Pasco pulls remote learning option for next school year

The Pasco County School District does not plan to offer remote local learning as an option for students next year.

Student loan forgiveness: Department of Education cancels debt for more than 40,000 with disabilities

The U.S. Education Department is temporarily relaxing the rules of a student loan forgiveness program that's meant to help people with disabilities but that critics say carries overly burdensome rules.

Fla. Senate looks to shield colleges from COVID-19 lawsuits

A Senate committee Tuesday will take up a bill that would shield colleges and universities from lawsuits over decisions to shut campuses because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Colleges weigh mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for students

As more Americans get vaccinated, colleges are considering mandatory vaccines for students before returning to campus.

After pushback from students, bill aimed at limiting Bright Futures scholarship funding is being reworked

The fight to save the Bright Futures Scholarship Program from funding cuts is gaining more traction. A bill aimed at limiting funding to the Bright Futures scholarship program is essentially being re-crafted.

Job cuts coming to Hillsborough County schools, but who gets cut uncertain

Hillsborough County Public Schools is preparing to cut as many as 1,000 jobs. The final decisions about who gets cut have not yet to be made, but it's an issue that's been plaguing the district for months.

Family of teen who choked on chicken nugget gets $2 million settlement from Florida school district

19-year-old Kedar Williams had autism, was mostly non-verbal, and had a condition that made him prone to choking. A school aide was supposed to be assigned only to him, but video showed the aide was with another student when Kedar choked on a chicken nugget and died.

School board fires Florida high school teacher for medical marijuana use

A Florida school board fired the high school teacher for using medical marijuana, which came to light after she was injured at work by a student who shoved her on a flight of stairs. Even though students in the district are allowed to use medical marijuana, teachers still cannot.

Hillsborough students help propose legislation to help kids abused in foster care

A group of Hillsborough County students is taking a stand for children who may be dealing with abuse in foster care. They want to make it easier for them to report trouble at the first sign and they're already getting plenty of support up in Tallahassee.

5 Tampa Prep students selected as National Merit Scholars finalists

For the first time, five students from the same graduating class at Tampa Prep have been named National Merit Scholars finalists.

Coronavirus boosts interest in public health education at USF

The pandemic may have slowed down campus life, but not applications for enrollment at the University of South Florida’s College of Public Health.

Bright Futures scholarship debate shifts to future funding concerns

A Senate panel on Tuesday scaled back a bill that would have reduced Bright Futures scholarships for students pursuing certain degrees, but opponents are now focusing criticism on whether the measure will jeopardize future funding for the program.

Parents of virtual learners say their kids have worse mental health, less time outside, CDC survey finds

One year after the coronavirus pandemic shut down schools nationwide, a CDC survey released Thursday shows that remote learning has taken a toll on the mental and physical health of both parents and children. 

University of Tampa seniors plan alternative, in-person graduation ceremony

It’s not the send-off they expected. Graduating seniors and their families were disappointed to learn May commencement at the University of Tampa will be virtual, again.

Florida lawmakers consider reducing role of standardized tests in schools

A Polk County mother who is allowing her eighth-grader to opt-out of standardized tests isn’t alone in believing that the tests have too much weight in determining school funding, grade promotion, graduation and teacher evaluations.