Coverage of school board decisions, classroom initiatives, and stories about students, teachers, and education issues in Duval County.
Featured image for “Some Duval students spend time learning outdoors”
Students at SP Livingston take part in a new initiative designed to cultivate student wellness through screen-free, outdoor learning. | Duval County Public Schools
April 1, 2026

Some Duval students spend time learning outdoors

Three schools are part of a pilot program to balance computer-heavy days with outdoors lessons.…

Featured image for “New school bus cameras will nab drivers running stop signs”
A Duval County school bus with the new camera installed behind its extendable flashing stop sign. The camera will record cars that pass a stopped school bus. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
March 31, 2026

New school bus cameras will nab drivers running stop signs

Cameras on all Duval County school buses will record drivers who pass illegally. Violators will be fined $225.…

Featured image for “Duval school police officer accused of student relationship”
Atlantic Coast High School. | Google Maps
March 30, 2026

Duval school police officer accused of student relationship

Police officer Alexander Capasso resigned while under investigation. He had worked at several schools.…

Featured image for “ROTC instructor investigated at Sandalwood High”
Sandalwood High School. | News4Jax
March 27, 2026

ROTC instructor investigated at Sandalwood High

The instructor is accused of directing Sandalwood students to perform “demeaning activities” as a form of discipline.…

Featured image for “Collapsed HQ sale now a ‘legal matter’ for Duval Schools”
Duval Schools' headquarters building, pictured here in March 2026, was going to be sold to Chase Properties, but the deal collapsed. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
March 26, 2026

Collapsed HQ sale now a ‘legal matter’ for Duval Schools

The HQ sale that fell through last month could now be a legal headache for Duval Schools.…

Featured image for “How did Duval Schools’ 7 legislative priorities fare?”
Floor votes are scheduled Tuesday on a proposal to cut property taxes. | Douglas Soule, WUSF
March 18, 2026

How did Duval Schools’ 7 legislative priorities fare?

Most of the district’s legislative priorities went unanswered this session.…

Featured image for “Duval School Board should stop inviting prayers, legal groups warn”
Mike Ludwick (center), seen here singing at a protest before an Oct. 7, 2025, School Board meeting, lodged a complaint with the Freedom From Religion Foundation about the School Board's practice of starting meetings with prayer. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
March 16, 2026

Duval School Board should stop inviting prayers, legal groups warn

Church-state advocates say starting school board meetings with prayer violates the First Amendment.…

Featured image for “OPINION | Taxation contradiction: Making sense of muddled money messaging”
Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks on May 1, 2025, in Miramar. | Rebecca Blackwell, AP file
March 14, 2026

OPINION | Taxation contradiction: Making sense of muddled money messaging

When it comes to local taxation, Republican policy makers want to convince voters that it’s day and night at the…

Featured image for “Annie R. Morgan will get new life — just not as a school”
Annie R. Morgan Elementary had served students on Jacksonville’s Westside since 1916 before it closed. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
March 9, 2026

Annie R. Morgan will get new life — just not as a school

The MyVillage Project agreed to pay $1.25 million for Annie R. Morgan to create a tech incubator.…

Featured image for “Duval School Board seeks to renew 1-mill property tax”
Duval Schools' headquarters building on March 3, 2026. The School Board wants voters to renew a property tax that helps pay teachers. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
March 4, 2026

Duval School Board seeks to renew 1-mill property tax

The property tax, first approved in 2022, helps pay for teachers’ salaries, arts and athletics programs.…

Featured image for “STEM magnet program at Eugene Butler made official with school name change”
Students at the school soon to be known as Jacksonville STEM Academy at Eugene Butler. | Courtesy of Duval Schools
March 3, 2026

STEM magnet program at Eugene Butler made official with school name change

The School Board renamed the school Jacksonville STEM Academy at Eugene Butler on Tuesday.…

Featured image for “Florida private schools sue Step Up for Students over voucher payout problems”
Jacksonville Attorney Lamonte Carter and iCity Christian School Executive Director Terrie Hairston announce a group of private schools' lawsuit against Step Up For Students on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. | News4Jax
February 22, 2026

Florida private schools sue Step Up for Students over voucher payout problems

Private school owners filed suit against Step Up for Students, the Jacksonville company in charge of handling half a million…

Featured image for “BLACKSONVILLE 100 | Education”
February 20, 2026

BLACKSONVILLE 100 | Education

Educators who pursued scholarship, expected excellence from their students, as well as advocates who opened doors for others to be…

Featured image for “Buyer backs out of deal for Duval Schools headquarters”
The Duval Schools headquaters building on Prudential Drive. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
February 13, 2026

Buyer backs out of deal for Duval Schools headquarters

Chase Properties said it learned of undisclosed financial obligations on the Duval Schools agreement.…

Featured image for “Teachers’ union leaders sentenced to prison for stealing $2.5M”
Teresa Brady and her husband, Mark, follow one of her lawyers out of the courthouse after she was sentenced to 27 months in prison on February 9, 2026. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
February 9, 2026

Teachers’ union leaders sentenced to prison for stealing $2.5M

The two former Duval County teachers’ union officers who together embezzled more than $2.5 million were sentenced Monday to prison.…

Featured image for “Parents insist ICE is watching schools; superintendent says no”
Law enforcement officers guard outside an ICE processing facility in the Chicago suburb of Broadview on Nov. 21, 2025. | Nam Y. Huh, AP
February 6, 2026

Parents insist ICE is watching schools; superintendent says no

A Jacksonville parents group says at least 40 children are not attending school because of ICE activity.…

Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | Warm coats for students”
Students at S.P. Livingston Elementary try on their new coats. | Submitted
February 4, 2026

BIT OF JOY | Warm coats for students

THE PLAYERS Championship donated hundreds of warm coats to Duval County students in need.…

Featured image for “State of Florida to cover Duval Schools’ legal defense in free-speech suits by teachers”
February 2, 2026

State of Florida to cover Duval Schools’ legal defense in free-speech suits by teachers

Jacksonville and Clay County teachers are bringing lawsuits alleging free speech violations.…

Featured image for “NUMBER OF THE WEEK | #AskJAXTDY: Property tax spending on schools?”
1 mill property tax spending by Duval Schools
January 30, 2026

NUMBER OF THE WEEK | #AskJAXTDY: Property tax spending on schools?

This Number of the Week is also an #AskJAXTDY. Jacksonville Today reader Jane G. wonders what happens to the money…

Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | 2026 Duval Teacher of the Year”
Biology teacher Mari Richardson was named 2026 VyStar Duval County Teacher of the Year. The Jean Ribault High School teacher was selected from a pool of about 180 candidates. Superintendent Christopher Bernier says “she meets students where they are, helps them to exceed their own expectations, and creates a classroom where confidence and achievement grow together.” As a thanks for her dedication to her students, Richardson won grants for her classroom, a cash prize and a new car. She’ll also go on to represent Duval at the Florida Teacher of the Year awards. Way to go!
January 26, 2026

BIT OF JOY | 2026 Duval Teacher of the Year

Biology teacher Mari Richardson was named 2026 VyStar Duval County Teacher of the Year.…

Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | Jax students to perform at Carnegie Hall”
These 10 Jacksonville students will perform at Carnegie Hall next weekend in a prestigious music competition. | Submitted
January 22, 2026

BIT OF JOY | Jax students to perform at Carnegie Hall

A Cathedral Arts Project String Orchestra ensemble of 10 Jacksonville students will perform at Carnegie Hall.…

Featured image for “Duval Schools students earn another graduation record”
Dyz'Jhae Davis and Westside High principal Vincent Foster are all smiles after Davis received her Certified Nursing Assistant pin during a ceremony May 6, 2025. The 16 Westside students are the first to graduate with both a diploma and a CNA certification from the school's medical magnet program. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
January 14, 2026

Duval Schools students earn another graduation record

The graduation rate for Duval Schools in 2025 set a district record for the second consecutive year.…

Featured image for “Duval School Board officially opposes Schools of Hope charter expansion”
Duval School Board members watch to see if a motion to add Schools of Hope to the board's 2026 legislative platform will pass. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
January 7, 2026

Duval School Board officially opposes Schools of Hope charter expansion

In a 4-3 vote, board members decided to include an item in their legislative platform that asks for changes to…

Featured image for “‘Respect the Stop’: Bus safety campaign urges drivers to stop”
Drivers must stop from either direction for a stopped school bus. | News4Jax
January 7, 2026

‘Respect the Stop’: Bus safety campaign urges drivers to stop

A new bus safety program in Duval County raises concerns about people who don’t stop for school buses.…