Schools & Kids
Friday, June 19, 2026 · Hillsborough County
Lee County Schools Hit 98% On-Time Bus Arrivals After Staggered Start Times
Lee County Schools achieved a 98% on-time bus arrival rate during the 2025-2026 school year, up 15 percentage points, by staggering start times across three tiers and optimizing routes.
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.
Friday, June 19, 2026
Middleton High Students Build Drones, Meet Career Mentors
Middleton High students built drones and met career mentors through a partnership between Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Tampa Police Department, and 100 Black Men of Tampa Bay.
Friday, June 19, 2026
USF Ranks Among Top Universities for Communication and Media Studies
The University of South Florida's Department of Communication has been recognized as one of the top programs nationally for communication and media studies.
Friday, June 19, 2026
Alumni Spotlight: Alexis Pugh
USF alumna Alexis Pugh, Director of Communications for Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County, discusses her role in telling families' stories and the impact of affordable housing.
Friday, June 19, 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.
Friday, June 19, 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.
Friday, June 19, 2026