Schools & Kids
Saturday, July 18, 2026 · Fruitland Park
Montverde Academy Students Earn 99 AP Scholar Awards
Ninety-nine Montverde Academy students earned AP Scholar awards following spring exams, with 16 achieving the program's highest distinction as National AP Scholars.
South Sumter Middle School Students Build Fire Training Dollhouses for County Firefighters
South Sumter Middle School construction students built five training dollhouses for Sumter County Fire & EMS. Firefighters demonstrated fire behavior by burning one structure while students observed with thermal imaging cameras.
Saturday, July 18, 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.
Saturday, July 18, 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.
Saturday, July 18, 2026