Sarasota County School Board pushes back opening date to August 31

Sarasota County's school board had some difficult decisions to make during Tuesday's meeting. At the center of it all is the need for a plan to get kids back in the classroom by August, as required by the Department of Education.

Pasco superintendent plans for mandatory masks at schools

When students and staff in Pasco County return to campus, face-coverings will likely be mandatory as part of the effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

Polk County schools delay in-person start date amid teachers' push to start strictly online

School board members with Polk County Schools voted to delay the start of the school year at Tuesday night's meeting despite teachers protesting outside the meeting and urging the district to begin the school year strictly online.

Trump administration rescinds rule barring foreign students from online-only classes

Facing eight federal lawsuits and opposition from hundreds of universities, the Trump administration on Tuesday rescinded a rule that would have required international students to transfer or leave the country if their schools held classes entirely online because of the pandemic.

Plenty of pride as Hillsborough begins modified graduations

Lennard High School held a drive-thru graduation Monday. The seniors walked across a makeshift stage and received their diploma, while the parents took pictures from their cars. 

So far, 63% of Hillsborough parents want students back on campus, superintendent says

Thousands of students in Hillsborough County are expected to head back to school online this fall, according to the school district, but the majority of parents want their kids to return to campus.

DeSantis says schools ready to reopen next month; Florida Education Association disagrees

The first day of school for many districts across Florida is scheduled for August 10, and while Governor Ron DeSantis is pushing for students to get back into the classroom, the Florida Education Association says many districts are not ready for that.

Pinellas school leaders draft reopening plan, which includes requiring face coverings for students

When Pinellas County schools reopen for the first time in nearly five months, things will look and feel a lot different for students and staff. Everyone will be required to wear masks or face coverings, classrooms will be rearranged and even school buses will have a new way to get on and off. 

DeSantis says children should be in classrooms, not learning online

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says he thinks students should be learning in classrooms and not online when classes resume next month.

Students with autism learn lessons while performing ‘Hamilton’ virtually

For the past couple of years, the musical 'Hamilton' has taken the world by storm. Bay Area teacher Liisa DiTarando was looking for a way to help her autistic students to come out of their shell when she realized Hamilton was the perfect way to reach them. 

Manatee County school leaders set to discuss reopening in the fall

Like many of their peers across the state, Manatee County School Board members have been scrambling this week to come up with a plan to reopen next month given new executive orders from the state. 

For many Pasco parents, decision over fall school plan seems too soon

Pasco County parents had to decide by Wednesday whether to send their kids back to school in the fall or choose a form of distance learning that would keep them off campuses amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trump threatens to cut federal aid if schools don't reopen

“The Dems think it would be bad for them politically if U.S. schools open before the November Election,” Trump said, “but is important for the children & families. May cut off funding if not open!”

Masks will be mandatory for Hillsborough students and staff, superintendent says

In saying school buildings were not designed to foster social distancing, Hillsborough Schools Superintendent Addison Davis argued his requirement that all people on school campuses would help students and teachers stay safe from Coronavirus.