Six weeks in, Florida families, schools have yet to see voucher money
The big story: Florida’s school voucher program expanded exponentially this year, nearly doubling in participation and getting close to $4 billion to pay for it.
Six weeks into the fall semester, some recipients say they have yet to receive a dime. And it’s causing them headaches and nightmares, as they try to figure out how to keep their education solvent.
When they seek answers from the scholarship funding organizations and the state, parents and private school leaders say they get little information. And what they do hear often changes, depending on the day.
“We don’t know what to do,” said Danielle Underwood, who worries about the fate of her daughter’s school. Read more here.
One Pensacola private school said it won’t be able to make payroll if it doesn’t receive the funding, WEAR reports.
Hot topics
Book bans: Florida is No. 1, according to PEN America, as it surpasses Texas for the first time, the Tallahassee Democrat reports. • The Association for the Study of African American Life and History gave away books that have been removed from schools during a banned book readout in a Jacksonville park, WTLV reports.
Hurricane Idalia: Schools socked by Idalia face millions of dollars in repairs, the Tallahassee Democrat reports. Some of the hardest hit are the tiny rural districts of Taylor, Madison, Suwannee and Dixie counties.
New College: Three finalists to lead New College of Florida, including interim president Richard Corcoran, made their case to students and staff members.
Parkland: The building at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High where 17 people were shot and killed in 2018 will be demolished next summer, WLRN reports.
School security: Alachua County school district officials said they do not need to change their security procedures after receiving bomb threats, Main Street Daily News reports. • Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood urged parents to check their children’s backpacks regularly, amid a rise in weapons at schools, WKMG reports.
Superintendents: Palm Beach County superintendent Mike Burke got a near-perfect evaluation from his bosses, the Palm Beach Post reports.
From the court docket ... The Brevard County School Board authorized lawyers to seek a settlement with a family that sued over the masking of their daughter with autism during the pandemic, Florida Today reports. • A judge declined to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the Orange County school district’s use of a former school site, WMFE reports. • The State Attorney’s Office said it will not prosecute one-time Polk County School Board candidate Rick Nolte over campaign finance law violations, the Ledger reports.
Don’t miss a story. Yesterday’s roundup is just a click away.
Before you go ... The Danish National Symphony Orchestra nails Saturday morning memories with its Tom and Jerry cartoon medley.
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