Schools & Kids
Thursday, April 2, 2026 · Duval County
Duval Teachers See First One-Mill Pay Supplements Hit Paychecks
Duval County Public Schools teachers received salary supplements ranging from $5,400 to $7,000 on Friday, funded by the 2022 one-mill property tax increase. The district anticipates collecting nearly $89 million this year, with most going to teacher and support staff pay boosts. This comes amid ongoing retention challenges and new state education accountability measures.
UF Eyes $500M Engineering Boom to Tackle Florida Tech Shortage
The University of Florida is pushing for $500 million in state funding to expand engineering facilities, aiming to supercharge STEM education amid Florida's booming tech sector. The proposal targets workforce gaps in high-demand fields like data science and advanced manufacturing. With Gainesville at the epicenter, UF's multibillion-dollar building spree could reshape the state's innovation landscape.
Thursday, April 2, 2026
Florida Senate OKs Bill Capping Teacher Tenure at 4 Years
In a bold move to elevate classroom performance, the Florida Senate has passed legislation limiting teacher tenure to just four years while mandating merit-based evaluations. The measure, aimed at statewide public school gains, reignites a decade-old debate on accountability versus job security. Backed by GOP leaders, it heads to the House amid teacher union pushback.
Thursday, April 2, 2026