Education

Days before the students return to campus in Polk County, one elementary school reported at least eight cases of COVID-19 among its staff members.

With virtual school, students lost a connection to teachers and the school community. The non-profit, Frameworks of Tampa Bay, is working with schools this year to help students open up.

Polk County had to hire more than 700 teachers this year due to the pandemic and more people retiring, so it brought in teachers from overseas. But they are still short 130 teachers less than a week before students return to school.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium offers educational programs for all ages during summer breaks. Kids who attended summer camp at the aquarium this year learned all about marine life.

Florida students could soon use state-backed vouchers to transfer to private schools if they object to wearing masks in classrooms, as Gov. Ron DeSantis and state education officials argue that decisions about masks should be left up to parents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over in Pasco County, school leaders are ready for the new semester, but as COVID cases rise and masks mandates are banned, the superintendent explains how they will work around the obstacles to ensure a safe school year.

Five days after the governor’s executive order barring school mask mandates, Hillsborough County’s superintendent says he’s not defying it.

The Florida Education Association teachers union is backing school districts trying to work around Gov. Ron DeSantis’ executive order that bars schools from requiring students to wear masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

After 14-year-old Alyssa Alhadeff was killed in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre, her mother championed a law requiring Alyssa's Alert panic button systems in all Florida schools. Starting this school year, they're required across all 67 districts.

Students are sharpening their skills before the start of school – an important extra step this year after a year of learning during a pandemic.

At least four Florida school districts are trying to work around Governor Ron DeSantis’ executive order barring school boards from requiring students to wear masks because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Florida schools are reopening with little to no guidance from the state, leaving some teachers, students, and parents left to their own devices when it comes to COVID-19 safety.

Sarasota County school officials say they are worried about the new school year after the health department reported its highest number of COVID-19 cases in kids, averaging 30 a day over the last week in the county.

Doctors at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital say every week sets a new benchmark for children hospitalized with COVID-19.

Two school districts that had mandated masks for students because of COVID-19 are reversing course after Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order Friday barring such mandates.

Prodigy Cultural Arts is an after school program through the University Area CDC.

Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order that blocks school boards from requiring students to wear face coverings, and withholds funds from "noncompliant" school districts that decide to impose mask mandates.

Florida's 10-day tax-free holiday began Saturday and plenty of parents started stocking up on school supplies.