Schools & Kids
Tuesday, June 16, 2026 · Fort Myers Beach
Six Lee County seniors win National Merit Scholarships
Six Lee County high school seniors won National Merit Scholarships worth $500 to $2,000 annually. Three Dunbar High students and one from Gateway High received college-sponsored awards, while two others won $2,500 scholarships to Harvard and Georgetown.
UF offers dual enrollment to Lee County high schoolers
Lee County high schoolers can now take free University of Florida courses for college credit. Sixty-eight students have already signed up for the program launching in August.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
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.
Tuesday, June 16, 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.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026