Jacksonville Today covers education from the classroom to the Capitol. Our reporters follow Duval Schools as well as private and higher education across the region. We explain school board decisions, funding debates, curriculum changes, and state education policies that affect students, parents, and teachers in Northeast Florida.
Featured image for “Duval School Board candidates: What they support; who supports them”
Yard signs supporting the 1-mill tax extension for Duval Schools read "Keep our best teachers in Duval." Duval School Board candidates weighed in on the tax and other issues before the November election. | School Board member Cindy Pearson via Facebook
3 days ago

Duval School Board candidates: What they support; who supports them

In addition to voting on a 1-mill tax extension for schools, voters in three Jacksonville districts will also choose new…

Featured image for “Judge sides with Clay County teacher over Charlie Kirk post”
Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk speaks at The Believers' Summit 2024 at a Turning Point Action event in West Palm Beach on July 26, 2024. | Lynne Sladky, AP file
October 27, 2026

Judge sides with Clay County teacher over Charlie Kirk post

The administrative judge recommended dismissing a misconduct case against teacher Kelly Brock-Sanchez.…

Featured image for “At least 12 injured in shooting near FAMU stadium”
A roundabout at FAMU Way is seen on the Florida A&M University campus in Tallahassee on June 6, 2024. | Mark Wallheiser, AP file
October 26, 2026

At least 12 injured in shooting near FAMU stadium

Six children were among those injured on homecoming weekend for Florida A&M University.…

Featured image for “UNF suspends Chi Phi fraternity over hazing incidents”
The University of North Florida. | News4Jax
October 23, 2026

UNF suspends Chi Phi fraternity over hazing incidents

UNF said an investigation of the fraternity found people posing nude, getting sprayed with a hose and using drugs.…

Featured image for “Metal detectors coming to Duval elementary schools”
October 22, 2026

Metal detectors coming to Duval elementary schools

Principals will notify families when it’s time for their school to get the weapons detection system.…

Featured image for “HHS Secretary RFK Jr. touts dietary guidelines with Northeast Florida healthcare leaders”
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visits the Lincoln Memorial University campus in Orange Park on Oct. 21, 2026. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
October 22, 2026

HHS Secretary RFK Jr. touts dietary guidelines with Northeast Florida healthcare leaders

HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. visited Orange Park to discuss nutrition initiatives with Jacksonville area healthcare executives.…

Featured image for “Fletcher coach removed as district investigates behavior by student-athletes”
The sign outside Fletcher High School, where a volleyball coach was removed from his position. | News4Jax
October 16, 2026

Fletcher coach removed as district investigates behavior by student-athletes

Duval Schools says it received reports of “unsupervised and inappropriate behavior” among student-athletes.…

Featured image for “Edward Waters announces it will build first on-campus dorms since 1982”
Edward Waters University President A. Zachary Faison announced Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, that the university will have $33 million in capital projects over the next 24 months. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
October 9, 2026

Edward Waters announces it will build first on-campus dorms since 1982

Edward Waters University announced it secured financing from the Rice Capital Asset Program.…

Featured image for “Activists and doctors clash over repeal of school vaccine mandates”
From left, Kent Donahue. public information officer at the Florida Department of Health in Orange County; Tom Bendle with the department's Division of Disease Control; and Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo list to a speaker during a hearing Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, on school immunization requirements. | Florida Department of Health, Facebook
October 9, 2026

Activists and doctors clash over repeal of school vaccine mandates

The Florida Department of Health wants to remove immunization requirements for four vaccines.…

Featured image for “Duval Schools removes more books, including ‘1984’ graphic adaptation”
A graphic novel adaptation of the literary classic "1984" was one of four books removed from Duval Schools' libraries at October's School Board meeting. | Kailyn Mallicoat, special to Jacksonville Today
October 8, 2026

Duval Schools removes more books, including ‘1984’ graphic adaptation

Two Jodi Picoult novels and a book by Stephen King will be removed, along with the “1984” adaptation.…

Featured image for “Andrew Jackson volleyball program found sisterhood through sports”
Jackson volleyball coach Rochelle Strowder provided each of the five seniors on the 2026 team with a gift box after their Senior Night victory over Ed White on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. From left: Jazmine Kelly, Brayla Hill, Davita Kelly, Natalia Hamilton and Skyler Mitchell. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
October 8, 2026

Andrew Jackson volleyball program found sisterhood through sports

The volleyball program ended the regular season with a pair of victories after a racially fraught incident in Nassau County…

Featured image for “Jacksonville City Council member Tyrona Clark-Murray appeals suspension from teaching job”
City Council Member Tyrona Clark-Murray addresses the School Board on March 3, 2026. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
October 7, 2026

Jacksonville City Council member Tyrona Clark-Murray appeals suspension from teaching job

Tyrona Clark-Murray was suspended without pay for 10 days but says she’ll appeal the decision to the state.…

Featured image for “Former Jacksonville City Council member Gwendolyn Chandler dies at 87”
Former Jacksonville City Council member Gwendolyn Chandler has died at age 87. | Chandler family
October 7, 2026

Former Jacksonville City Council member Gwendolyn Chandler dies at 87

Gwendolyn Chandler was the city’s first Black professional librarian at the Haydon Burns Main Library.…

Featured image for “Duval School Board votes, again, to sell Southbank headquarters”
The Duval School Board voted Oct. 6, 2026, to sell the district's waterfront property to a developer. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
October 6, 2026

Duval School Board votes, again, to sell Southbank headquarters

In a unanimous vote Tuesday night, the Duval County School Board approved the sale of the Southbank headquarters building to…

Featured image for “Duval Schools and Jaguars Foundation celebrate students for Hispanic Heritage Month”
From left, Aoife Lewis, Shannialia Perez Montero and Nicole Jiang were the winners of the Duval County Public Schools Hispanic Heritage Month essay contest. The trio were celebrated during a luncheon at the Schultz Center on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
October 5, 2026

Duval Schools and Jaguars Foundation celebrate students for Hispanic Heritage Month

The school district honored winners of its annual Hispanic Heritage Month essay contest.…

Featured image for “Getting up close and personal with worms at Marineland’s Whitney Lab”
Elaine Seaver heads up research on a small species of marine worm at the University of Florida's Whitney Lab in Marineland. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
October 5, 2026

Getting up close and personal with worms at Marineland’s Whitney Lab

Researchers are studying a marine worm that can regenerate body parts. Might the worm benefit humans?…

Featured image for “New Venetia Elementary plan a prototype for future Duval elementary schools”
Janelle Cox, a Venetia Elementary parent, tells district officials she's looking forward to a rebuilt school at a community meeting on Sept. 29, 2026, as School Board member Reggie Blount and district COO Jim Culbert look on. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
October 1, 2026

New Venetia Elementary plan a prototype for future Duval elementary schools

It was standing room only at Hyde Grove Elementary on Tuesday, with 100 people packed into the cafeteria, sitting in…

Featured image for “Education commissioner tells districts to remove sexually explicit books”
Henry Mack, as senior chancellor with Florida Department of Education, tours St. Petersburg College in February 2022. Mack was approved as Florida education commissioner on July 22, 2026. | St. Petersburg College, Facebook
October 1, 2026

Education commissioner tells districts to remove sexually explicit books

Commissioner Henry Mack said districts will be held accountable if they don’t remove books even without a complaint.…

Featured image for “Duval School Board to consider allowing guns in cars on school property”
Currently, Duval Schools does not allow guns on school property. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
September 30, 2026

Duval School Board to consider allowing guns in cars on school property

Duval County Schools may change its policy and allow employees to store guns in their cars at school.…

Featured image for “Duval school closures weigh on parents ahead of Venetia Elementary meeting”
Venetia Elementary, seen here on June 24, 2026, is set to be torn down and replaced with a larger building on the same site. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
September 27, 2026

Duval school closures weigh on parents ahead of Venetia Elementary meeting

The School Board this month voted to pause its plans to rebuild Venetia Elementary — and to change the process…

Featured image for “Judge backs Duval teacher punished for Charlie Kirk posts”
Hope McMath and her attorney, John Phillips, speak at a news conference about the case against her teaching license on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
September 22, 2026

Judge backs Duval teacher punished for Charlie Kirk posts

The state’s Education Practices Commission will now decide if Hope McMath can keep her teaching license.…

Featured image for “UNF selects Michael Shannon to become next president”
Michael Shannon was selected by the board of trustees as the next president of the University of North Florida. | Special to the Daily Record
September 17, 2026

UNF selects Michael Shannon to become next president

Shannon’s appointment as president is subject to confirmation by the Florida board of governors.…

Featured image for “Florida public schools and colleges get additional AI policies”
The state's 28 public colleges must adopt policies to prohibit students from using AI to work on graded assignments without permission. In K-12 schools, parental consent will be required for students to use AI. | InfiniteFlow,
September 17, 2026

Florida public schools and colleges get additional AI policies

The Florida Board of Education approved rules for the use of AI in K-12 schools and state colleges.…

Featured image for “Amendment 3 could reduce funding for children’s services, report warns”
Children's Services Councils, or CSCs, fund services for children and families. | Monkey Business Images, Adobe Stock
September 16, 2026

Amendment 3 could reduce funding for children’s services, report warns

Amendment 3 would reduce property taxes, but it could eliminate $278 million for children’s services.…