Coverage of school board decisions, classroom initiatives, and stories about students, teachers, and education issues in Duval County.
Featured image for “3 charter school operators target Duval for Schools of Hope”
Duval Schools headquarters | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
November 18, 2025

3 charter school operators target Duval for Schools of Hope

Three charter companies outlined plans to open “Schools of Hope” within dozens of Duval school buildings.…

Featured image for “How to enroll in Duval County Public Schools for 2026 | JAX TODAY GUIDE ”
Duval Schools headquarters | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
November 14, 2025

How to enroll in Duval County Public Schools for 2026 | JAX TODAY GUIDE 

If you’re looking to enroll a first-time student in Duval Schools or switch schools for this coming fall, here’s what…

Featured image for “Check out Duval Schools’ School Enrollment Expo before lottery begins Dec. 1 ”
Hendricks Avenue Elementary is among the district's more than 140 schools and programs that will be represented at the School Enrollment Expo. | Jacksonville Today
November 13, 2025

Check out Duval Schools’ School Enrollment Expo before lottery begins Dec. 1 

Now’s the time to start thinking about where to send your kids in the fall of 2026, Duval Schools says.…

Featured image for “Genesys Works puts Duval high schoolers in jobs”
James Luu, right, attends a Genesys Works professional development symposium on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, with other students in the job internship program. | Michelle Corum, Jacksonville Today
November 11, 2025

Genesys Works puts Duval high schoolers in jobs

The workforce development program places Duval County students in internship jobs with major employers.…

Featured image for “Duval Schools lobbying Tallahassee for Schools of Hope changes ”
Superintendent Chris Bernier talks at a town hall at Riverside High School on Nov. 3, 2025. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
November 4, 2025

Duval Schools lobbying Tallahassee for Schools of Hope changes 

State lawmakers allowed Schools of Hope charters to colocate in district schools, which a Duval School Board member says is…

Featured image for “Duval Schools spotlights 67 career and technical programs”
CTE students at Darnell-Cookman School of Medical Art | Provided by Duval Schools
October 30, 2025

Duval Schools spotlights 67 career and technical programs

Explore the district’s career and technical education programs during a showcase Saturday at UNF.…

Featured image for “Charter school company hopes to operate within 25 Duval public schools”
Annie R. Morgan Elementary had served students on Jacksonville’s Westside since 1916 before it closed. Mater Academy plans to move into its vacant building. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
October 23, 2025

Charter school company hopes to operate within 25 Duval public schools

New rules from the state mean districts have to let some charter schools use their buildings for free.…

Featured image for “Duval School Board’s scaled-back request to hire own attorney will go to Tallahassee”
Duval County School Board Chair Charlotte Joyce speaks during a School Board meeting. | Jacksonville Today
October 23, 2025

Duval School Board’s scaled-back request to hire own attorney will go to Tallahassee

A compromise bill says the city’s top counsel would have the final say over legal opinions issued by the school…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Why is JEA replacing pipes near me again?”
JEA crews replace a pipe in Jacksonville. | JEA
October 23, 2025

#AskJAXTDY | Why is JEA replacing pipes near me again?

A Jacksonville Today reader wonders whether pipe replacement in San Jose duplicates work done earlier.…

Featured image for “Attorney Ben Crump decries Jax police for violent arrests”
Attorney Ben Crump speaks at a news conference Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, with Erika McGriff of Jacksonville, a week after her arrest in a confrontation with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. | News4Jax
October 14, 2025

Attorney Ben Crump decries Jax police for violent arrests

The civil rights attorney defended a woman who was arrested after struggling with police outside her daughter’s school.…

Featured image for “Free speech fight simmers at Duval School Board”
Protesters gather before the Oct. 7 board meeting to show support for a teacher removed over a social media post | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
October 13, 2025

Free speech fight simmers at Duval School Board

Board members are criticized over speech as they vote to settle with a teacher over his alleged free speech violation,…

Featured image for “Former Duval teachers union president pleads guilty”
The U.S. Courthouse in Jacksonville
October 9, 2025

Former Duval teachers union president pleads guilty

Teresa Brady admitted she and another union official conspired to cash in fraudulent leave time.…

Featured image for “Free mental health services available to Duval students”
A pair of Miami Arts Studio students hug as others walk between classes on World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10, 2023, at the magnet school in Miami. | Rebecca Blackwell, AP
October 1, 2025

Free mental health services available to Duval students

Demand for mental health services is at an all-time high among Duval Schools students.…

Featured image for “‘Schools of Hope’ charter operators can use public school buildings, rent-free”
Idea River Bluff is a Schools of Hope charter school in Arlington. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
September 29, 2025

‘Schools of Hope’ charter operators can use public school buildings, rent-free

The state Board of Education approved changes to charter school rules that public school advocates are decrying.…

Featured image for “Duval teacher reassigned over social media posts”
Hope McMath speaks in 2023 about Confederate monuments. | News4Jax
September 26, 2025

Duval teacher reassigned over social media posts

Douglas Anderson teacher Hope McMath, a local activist, referred to City Councilman Rory Diamond as a “grand wizard.”…

Featured image for “Southbank building swap was among offers in Duval Schools’ HQ sale”
Duval Schools considered the Suddath Building at 815 S. Main St. under a land swap offer that the superintendent rejected. | Google Maps
September 22, 2025

Southbank building swap was among offers in Duval Schools’ HQ sale

One of the 10 offers for the sale of the Duval Schools headquarters was a trade for the Suddath building…

Featured image for “Duval Schools’ HQ move vote delayed; competing offers kept hidden from public  ”
Duval Schools is considering purchasing this building in the Prominence office park to be its new HQ. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
September 1, 2025

Duval Schools’ HQ move vote delayed; competing offers kept hidden from public  

Tuesday’s vote will now decide whether to authorize the superintendent to negotiate the needed contracts.…

Featured image for “Bible study program raises concerns in Duval Schools”
Students board a LifeWise Academy bus for religious instruction away from school. | News4Jax
August 27, 2025

Bible study program raises concerns in Duval Schools

LifeWise Academy would take students away from school for religious lessons, provided parents approved.…

Featured image for “Duval Schools’ prospective buyer plans riverfront retirement community”
A sign outside the Duval Schools headquarters advertises that the property is available on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
August 21, 2025

Duval Schools’ prospective buyer plans riverfront retirement community

The School Board said it chose Fleet Landing’s offer of $20 million among 10 it received.…

Featured image for “Rebuilt Ribault spurs renewed Trojan pride on Northside”
Ribault junior Jasmine Delphonse (14) applauds Trojans setter Rivka Woolf after the Trojans recorded a side out during the first game of the season. Ribault hosted Raines in the first volleyball game inside the new Austin-Wilkes Gymnasium on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
August 21, 2025

Rebuilt Ribault spurs renewed Trojan pride on Northside

Duval County Public Schools devoted $120 million to rebuilt Ribault High School in Northwest Jacksonville.…

Featured image for “‘Sextortion’ on the rise among Northeast Florida youngsters”
St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick, left, talks about online threats and sextortion issues on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. He is joined by Jason Carley, FBI Jacksonville special agent in charge, and Jackson Short, Duval County Public Schools police chief. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
August 19, 2025

‘Sextortion’ on the rise among Northeast Florida youngsters

Law enforcement is alerting parents, guardians and school leaders about how to protect children online.…

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
August 8, 2025

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.…

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
August 5, 2025

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.…

Featured image for “Former Duval teachers union VP pleads guilty”
The Duval Teachers United building on July 27, 2025. | Jessica Palombo, Jacksonville Today
August 4, 2025

Former Duval teachers union VP pleads guilty

Ruby George faces up to 20 years in prison on each of three counts. She will be sentenced later.…