AI in Central Florida classrooms: A district-by-district policy breakdown
Read full article: AI in Central Florida classrooms: A district-by-district policy breakdownCentral Florida school districts are rapidly rolling out evolving, district-by-district rules that allow limited, transparent AI use in classrooms while tightening guardrails around privacy, academic integrity, and high-stakes decision-making.
Money, teachers and culture wars: Where Orange County School Board Chair candidates diverge
Read full article: Money, teachers and culture wars: Where Orange County School Board Chair candidates divergeFor the first time in eight years, Orange County Public Schools is about to get a new leader — and in the only Florida county where voters, not the board itself, choose the school board chair, that choice carries unusual weight. The seat is officially nonpartisan. The race between Alicia Farrant and Angie Gallo has been anything but.
New ride rules: Central Florida students face e-bike, e-scooter changes this school year
Read full article: New ride rules: Central Florida students face e-bike, e-scooter changes this school yearSeveral school districts are changing their policies surrounding the devices, with some implementing new restrictions and others focusing on education as concerns grow over student safety
Orange County Public Schools welcome students back amid enrollment decline
Read full article: Orange County Public Schools welcome students back amid enrollment declineLocal and state education leaders joined students Tuesday as Orange County Public Schools kicked off the new school year at Pershing School in Orlando. The celebration came as Orange County is among several Florida districts grappling with budget challenges driven, in part, by declining enrollment. The district has cited declining birthrates, housing trends, federal immigration policies and expansion of Florida’s school voucher program as contributing factors to the drop in student enrollment.
Osceola County considers adding school bus stop-arm cameras to catch drivers illegally passing
Read full article: Osceola County considers adding school bus stop-arm cameras to catch drivers illegally passingThe School District of Osceola County is moving closer to installing stop-arm enforcement cameras on school buses. Transportation Director Orville Watson told News 6 on Monday that the cameras are on the way.
Orange County bus driver shortage may leave parents scrambling to get kids to school
Read full article: Orange County bus driver shortage may leave parents scrambling to get kids to schoolOrange County Public Schools is starting the new school year 50 bus drivers short, leaving some students facing longer wait times as the district works to address a shortage that staff says has never been worse.
Seminole County students head back to school amid budget cuts, enrollment decline
Read full article: Seminole County students head back to school amid budget cuts, enrollment declineOn Monday, Superintendent Serita Beamon joined school board members for a bell-ringing ceremony at Crooms Academy, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary.
Osceola County schools kick off first day as budget ballot question looms
Read full article: Osceola County schools kick off first day as budget ballot question loomsLast year, the district transported 26,000 students while facing a bus driver shortage. This year, some routes have been consolidated, and drivers may be picking up additional students along the way.
Volusia County schools to install metal detectors at middle schools after rise in weapons finds, arrests
Read full article: Volusia County schools to install metal detectors at middle schools after rise in weapons finds, arrestsDistrict officials plan to spend the first week walking students through how the systems work before a phased rollout begins. Galaxy Middle School is set to be the first campus to get the detector.
Back to school brings hot, muggy weather to Central Florida
Read full article: Back to school brings hot, muggy weather to Central FloridaKids waiting for the bus Monday and Tuesday morning can expect a warm and muggy start, with temperatures generally in the upper 70s. By the afternoon ride home, temperatures will climb into the low to mid-90s, with only a few spotty showers and storms around.
Back-to-school shoppers face higher prices, picked-over shelves as classes resume
Read full article: Back-to-school shoppers face higher prices, picked-over shelves as classes resumeFamilies racing to finish back-to-school shopping say they’re struggling to find common supplies like glue sticks and notebooks and paying more when they do, as spending is projected to hit a record $43 billion.
Orange County school bus driver shortage could mean longer rides, late arrivals as classes resume
Read full article: Orange County school bus driver shortage could mean longer rides, late arrivals as classes resumeThe district said it needs about 50 more drivers to be fully staffed, an issue that can affect families when the district is understaffed.
'A lot of unknown:' Why experts say back-to-school mental health prep matters more than ever
Read full article: 'A lot of unknown:' Why experts say back-to-school mental health prep matters more than everThe Mental Health Association of Central Florida's free 2026 guide is designed to help families start the year on stable emotional footing.
21 new school-zone speed cameras installed at several Orlando schools
Read full article: 21 new school-zone speed cameras installed at several Orlando schoolsOrlando has installed 21 speed cameras in school zones in an effort to slow drivers down and improve student safety. The cameras will begin issuing mailed warnings on Aug. 11 for drivers recorded going more than 10 mph over the school-zone speed limit.
New school year brings mandatory heart screenings for Florida high school athletes
Read full article: New school year brings mandatory heart screenings for Florida high school athletesBefore their first sports tryout, conditioning, workout, practice, or other athletic activity of the 2026-27 school year (including during summer break), Florida high school athletes must get a heart screening using an ECG and receive results showing they are cleared for sports.
Osceola County school district opens new transportation facility ahead of first day
Read full article: Osceola County school district opens new transportation facility ahead of first dayThe School District of Osceola County opened its new Transportation and Operations Facility on the west side of the county. The location was a strategic choice as the region continues to see rapid population growth.
Brevard school bus cameras caught nearly 18K vehicles illegally passing in first year
Read full article: Brevard school bus cameras caught nearly 18K vehicles illegally passing in first yearDuring the first full school year Brevard County used cameras to catch motorists illegally passing stopped school buses, the sheriff’s office mailed nearly 18,000 violation notices.
‘Not able to make a living:’ Central Florida teacher pay gap leaves educators struggling
Read full article: ‘Not able to make a living:’ Central Florida teacher pay gap leaves educators strugglingFlorida teachers are struggling to afford housing near the schools where they work, as stagnant salaries trail both the national average and rising rental costs, pushing some educators to the brink of quitting.
Osceola County school tax referendum heads to November ballot after county approval
Read full article: Osceola County school tax referendum heads to November ballot after county approvalIf passed, the millage is expected to generate approximately $62 million a year for the district, with school leaders saying the funding is critical to covering teacher salaries, school safety and student programs.
Lake County schools begins search for next superintendent as Kornegay announces retirement
Read full article: Lake County schools begins search for next superintendent as Kornegay announces retirementLake County School Board members are beginning the search for the district’s next superintendent, with current Superintendent Diane Kornegay set to retire at the end of the 2026-27 school year.
State Of Our Schools: Seminole County superintendent touts academic gains amid budget challenges
Read full article: State Of Our Schools: Seminole County superintendent touts academic gains amid budget challengesSeminole County Public Schools is two weeks away from the start of the school year — and district leaders are navigating tens of millions of dollars in budget cuts, a projected drop in enrollment and a push to prepare students for a rapidly changing future.
Free backpacks, CPR training help Osceola County families prepare for new school year
Read full article: Free backpacks, CPR training help Osceola County families prepare for new school yearHundreds of families gathered at Northbridge University’s Kissimmee campus Saturday morning for the school’s annual back-to-school event, where children received free backpacks and school supplies. At the same time, parents and students learned lifesaving CPR skills
Brevard County New Teacher Academy prepares hundreds of educators for school year
Read full article: Brevard County New Teacher Academy prepares hundreds of educators for school yearThe Brevard Public Schools New Teacher Academy is a multi-day orientation and boot camp program that trains approximately 350 incoming and first-year educators annually. The program provides targeted professional development, mentorship alignment, and foundational skills preparation for the school year.
Back-to-school shopping expected to break spending records this year
Read full article: Back-to-school shopping expected to break spending records this yearBack-to-school spending is on track to hit an all-time high this year, with families expected to shell out more than $43 billion on supplies, according to a new survey from the National Retail Federation.
Orlando to install automated speed cameras in more than 20 school zones starting next month
Read full article: Orlando to install automated speed cameras in more than 20 school zones starting next monthThe first phase is set to begin next month, and city leaders say the goal is to reduce crashes and injuries by slowing drivers down in areas where children walk, bike and play.
Former FSU, NFL player gives away more than 300 backpacks in Orlando
Read full article: Former FSU, NFL player gives away more than 300 backpacks in OrlandoFormer FSU and NFL player James Coleman organized a backpack and school supply giveaway at West Oaks Elementary in Orlando, distributing over 300 backpacks filled with essential items to local students.
8,828 students. No permanent home. Orange County’s struggle to keep homeless kids in school
Read full article: 8,828 students. No permanent home. Orange County’s struggle to keep homeless kids in schoolData obtained by News 6 from Orange County Public Schools shows the district identified 8,828 homeless students last year, up over 50% since the 2019 school year. What that means for families and for the district.
Tips for families, students going off to college: Mental health and success strategies
Read full article: Tips for families, students going off to college: Mental health and success strategiesFrom managing mental health to navigating new responsibilities, preparation can make a significant difference.
Florida public schools face leaner budgets, declining enrollment amid scholarship growth
Read full article: Florida public schools face leaner budgets, declining enrollment amid scholarship growthCentral Florida school districts are starting the year with tighter budgets, despite billions in federal funds recently released after being frozen during the Trump administration’s review of the education budget.