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BREAKING NEWS

RICHARD CORCORAN

Happening today: Gov. DeSantis, Florida education commissioners speaking in Osceola County

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to speak in Osceola County on Wednesday. He is set to be joined by Department of Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran at Canoe Creek K-8. Their news conference is scheduled to begin at 1:15 p.m.Stay tuned to Channel 9 Eyewitness News for updates. READ: Florida election supervisors question need for new $6 million election police forceClick here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

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Happening at noon: Gov. DeSantis making announcement in Eustis

EUSTIS, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis is scheduled to host a news conference in Eustis on Friday. DeSantis is scheduled to speak at noon along with Department of Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran at Lake Technical College. Stay tuned to Channel 9 Eyewitness News for updates. READ: State of Florida files lawsuit against Biden administration over COVID-19 vaccine mandatesClick here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

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Happening at 11 a.m.: Gov. DeSantis speaking in Titusville

Ron DeSantis to hold news conference from Florida’s Space Coast on MondayTITUSVILLE, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis will be in Titusville on Wednesday holding a news conference at the American Police Hall of Fame & Museum. DeSantis is set to speak at 11 a.m. READ: Florida’s property insurance mess cause isn’t being addressed, lawmaker saysStay tuned to Channel 9 Eyewitness News for updates. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

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State School Board Will Meet to Police 11 School Districts’ Compliance with Ban on Mask Mandate

School boards in five counties — Miami-Dade, Broward, Orange, Alachua and Leon — filed legal challenges against the Department of Health rule. [The Flagler County School Board on Aug. 17 voted against adopting a mask mandate in any form.] The initial and revised rules were aimed at allowing parents to “opt out” their children from school mask requirements. The revised Department of Health rule, issued Sept. 22, included a change that targeted the districts requiring such medical documentation. As of Wednesday morning, the state Division of Administrative Hearings website did not show challenges filed against the revised rule.

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DeSantis to speak at school near Kissimmee with new surgeon general

Election 2024-Republicans FILE - In this Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, file photo, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis arrives at a news conference, near the Shark Valley Visitor Center in Miami. Ron DeSantis will host a news conference at NeoCity Academy near Kissimmee on Wednesday afternoon. DeSantis will be joined by Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran and Dr. Joe Ladapo, whom the governor appointed Tuesday as the state’s new surgeon general and health secretary. Read: Florida’s new surgeon general: State will ‘completely reject fear’ on disease mitigationHe is a physician with a background in health policy, and his writings on COVID-19 are much more in line with DeSantis, which was an issue with the previous surgeon general.

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DeSantis announces bill to eliminate Florida Standards Assessment

Florida will not use standardized tests for graduation, promotion for 3rd grade studentsDORAL, FLA. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a bill on Tuesday to eliminate the Florida Standards Assessment. DeSantis said the bill will be presented to the Florida legislature during the next legislative session. READ: Florida requests waiver from feds for student state testing requirement due to pandemicHe said the outdated FSA will be replaced with progress monitoring. READ: Boys caught planning ‘next Parkland massacre’ at Florida middle school, sheriff saysFlorida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran said the announcement is a huge victory for schools.

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U.S. Dept. of Education to investigate Florida’s mask mandate ban as possible civil rights violation

ORLANDO, Fla. — The U.S. Department of Education is investigating Florida’s ban on mask mandates in schools as a potential violation of civil rights for disabled students. Masking, physical distance, COVID-19 testing, and improved ventilation are all part of a successful #BackTogether strategy for schools. The Florida Department of Education will have a week to provide data and other information for the investigation, according to the letter. Ron DeSantis and his administration Friday, allowing the ban to be reinstated after another Judge made a ruling to stop enforcement of the ban. The American Academy of Pediatrics has also recommended that all children aged 2 and older wear masks in schools.

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A St. Pete cop dies of COVID. His widow shows us true selflessness | Editorial

Uncommon selflessness. On a day of unspeakable loss, Karen Weiskopf had more to give. Speaking at her husband’s funeral Tuesday, the widow of St. Petersburg police officer Michael Weiskopf, who died Aug. 27 after battling COVID-19, used her own tragedy as a warning. “I promise you,” she told the crowd at The Coliseum, speaking of the coronavirus, “it’s grueling, dangerous — and it will destroy ...

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Judge Issues Written Ruling Barring DeSantis from Banning Mask Mandates or Enforcing Order, But Appeal Is Imminent

Leon County Circuit Judge John Cooper on Thursday released a written ruling that said Gov. Ron DeSantis overstepped his constitutional authority in a July 30 executive order that sought to prevent school districts from requiring students to wear masks. Cooper issued an injunction barring the state Department of Education, Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran and the State Board of Education from enforcing DeSantis’ order. DeSantis’ executive order triggered a state Department of Health rule that, in part, said parents must be able to opt out of student mask mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic. DeSantis has maintained that he is confident that the 1st District Court of Appeal will overturn Cooper’s ruling.

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Officials withhold school board salaries over mask mandates

Florida state education officials on Monday began to make good on threats to withhold funding from local school districts that defied Gov. Ron DeSantis' ban on mask mandates, despite a circuit judge last week ruling the ban unconstitutional. Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran announced that the Florida Department of Education has withheld an amount equal to monthly school board member salaries in Alachua and Broward counties, as directed by the State Board of Education.

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U.S. Department of Education ‘Stands With You,’ It Tells Florida Superintendents Willing to Enact Mask Mandates

Ron DeSantis’ executive order seeking to ban school mask mandates and is ready to help districts directly, the federal agency said in a letter to the governor Friday. The letter also said President Joe Biden’s administration will work with school districts and educators directly if the Florida Department of Education does not distribute federal pandemic aid to the districts. In a separate letter to Florida district superintendents Friday, Cardona wrote that the U.S. Department of Education “stands with you” in enacting universal student mask policies despite the state’s efforts to prohibit them. State education officials have argued the mandate violates a Florida Department of Health rule that helped carry out DeSantis’ July 30 executive order against mandatory masks. Corcoran wrote a letter Tuesday to Broward school officials demanding a response “documenting how your district is complying” with the health department rule.

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Gov. Ron DeSantis seeks $1,000 payments for in-person teachers, principals

Ron DeSantis is requesting the Florida legislature approve $216 million to provide $1,000 bonuses for principals and classroom teachers. DeSantis made the announcement at Palm Harbor University High School in Pinellas County Wednesday afternoon. DeSantis did not mention virtual or online-only teachers in his request for bonuses. Some parents have said they plan to opt out of in-person testing to keep their students home due to pre-existing conditions. The Orange County Classroom Teacher’s Association said following the announcement that teachers are happy for the bonus, but it fails to address long-term priorities with education.

Florida schools will have more time for standardized testing

The executive order issued Monday suspends certain Florida statutes regarding testing to allow schools to modify testing schedules for spring 2021 by two weeks. Florida schools in nearly all 67 counties welcomed students back for in-person learning in August after closing due to the coronavirus pandemic last spring. According to the executive order, 1.85 million or approximately 65% of all Florida students are learning in person. Here’s how Florida school testing now looks under the extension: Grade 3 English language arts and reading testing will run from April 3-20. AdWith this modification of the spring 2021 testing windows, results will also be released later than Florida statue records, according to the executive order.

Florida schools to ‘stay the course’ following CDC guidance on reopening schools, education commissioner says

Reacting to the long-awaited CDC guidance, Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran released a statement saying Florida’s schools have been operating safely since August 2020 and will continue to do so. “CDC guidance is informative, although Florida school districts, public charter schools and private schools should stay the course they began in Summer 2020. Each school district in Florida had to submit a reopening plan to the Department of Education last summer itemizing their COVID-19 safety protocols. Orange County’s summer school will be open five days a week “because of extensive learning loss over the past 11 months,” the district announced earlier this week. OCPS deputy superintendent Dr. Maria Vazquez said students learning at home have struggled during the pandemic academically, socially and emotionally.

Central Florida school districts respond to governor’s education plan for spring semester

Another change leaders explained going into the spring semester is regarding students struggling with online learning. Under the new executive order, all Florida school districts and charter schools must submit a new learning plan to the Department of Education by Dec. 15. For those virtual students who are not making adequate progress, we are asking them to return to in-person instruction. Flagler CountyFlagler County school officials say they’re also encouraged by the new executive order. In addition, all school districts will continue to offer virtual learning platforms as an alternative option for families.

Florida’s COVID-19 spring education plan: No school closures, intervention for struggling virtual students

Ron DeSantis revealed changes to Florida’s education plan for the spring 2021 semester as the coronavirus pandemic continues. Speaking in Kissimmee Monday afternoon at Boggy Creek Elementary School, DeSantis said virtual and in-person learning options will remain available but with several changes. Schools across the U.S. have reopened but amid a rising surge in COVID-19 cases, individual schools and entire school districts have been forced to close again. School districts had been waiting on guidance from the state about whether online options could continue to be funded. “Parents must be notified if a student is struggling with virtual learning,” DeSantis said.

Appeals court refuses to revisit Florida school reopening ruling

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – An appeals court Monday refused to reconsider a decision that backed Gov. The plaintiffs in October asked for a rehearing before a three-judge panel or by the full appeals court, a request known as seeking an “en banc” hearing. The Tallahassee-based appeals court posted the orders online Monday afternoon, shortly after DeSantis and Corcoran held a news conference in Osceola County announcing plans for the second half of the school year. In his Aug. 24 ruling that granted a temporary injunction, Dodson said the order left school districts with “no meaningful alternative” about reopening classrooms. But the panel of the appeals court overturned Dodson’s ruling on a series of grounds.

Remote learning will be allowed in spring, Florida education commissioner says

Seminole County Superintendent Walt Griffin previously asked Florida’s Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran to forgo school grades for the 2020-2021 school year because of the circumstances created by the pandemic. In fact, Corcoran said the Florida Department of Education plans to continue all three learning options for parents: Florida Virtual School, face-to-face learning and each district’s distance learning method. Under an emergency order for the fall 2020 semester by the Florida Department of Education all school districts could offer virtual learning options as long as they offered face-to-face education. School districts had to submit their reopening plans to the state for approval. Central Florida school district officials said after Wednesday’s decision that they hope to receive the same state funding for remote learning in the spring as they did in the fall semester to continue making it an affordable option.

OCPS teachers to receive pay increase, union says

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Orange County Public School teachers will receive a pay increase, according to the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association. | News 6 anchors share drama stories]The union said a base salary for full-time teachers who make less than $47,500 will be brought up to at least $47,500. Any teacher who makes more than this will get a bump of 1.27 percent in their salary, according to the union. Ron DeSantis signs bill that would provide over $500 million to raise teacher salaries]Back in June, Gov. DeSantis signed a bill saying base salaries of K-12 classroom teachers would be at $47,500 for public school teachers in Florida.

OCPS medical committee asks education commissioner to allow virtual learning in spring

“Without a virtual platform, students' ability to access their curriculum and make effective progress would be significantly impacted,” Dr. Vincent Hsu, the medical advisory committee chair, writes. Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Barbara Jenkins commended the medical advisory committee’s continued efforts to safeguard OCPS students and staff. Two doctors on the medical committee Thursday explained why virtual learning is key through the pandemic. School districts had to submit their re-opening plans to the state for approval. A spokesperson for the Department of Education said the department has received similar questions and suggestions from other school districts around the state.

Seminole County superintendent requests eliminating school letter grades due to COVID-19

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Seminole County Superintendent Dr. Walt Griffin sent a letter this week to Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran requesting to forgo school grades in 2021 due to the difficulties presented by the coronavirus pandemic. “This letter is a respectful request to consider not assigning 2021 school grades and teacher valued-added scores due to the unprecedented educational impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Griffin wrote, adding this would help lift one layer of anxiety from "an already overwhelmed educational system. Using school grades for the 2020-21 school year may result in misrepresentation of student and school achievement this year, Griffin wrote. The superintendent’s proposal comes as the school district sent an email to families Wednesday notifying them of surveys about the next semester. In the survey, families will be asked whether they would continue with in-person learning or online given the option.

Should Florida students continue virtual learning next semester?

ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida’s education leader says he hopes to have a decision on whether students can continue virtual learning next semester by sometime in November. Richard Corcoran, Florida Education Commissioner, toured Florida Virtual School in Orlando on Monday with U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. DeVos had high marks for what Florida Virtual School had accomplished. She also praised the state’s school districts' abilities to adapt to online learning in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, but she said in-person learning is still the preferred method of education. He said if the state does not extend the emergency declaration or include virtual learning at the district level, some parents may feel forced to enroll their children in private virtual schools.

Appeals court sides with Florida in school reopening fight

School districts assign teachers to classrooms and approve or deny their requested accommodations. In his Aug. 24 ruling granting a temporary injunction, Dodson said the order left school districts with “no meaningful alternative” about reopening classrooms. But because the commissioner exercised his discretion to provide waivers from the funding statutes and rules, school districts were eligible to receive increased funding. The appeals court decision said Corcoran’s order gave school districts discretion about how to handle the situation. And so, whether a school district assigns them to in-person or online instruction is a matter between those teachers and their employing school districts.”

High School football kicks off in Florida

High School football kicked off for some private schools in Central Florida. This was the first time some high school athletes have had a chance to play since the middle of March. Public schools in Central Florida are expected to start the football season later this month. #FridayNightLights in Florida line of the night: @GovRonDesantis during pre-game locker room speech, If you all lived in California, do you know where youd be tonight? Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran and Gov.

‘Parental choice works:’ Florida governor, White House task force doctor tout reopening schools

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida education leaders joined the governor and medical professionals Monday to reinforce the state’s stance on reopening schools and allowing in-person learning during the coronavirus pandemic. Do the virtual, and really not fall far behind,” DeSantis said about the enhanced virtual opportunities available to students. Atlas was making at least three stops with DeSantis around the state Monday, including in Tampa and The Villages. “If you have a cough you’re three times as likely to spread than if you don’t have a cough,” he said. “We have the data, there’s extraordinarily low risk in children, there’s extraordinarily very low risk in everybody else in the school.

Student tests positive for COVID-19 at Tohopekaliga High School; 22 in quarantine

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – A student at Tohopekaliga High School has tested positive for COVID-19, prompting officials to ask an additional 22 students to quarantine, according to the Osceola School District. Cloud has had to shut down its campus entirely for two weeks after 10 teachers tested positive for the deadly respiratory illness. Ron DeSantis’ stance that children are less at risk for becoming seriously ill if they contract COVID-19. “You have to remember, the children have no serious risk from this disease, it’s very safe for them. According to the Florida Department of Health, 48,928 children across the state have tested positive for COVID-19 since March and eight pediatric deaths have been reported.

Ruling on reopening Florida schools put back on hold

The unions argue that Corcorans order violates the Florida Constitutions guarantee of safe and secure public schools. After the appeals court put Dodsons ruling on hold Friday, Florida Education Association President Fedrick Ingram released a statement vowing to continue battling the state over the issue. This is not about closing schools or opening schools. The states lawyers pointed out that Florida law bases district funding on surveys of the number of children in schools. Corcorans emergency order waived the funding requirements for school districts that submitted reopening plans approved by state education officials.

Judge sides with Florida teachers, rejects putting schools ruling on hold

Siding with teachers unions, a Leon County circuit judge Thursday lifted a stay of his earlier ruling that a state order requiring schools to reopen in August is unconstitutional. Under law, that notice of appeal automatically placed a stay on Dodson’s ruling --- effectively putting it on hold until the Tallahassee-based appeals court can resolve the case. Late Tuesday, attorneys for the Florida Education Association and the Orange County teachers union asked Dodson to lift the stay. In Thursday’s order, Dodson scolded the state for misrepresenting his temporary injunction. What the order did, for the reasons stated, is require that local school districts be given authority under their individual circumstances to open or close the local schools, based on local conditions,” the judge wrote.

State files notice to seek appeal in legal battle over reopening Florida schools

The filing of the notice means an automatic stay will be granted on the judges order, according to the notice. Attorneys for the Florida Education Association presented arguments last week saying that its unsafe for campuses to be open amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. A Florida Department of Education emergency order requiring that brick-and-mortar schools open in August was at the center of the weekslong legal battle. In Central Florida, school districts leaders said that as of Monday night, they didnt intend to make changes to their school reopening plans. Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Barbara Jenkins said the ruling could be discussed at the school boards Tuesday night meeting.