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Did cell phones get banned from Florida schools? What to know about the potential new law

Florida elementary and middle school students would be banned from using cell phones from "bell to bell" during the school day under a bill passed by the Florida Legislature along partisan lines on Friday, May 2.

High school students would still be permitted to use them during instructional time, but House Bill 1105, an omnibus education bill composed of several previously filed initiatives, also creates a pilot program in six counties to test banning phone use during the entire school day there as well.

Florida lawmakers reverse law to require later school start times

Mandatory later start times for Florida’s middle and high schools appear on their way out before they ever took effect.

Acknowledging the problems the 2023 law posed for many school districts, the Florida House on Tuesday unanimously agreed to give districts more local control over their bell schedules. The action came a month after the Senate voted unanimously for the change, meaning all that’s left is for Gov. Ron DeSantis to sign off.

Long-struggling Tampa charter school shuts its doors

The executive director of Village of Excellence Academy in North Tampa posted a plaintive plea on Go Fund Me one week after students returned from winter break in January.

Cutting red tape for Florida schools remains on lawmakers' agenda

The big story: As Florida lawmakers gathered in Tallahassee to organize for 2025, incoming Senate President Ben Albritton reupped his chamber’s commitment to scaling back education regulations.

In the spring, the Senate advanced three deregulation bills that took aim at what leaders called onerous red tape standing in the way of public schools.

Tampa Bay area schools rushed to reopen after Milton. Was it too soon?

As soon as the wind and rain of Hurricane Milton passed Tampa Bay, work crews headed to schools to tackle ripped-up roofs, flooded floors and other damages caused by the storm.

Their goal: To get campuses ready for students to resume classes as soon as possible.

TECO: 70% of power restored

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The tens of thousands of TECO customers who are without power are asking when will it be restored.

It’s the biggest restoration TECO has had to undertake. The company’s CEO said lineman from across the country are in Tampa Bay working around the clock, and now 70% of power has been restored.

Hillsborough schools chief talks taxes, teachers and losing kids to choice

In August, Superintendent Van Ayres will welcome more than 200,000 students back to Hillsborough County schools.

Some Florida teachers describe student behavior as 'out of control'

TAMPA, Fla. — Images of school fights at a Florida high school are so frequent that there's a social media page dedicated to them. It's the kind of extreme student behavior teachers describe as becoming all too normal on school campuses.

Hillsborough County School Board approved adding a millage referendum on the November 2024 ballot

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — At Tuesday’s Hillsborough County School Board meeting, school board members approved adding a millage referendum on the November 2024 ballot for voters.

Brink Foundation writes $75,000 check for schools

It takes a combination of growing up with the right learning environment, inspiring teachers, and a good education to impact generations of students.

Little did they know at the time how Tampa schools would change one family forever, inspiring the creation of the Brink Foundation, a private family foundation that aims to improve quality of life in Tampa communities.

Events
Hillsborough County School Board Meeting: 6/3/25 @ 4pm

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ROSSAC
901 East Kennedy Boulevard
Tampa Fl, 33602

In the Tampa Bay area school districts are entrusted with multi billion dollar budgets that directly impact over 500,000 students, 50,000 employees and thousands of vendors and service providers.

Elected school boards in each of the counties are tasked with overseeing these dollars and providing oversight.

Ultimately, however,it falls upon the citizenry to monitor the conduct and expenditures of public dollars and the quality of education being provided to children.

Reports of many children struggling to attain a quality education have been featured prominently in the local media and underscores the need for parents, family members and all stakeholders to actively participate in the educational process.

Please consider attending an upcoming school board meeting to add your voice to the call for a high quality education for all children.