Education

Tensions have run high at school board meetings around the nation in recent months.

WUSF News is looking for paid interns to report on the station’s radio, digital, health and social media platforms.

The federal government recently announced it would investigate threats against local school board members. The announcement comes amid growing acrimony between parental groups and public school leaders over issues like face masks and critical race theory. Yet, where some see a threat—others see an exercise of free speech.

They are seeking an injunction against the executive order while an appeal of a lower-court ruling moves forward.

This includes its biggest grant ever: $30 million from NOAA.

One superintendent asks the Board of Education to take his pay, too, but was refused. Others argued their strict mandates were needed to protect students.

Hillsborough and Sarasota are among three school districts that avoided being punished by recently changing their mask policies.

Florida is the last state to submit a plan to the U.S. Department of Education that's required before more than $2.3 billion in federal aid for Florida schools can be released.

Former Florida Congresswoman Gwen Graham, who ran for governor in 2018, was cited for her "remarkable record of service and impact."

Before the Sarasota County School Board's repeal, masks were required if the positivity rate rose to about 10 percent, and optional if it fell below 8 percent for three consecutive days.

Two districts revised mask mandates to allow parental opt-outs, but others aren't backing down. Education Commission Richard Corcoran has now suggested pulling funds equal to federal grants awarded to cover the penalties of noncompliant boards.

School boards across the country are grappling with how to manage school board meetings where emotions increasingly run high.