Florida teens get extra help with college financial aid
The big story: The new look Free Application for Federal Student Aid was supposed to make it easier to seek financial support for higher education.
It’s been anything but that. And the bumpy, trouble-filled process has delayed incoming students’ ability to make decisions about where they might attend.
The University of Florida aims to give its potential new Gators a little breathing room. It’s extended its acceptance deadline by two weeks, until May 15.
“By extending this deadline, UF hopes to reduce some of the stress and burden the delays have caused to students and families,” said Mary Parker, vice president for enrollment management. Read more here.
In related news, a Hillsborough County high school established a new program to get students more interested in pursuing higher education after graduation, and to help them financial aid to help make it happen.
Hot topics
Teacher unions: Pinellas and Polk teacher union leaders have submitted petitions seeking new certification votes for their units, following stricter state laws. No word on when the elections might take place. • A Broward County School Board member has asked for a state investigation into the relationship between some of his board colleagues and the local teachers union, the Sun-Sentinel reports.
Taxes: Four candidates seeking election to Hillsborough County School Board District 7 have widely varying views on whether the district should ask voters to implement a new local-option property tax.
Student protests: Some University of South Florida students have planned a hunger strike to protest the school’s investment in companies that support Israel.
School closures: Ideas continue to pour in for how the Broward County school district might use campuses it closes because of low usage, the Sun-Sentinel reports.
Safety: Osceola County is looking into adding more school zone cameras to capture speeders, WKMG reports. Officials also are discussing whether to increase fines for violators. • The Lee County superintendent has denied an effort by parents to have a school bus stop relocated off a main street and into their subdivision, WFTX reports.
Pay raises: Santa Rosa County teachers stand to receive an average 3.87% raise if they ratify a tentative contract agreement reached after seven months of negotiations, the Pensacola News-Journal reports.
New schools: Alachua County’s superintendent has asked for state approval of a new alternative school without getting School Board support first, the Gainesville Sun reports.
Library books: Representatives of Moms for Liberty make up half of a state panel convened to update Florida’s library materials review process, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.
Chaplains: A Hindu “statesman” stands ready to participate if Gov. Ron DeSantis signs legislation allowing volunteer chaplains into public schools, the Miami Herald reports.
From the court docket ... Prosecutors have dropped all charges against four Palm Beach County high school educators who had been accused of failing to report suspected sexual abuse of a student, WPTV reports. • The Orange County school district has agreed to donate 10 acres of a former school property to the city of Eatonville for a Black history museum, after a lawsuit over ownership of the land is concluded, WMFE reports. • A Brevard County family is suing the school district, claiming their daughter was bullied in school, WKMG reports.
Don’t miss a story. Here’s a link to Friday’s roundup.
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