Metro | K-12 Education - The Independent Florida Alligator

AP Environmental Science Teacher John Pettit sits in front of his illustration of climate change he made earlier in the day as an example for his students at Buchholz High School Tuesday, April 4, 2023.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Gainesville environmental science teachers enlighten next generation

By Aubrey Bocalan | Apr. 17, 2023

The list of Florida state standards for science classes under environmental science include 39 items, 14 of which are specifically related to climate change, according to CPalms, a database of standards and resources created by Florida State University. Teachers are required to tailor lessons to topics like the costs of fossil fuels and greenhouse gases.

Bucholz High School Earth Club volunteered at a coastal cleanup in Cedar Key on International Coastal Cleanup day.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Gainesville youth join fight to preserve natural resources

By Claire Grunewald | Apr. 17, 2023

In the fight against climate change, young Alachua County residents are on the frontlines, focused on defending their future.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

State law to make all students eligible for private school vouchers

By Lauren Brensel | Apr. 10, 2023

Scholarship amounts for the 2023-24 school year depend on the level of funding provided by the legislature to each school district, Florida Department of Education spokesperson Cassandra Palelis wrote in an email. They won’t be set until the end of the legislative session when the state budget will be finalized.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Alachua County School Board halts rezoning, will rezone in 2024-25 school year

By Lauren Brensel | Apr. 5, 2023

After two months of discussing a spot rezone, the Alachua County School Board voted Tuesday to halt that plan entirely. Instead, the board will comprehensively rezone the district in the 2024-2025 school year.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Pause the period: State bill would ban mention of menstruation in elementary schools

By Lauren Brensel | Mar. 27, 2023

Rep. Stan McClain, R-Ocala, is the sponsor of House Bill 1069, which would also limit discussions of sexuality, reproduction and sexually transmitted diseases to grades six through 12. The bill passed through each of its committees and will be heard on the Florida House of Representatives floor March 30.

A sign in front of the Alachua County Public Schools district office building is seen Sunday, June 6, 2021.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Rezoning controversy in Alachua County Public Schools, explained

By Lauren Brensel | Mar. 9, 2023

To the dismay of some parents, Alachua County Public Schools will rezone four of its 22 public elementary schools by August to balance enrollment.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

UF, Alachua County Public Schools grant to improve mental health services

By Lauren Brensel | Feb. 20, 2023

A UF and Alachua County Public Schools grant will see 15 graduate student trainees through UF’s School Psychology, School Counseling and Mental Health Counseling programs over the next five years.

Elementary schools are desperate to fill teacher positions across both the state and county.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

‘Survival mode’: Worsening post-COVID-19 quarantine student behavior contributes to classroom issues

By Peyton Harris | Feb. 10, 2023

The issue is widespread across the U.S. — teachers are noticing worsened, aggressive behavior following virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Karen Kearney speaks at the Teacher of the Year Ceremony after winning Teacher of the Year for Alachua County.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Buchholz High School’s Karen Kearney wins ACPS Teacher of the Year

By Peyton Harris | Feb. 6, 2023

On Jan. 26, Karen Kearney won the Alachua County Teacher of the Year award among 39 nominees from every school in the county.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Advanced Placement African American Studies course sparks controversy

By Lauren Brensel | Jan. 30, 2023

In response to his administration blocking Advanced Placement African American Studies from Florida classrooms, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Florida “want[s] education, not indoctrination.”

Kanapaha student crosses a sidewalk at the intersection of Tower Road and the entrance of Kanapaha Middle School Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Alachua County to evaluate school crosswalk after parent concern

By Lauren Brensel | Jan. 23, 2023

The Alachua County Public Works Department will evaluate the intersection of Tower Road and Southwest 51st Boulevard for two to three weeks, looking at nearby traffic signs and sight distance. Depending on the findings of the evaluation, pavement markings may be redone or more signs or a flashing beacon may be added.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Pandemic learning losses lead to reading struggles

By Emma Behrmann | Jan. 23, 2023

Two years after the COVID-19 pandemic forced students and teachers into remote learning, data shows more students are struggling to read and comprehend grade-level texts in Florida due to instructional gaps.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Former Buchholz High School nurses face felony for failing to report sexual battery of 15-year-old

By Peyton Harris | Jan. 15, 2023

A Gainesville Police Department investigation into a sexual battery case in April led police to believe the victim disclosed details of a sexual assault incident to school nurses Rossyln Hamilton and Meredith Burns-Brown.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

State removes Alachua County Public Schools LGBTQ support guide

By Peyton Harris | Jan. 9, 2023

In mid-November, Alachua County Public School and other districts in the state received instruction from the Florida Board of Education to cease using LGBTQ support guides because some of the policies were inconsistent with the state’s Parental Rights in Education Act — a controversial law some critics dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Nationwide shootings, bomb threats prompts Alachua County school safety expansion

By Sophia Bailly | Dec. 5, 2022

A rise in school-related violence has led the state of Florida to issue updated legislative measures in recent years. Alachua County has had to respond to these measures.

Alachua County and UF student teachers sit during a discussion held by Stephanie Killingsworth on the second day of the Chewing on Change professional workshop at the Florida Museum of Natural History Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Alachua County teachers get hands-on science education experience at Florida Museum of Natural History

By Aidan Bush | Oct. 25, 2022

Educators toured fossil exhibits at the Florida Museum of Natural History alongside mammal paleontologists. Afterward, teachers made posters charting the horse’s evolution using what they learned, experiencing a lesson plan from the seat of a student.

Hannah Rone, 18, a senior at Newberry High School, waves to a crowd of people in the homecoming precession Friday, Oct. 14, 2022.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Newberry High School Homecoming parade returns for for first time since COVID-19 pandemic

By Sophia Bailly | Oct. 15, 2022

Newberry High Schools' sports teams, Homecoming court and other school organizations drove across the city of Newberry in trucks and cars to celebrate the first Homecoming parade since 2019. The parade kicked off at 3 p.m. Oct. 14.

P.K. Yonge is one of four Florida K-12 schools directly affiliated with a university.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

P.K. Yonge: A UF laboratory school with rich history

By Sophia Bailly | Sep. 30, 2022

P.K. Yonge is one of four Florida K-12 schools directly affiliated with a university, serving as its own school district. P.K. Yonge isn’t affiliated with Alachua County Public Schools and has its own superintendent. All P.K. Yonge employees carry GatorONE Cards, follow the regulations and policies set by the university and work under UF’s Board of Trustees.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Alachua County Public Schools closes schools in preparation of Hurricane Ian

By Sophia Bailly | Sep. 27, 2022

Alachua County Public Schools announced Tuesday morning all offices and schools will be closed Wednesday through Friday in preparation for Hurricane Ian. Extracurricular activities are also canceled.

Eastside High School community members mourn in honor of Dabien White Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. Dabien White died on Sept. 4, 2022.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

‘For DaeDae’: Hundreds gather for funeral of Eastside High School football player

By Omar Ateyah | Sep. 19, 2022

About 300 mourners gathered at Eastside High School, located at 1201 SE 43rd St., Sept. 17 to remember the life of Dabien White, a 17-year-old offensive lineman at the school.

Metro | Public Schools