The State Board of Education convened in Orlando, Florida, on November 20, 2024, coinciding with the 2024 Charter School Conference and School Choice Summit.
Tallahassee, Fla., November 20, 2024 – Florida Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. has announced the books selected for November in the Commissioner’s Book of the Month program.
Tallahassee, Fla., November 12, 2024 – Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. has announced a $5 million allocation through the Pathways to Career Opportunities Grow Your Own Teacher Grant (PCOG GYO).
The Florida Department of Education and Volunteer Florida are inviting students to take part in the 2024 Native American Heritage Month art and essay contests.
The Florida Department of Education has launched the XploreFLEd initiative, aimed at providing students nationwide with access to Florida's workforce education courses.
Florida Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr., has announced the selected books for October as part of the Commissioner’s Book of the Month initiative. This monthly reading challenge aims to encourage literacy and engagement among students in preK-12 schools by recommending one book per grade range.
The Florida Department of Education has announced the allocation of $62 million through the Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive Grant Program. This funding aims to create or expand workforce development programs throughout the state, providing students with practical educational experiences in fields such as aerospace, biomedical science, digital video technology, and aviation.
The State Board of Education in Florida has commended the achievements of the state's apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs. A recent report highlights Florida's advancements towards becoming the leading state for workforce education by 2030. The Board also approved a new rule that allows educators with restricted classical education certification to teach over 1,400 courses listed in the Florida Department of Education’s Course Code Directory.
The Florida Department of Education, led by Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr., will distribute free hot meals to families affected by Hurricane Helene. The event is scheduled for Monday, September 30, 2024, in Jefferson County. Lunch will be served at 12 p.m., followed by dinner at 4 p.m., with snacks available throughout the day.
The Heritage Foundation has announced that Florida ranks first in Education Freedom for the third consecutive year. This ranking reflects Florida's focus on expanding school choice, supporting parental rights in education, and enabling families to choose the best educational options for their children. The Education Freedom Report Card was initiated in 2022, and Florida has maintained the top position since its inception.
Tallahassee, Fla., September 11, 2024 – Florida Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. announced the selected books for the Commissioner’s Book of the Month for September. This initiative is part of a monthly reading challenge aimed at promoting literacy and engagement in preK-12 schools. Each month, Commissioner Diaz highlights five recommended books, one for each selected grade range.
Tallahassee, Fla., August 21, 2024 – The State Board of Education convened for its August meeting to implement rules concerning accountability for Voluntary Prekindergarten Programs (VPK), the new School Readiness Plus program, and the creation of a Florida Seal of Fine Arts program. Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr. provided remarks on the Florida Department of Education’s progress, noting a 13.3% reduction in teacher vacancies since last year and a decrease in average vacancies per school to 1.11.
Tallahassee, Fla., August 20, 2024 – Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. announced the Florida Department of Education Model Policy for the Volunteer School Chaplain Program.
Tallahassee, Fla., August 20, 2024 – The Florida Department of Education and Volunteer Florida are inviting students to participate in the Hispanic Heritage Month student art and essay contests with the theme “Honoring Hispanic Contributions to Florida’s Success.” Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated in the United States from September 15 to October 15.
Tallahassee, Fla., August 19, 2024 – The Florida Department of Education announced today that teacher vacancies for the 2024-2025 school year are 13.3 percent lower than first-day vacancies for the previous school year. Schools have reported an average of 1.11 teacher vacancies per school, down from last year's average of 1.28 vacancies per school. This year's decline follows a drop of over 8 percent in vacancies compared to the prior year.
Tallahassee, Fla., August 16, 2024 – Today, Florida Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr., announced August’s chosen books for the Commissioner’s Book of the Month, a monthly reading challenge aimed at promoting literacy and reading engagement in preK-12 schools.
The Florida Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Revenue, has announced the commencement of the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday. The event starts today, Monday, July 29, and will run through Sunday, August 11. This initiative allows Florida families to save on essential items needed for the upcoming school year.