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.…

Featured image for “Blount’s victory seals Duval School Board’s conservative majority”
Reggie Blount won a position on the Duval County School Board on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. He defeated Hank Rogers for a seat as the District 5 representative. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
November 5, 2024

Blount’s victory seals Duval School Board’s conservative majority

Reginald Blount focused his campaign on conservative talking points that emphasize cultural issues.…

Featured image for “Duval School Board election is Tuesday in district bearing brunt of school closures”
The Duval County School Board will vote on a proposal to close Hidden Oaks Elementary School and consolidate it with Cedar Hills Elementary School, along with six other school closures/consolidations, on Nov. 4. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
November 1, 2024

Duval School Board election is Tuesday in district bearing brunt of school closures

Jacksonville Today asked the two School Board candidates their thoughts on school closures in the district they want to represent.…

Featured image for “Restrained students still an issue for St. Johns parents”
October 30, 2024

Restrained students still an issue for St. Johns parents

The federal government found that St. Johns County has reduced the use of restraint, but some parents say it isn’t…

Featured image for “School Board skeptical on school closures, but supe warns against kicking can down road”
Eugene Butler football team members line up before the School Board meeting in support of keeping open the Young Men's Leadership Academy program at their school. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
October 29, 2024

School Board skeptical on school closures, but supe warns against kicking can down road

A vote is coming Monday on whether to close six elementary schools and discontinue the Young Men’s and Women’s Leadership…

Featured image for “One School Board seat still up for grabs in St. Johns County”
St. Johns County District 5 School Board candidates Linda Thomson, left, and Bethany Hilbert.
October 28, 2024

One School Board seat still up for grabs in St. Johns County

Linda Thomson and Bethany Hilbert are competing for the School Board seat in District 5.…

Featured image for “Duval School Board member pushes storm-related conspiracy theories”
Duval School Board member-elect Tony Ricardo appears on "First Coast Connect" in July of 2024. | First Coast Connect
October 14, 2024

Duval School Board member pushes storm-related conspiracy theories

Tony Ricardo is among the elected officials sharing hurricane-related content that’s misleading or incorrect on social media.…

Featured image for “Investigator tried to get arrested Duval teacher removed twice — and was denied ”
The Dolphin Resort, where a teacher was arrested in February, nearly two months before being removed from his classroom at Douglas Anderson. | Loren Javier/Flickr, used under Creative Commons license
October 7, 2024

Investigator tried to get arrested Duval teacher removed twice — and was denied 

Duval Schools was criticized for waiting too long to remove an arrested teacher.…

Featured image for “Duval School Board clears path toward closing 18 schools”
Members of Raines High School's national alumni association gather before a School Board meeting Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
October 2, 2024

Duval School Board clears path toward closing 18 schools

The board approved a five-year plan that suggests closing schools, but more votes and meetings would be required.…