Featured image for “Westside High students get early jump on medical careers”
Vivian Soto received her Certified Nursing Assistant pin during a ceremony Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at Ascension St. Vincent Riverside. Soto says she plans to become a traveling nurse. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
5 hours ago

Westside High students get early jump on medical careers

Students in the school’s medical magnet program will receive both diplomas and certifcation as nursing assistants.…

Featured image for “Q&A | Sen. Tracie Davis reflects on Democrats in Florida”
State Sen. Tracie Davis, D-Jacksonville, recalls her 2011 abortion after sustaining an ectopic pregnancy. She spoke during a campaign event May 1, 2024, at the Prime Osborn Convention Center in Jacksonville. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
24 hours ago

Q&A | Sen. Tracie Davis reflects on Democrats in Florida

The Jacksonville senator discusses legislating in the minority party, taxes, public schools and women’s health care.…

Featured image for “10 takeaways from Florida’s legislative session”
May 5, 2025

10 takeaways from Florida’s legislative session

Here are issues that passed, failed or remain up in the air after the 2025 session.…

Featured image for “KIPP Bold City celebrates its first graduating class”
Kriste-ana Smith is the inaugural valedictorian at KIPP Bold City High School. She plans to attend Valdosta State University with plans to become a physical therapist. Kriste-ana was among the KIPP Bold City students who announced their post-secondary choices during a campus celebration Thursday, May 1, 2025. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
May 2, 2025

KIPP Bold City celebrates its first graduating class

KIPP Bold City High School opened in 2021. The Westside charter celebrated its first graduating class during a May 1…

Featured image for “Florida wrestles with banning phones in more schools”
High school junior Jack Hayes with his mother, Judi Hayes, outside William R. Boone High School in Orlando on April 3, 2025. | Kade Sowers, Fresh Take Florida
April 30, 2025

Florida wrestles with banning phones in more schools

Many parents object to the possibility that phones could be banned for the entire school day.…

Featured image for “4 Duval teachers honored for career excellence”
Nicola Gibson, and English Language Arts educator at Annie R. Morgan Elementary, is one of four Duval County educators who received the 2025 Gladys Prior Awards for Career Teaching Excellence on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
April 15, 2025

4 Duval teachers honored for career excellence

The teachers were surprised Tuesday with the Gladys Prior Award for Career Teaching Excellence.…

Featured image for “City launches kids’ Minecraft challenge to help plan Jacksonville’s riverfront”
James Weldon Johnson Park has been digitized as part of a "New Jax City" world that was created in Minecraft Education to spur Jacksonville students to learn about coding and urban planning. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
April 14, 2025

City launches kids’ Minecraft challenge to help plan Jacksonville’s riverfront

The three-week New Jax City challenge invites second-graders through college sophomores to design Jacksonville’s riverfront in Minecraft.…

Featured image for “St. Johns superintendent warns against ending property taxes”
St. Johns County Superintendent Tim Forson was a guest on The Florida Roundup on Friday, April 4, 2025. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
April 4, 2025

St. Johns superintendent warns against ending property taxes

Superintendent Tim Forson says a proposal to eliminate property taxes would be “very,very tough” for public schools.…

Featured image for “Fact-checking DeSantis on insurance, education and guns”
House Speaker Rep. Daniel Perez, left, and Senate President Ben Albritton react as Gov. Ron DeSantis gives his State of the State address to a joint session on the opening day of the 2025 legislative session, Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at the state Capitol in Tallahassee. | Rebecca Blackwell, AP
March 5, 2025

Fact-checking DeSantis on insurance, education and guns

PolitiFact reviews Gov. Ron DeSantis’ assertions in his annual State of the State address.…

Featured image for “Lawmakers may repeal later school start times”
Sen. Jennifer Bradley, R-Fleming Island, is sponsoring a bill to repeal requirements for later school start times. | Colin Hackley, News Service of Florida file
March 4, 2025

Lawmakers may repeal later school start times

A bill sponsored by Sen. Jennifer Bradley, R-Fleming Island, would reverse a law approved in 2023.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville lawmaker seeks more religion in schools”
State Rep. Kimberly Daniels wants to expand the motto "In God We Trust." | Will Brown
February 26, 2025

Jacksonville lawmaker seeks more religion in schools

State Rep. Kimberly Daniels filed a bill that would allow school staff to engage in religious activities with students.…

Featured image for “10 issues to watch during Florida’s legislative session”
The 60-day Florida legislative session will begin next week. | Sam Thomas, Fresh Take Florida
February 25, 2025

10 issues to watch during Florida’s legislative session

Lawmakers will consider hundreds of bills during a session that begins next week.…

Featured image for “What the Duval School Board’s travel spat says about shifting politics”
Duval school Board members Charlotte Joyce, April Carney, and Darryl Willie debate travel on Feb. 4, 2025. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
February 9, 2025

What the Duval School Board’s travel spat says about shifting politics

The Duval School Board voted against sending a member to serve in a leadership role with a group others perceive…

Featured image for “Judge throws out schoolbook challenge from St. Johns moms”
School library books, like these at R.L. Brown Gifted and Talented Academy in Jacksonville, remain a controversial issue in Florida. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
February 4, 2025

Judge throws out schoolbook challenge from St. Johns moms

Three moms, including two from St. Johns County, argued that Florida’s policies on schoolbook removals are unfair. …

Featured image for “Duval Schools town halls tackle district budget woes; last town hall is Thursday”
Superintendent Chris Bernier hosts a town hall at duPont Middle School on Jan. 23, 2025. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
January 28, 2025

Duval Schools town halls tackle district budget woes; last town hall is Thursday

Budget cuts could affect busing, class schedules, and more in Duval County public schools.…

Featured image for “School voucher program has high price tag, analysts say”
Gov. Ron DeSantis signs the school voucher bill in March 2023. | Gov. Ron DeSantis, Facebook
January 21, 2025

School voucher program has high price tag, analysts say

The Florida Policy Institute says vouchers cost the state $3.9 billion this school year.…

Featured image for “Duval students earned diplomas at record rate in 2024”
Courtney Brown is a senior flag football player at Stanton College Prep who was named 'most athletic' by her peers in the senior class. She plays flag football and soccer for the Blue Devils. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
January 10, 2025

Duval students earned diplomas at record rate in 2024

Duval County Public Schools saw its graduation rate spike to a record high of 90.9% last year.…

Featured image for “Florida pronoun debate could shift to cities and counties”
January 9, 2025

Florida pronoun debate could shift to cities and counties

A Christian coalition wants to expand a law that restricts the use of personal pronouns in schools.…

Featured image for “Duval School Board approves $365K settlement in latest Douglas Anderson lawsuit”
Douglas Anderson School of the Arts on Jan. 7, 2025 | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
January 7, 2025

Duval School Board approves $365K settlement in latest Douglas Anderson lawsuit

The latest lawsuit brings the district’s spend on Douglas Anderson settlements to nearly $2 million.…

Featured image for “Nassau and St. Johns schools score among best in state”
Lockers in a St. Johns County school. | News4Jax
January 3, 2025

Nassau and St. Johns schools score among best in state

St. Johns County schools ranked second in the state in 2024 and Nassau third, both with “A” grades.…

Featured image for “Duval School Board’s rightward turn on display in sex ed, book discussions”
A crowd of supporters watch three new school board members get sworn in on Nov. 19, 2024. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
November 19, 2024

Duval School Board’s rightward turn on display in sex ed, book discussions

Duval’s School Board now has a conservative majority, aligning with state and incoming federal officials, who prize “parental rights” and…

Featured image for “Duval Schools chief cleared on racial claim; commits to improve employee treatment”
Superintendent Christopher Bernier on June 12, 2024 | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
November 13, 2024

Duval Schools chief cleared on racial claim; commits to improve employee treatment

An investigation found the superintendent did not racially discriminate against an employee in Lee County.…

Featured image for “Clay County leads state in removing schoolbooks”
School library books, like these at R.L. Brown Gifted and Talented Academy in Jacksonville, remain a controversial issue in Florida. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
November 12, 2024

Clay County leads state in removing schoolbooks

Clay County was responsible for 287 of more than 700 schoolbooks removed from classrooms and libraries statewide.…

Featured image for “Duval Schools needs to find $97M. But where?”
Duval Schools' headquarters on Nov. 4, 2024 | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
November 6, 2024

Duval Schools needs to find $97M. But where?

School closures don’t begin to fill the gap in Duval Schools’ budget.…