtesy

Florida business leaders call for better math education

Many employers say it’s hard to find people with skills in critical thinking, data analysis and problem solving.…

By Lily Belcher - WUSF

Featured image for “Teacher loses license after conviction for Disney exposure”

The Orange County Courthouse. | Google via Central Florida Public Media

Teacher loses license after conviction for Disney exposure

Christopher Allen-Black will serve 12 months’ probation for exposing himself at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort.…

By Megan Mallicoat

Featured image for “New law requires bus routes for students near highways”

Some 52,000 students are enrolled in the St. Johns County School District. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today

New law requires bus routes for students near highways

A St. Augustine legislator sponsored a law that lists highways as a dangerous condition for students walking.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Old Hastings High to soon become First Coast Technical College campus ”

Historic Hastings High School is located at 6195 S.W. Main St. | St. Johns County School District

Old Hastings High to soon become First Coast Technical College campus

Originally built in 1924, Hastings High School is on the National Register of Historic Places.…

By Kaia Wright

Featured image for “DeSantis signs bill restricting cellphone use in public schools”

The bill revises a law that has prevented students from using cellphones during instructional time.

DeSantis signs bill restricting cellphone use in public schools

The law prohibits cellphone use throughout the school day in elementary and middle schools.…

By News Service of Florida

Featured image for “UF trustees vote to hire Santa Ono as president”

University of Michigan President Santa Ono prepares to toss T-shirts into the crowd during the second half of a football game against Oregon on Nov. 2, 2024, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. | Jose Juarez, AP

UF trustees vote to hire Santa Ono as president

The former University of Michigan president was approved unanimously despite opposition from some conservatives.…

By Jim Turner - News Service of Florida

Featured image for “FAMU groups protest Marva Johnson as president”

Letters spell out FAMU in the Capitol courtyard during FAMU Day in Tallahassee. | Adrian Andrews, WFSU Public Media

FAMU groups protest Marva Johnson as president

Nearly 1,000 people participated in a Zoom meeting to discuss political and economic responses.…

By Margie Menzel - WFSU

Featured image for “Some Duval students will have to start paying for lunch”

In a file photo, a student puts apple slices on his tray during lunch at Central high School in St. Paul, Minnesota. | Jim Mone, AP

Some Duval students will have to start paying for lunch

About a quarter of Jacksonville’s schools will lose a COVID-era free-lunch benefit in September.…

By Megan Mallicoat

Featured image for “FAMU chooses president despite community concerns”

Increasingly, Florida universities are choosing politicians as presidents. | Shock, stock.adobe.com

FAMU chooses president despite community concerns

Community members expressed concern about Marva Johnson’s politics and her lack of education experience.…

By Margie Menzel - WFSU

Featured image for “Search for president divides FAMU community”

Leon County Commissioner Bill Proctor and Bethel AME Pastor Michael Price

Search for president divides FAMU community

Candidate interviews are scheduled next week, and the board of trustees will choose the new president May 16.…

By Margie Menzel - WFSU

Featured image for “NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Florida’s Catholic School boom”

NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Florida’s Catholic School boom

With a brand new pope chosen in the past couple of days, our Number of the Week reflects Floridians’ love…

By Megan Mallicoat

Featured image for “Duval Schools changes sex ed, employee conduct policies ”

The Duval County School Board votes on a change to remove mention of women- and minority-owned businesses in one of its policies on May 6, 2025. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today.

Duval Schools changes sex ed, employee conduct policies

Teachers are now required to use only the district’s approved tools to contact students, plus other changes the school board…

By Megan Mallicoat

Education

Education