Around the state: An upcoming career fair in Citrus, help for children of domestic violence survivors in Pinellas, college open houses and STEM support for Black girls. Here are details about those stories and others from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:

Pinellas: With summer break in full swing, a local organization is making it easier for students to head into the next school year. Casa Pinellas launched its Back to School Drive to provide support to children of domestic violence survivors in Pinellas, and neighboring counties. Donations will be accepted until Aug. 5. ABC Action News.

Collier: Susan MacManus won't be at the helm of Champions for Learning, a Collier county education foundation, for the first time in almost three decades. MacManus, who was a founding member of the Champions for Learning board in 1990, retired to pursue her own education. Naples Daily News.

Citrus: A career fair hosted by the Citrus County School District will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 21 at the College of Central Florida Citrus Campus, 3800 S. Lecanto Highway in Lecanto. The career fair will offer chances for new and experienced teachers in all areas, from bus drivers to food and nutritional services for CCSD, which serves 15,000 students and 23 schools from preschool to grade 12. Citrus County Chronicle.

Civics initiative: Some educators in Florida say the state appears to be chipping away at separation of church and state, and creating a divide between teachers and students over gender identity. Teachers attending a recent Florida Department of Education training on a new civics initiative say the content pushed conservative ideologies over opposing views. WLRN.

University and college news: The College of Central Florida is inviting anyone considering college to an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 14 in the Charles S. Dean Sr. Educational Center at the CF Citrus Campus. Students are encouraged to tour the campus and learn about more than 150 academic pathways that include job-training programs. Those who attend can also get help with financial aid and admission, and register for the fall semester that begins in August. Registration is encouraged. Citrus County Chronicle.  Only 63% of 2020 high school graduates or those who finished a high-school equivalent credential immediately enrolled in a two or four year college by October of the same year, data from the federal government found. The data comes from the annual "Condition of Education" report released by the National Center for Education Statistics within the U.S. Department of Education. Florida Phoenix. The Okaloosa County Extension Service, an outreach arm of the Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences at the University of South Florida, is providing an FAA remote pilot training session on July 13. NWF Daily News.

Ethics complaints update: The investigation into ethics complaints against a former band director at Leesburg High School and a former guidance counselor is still ongoing after it was discovered that both violated the Standards of Ethical Conduct and should be fired. Members of the Lake County School Board accepted their resignations in lieu of termination and then forwarded the investigation to the Florida Department of Education. Their fate now lies with the FLDOE. Daily Commercial.

STEM support: Atiyah Harmon, founder of Black Girls Love Math, wants Black girls to get involved in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) field. She launched her organization in 2020, with the goal of fostering a fun and encouraging learning environment that allows Black girls from K-12 to develop the confidence to explore mathematical concepts, get involved in competitions and receive mentoring and other services in a culturally responsive manner. It's a new organization that is part of a 21st-century movement to foster an interest in STEM for Black girls, since only 2.9 % of Black women earn STEM degrees. The 74th.

Opinions on schools: There is a concerted effort to blur the line between religion and state and interpret the history of the United States through a conservative Christian lens that whitewashes our past of slavery and segregation. The Miami Herald's editorial board. A paper recently published in Physical Review Physics Education Research by West Virginia University researchers boils down to this: High school physics is very important for students who are considering majoring in a STEM field in college. Anyone who tells students and parents otherwise is harming them and should stop. Paul Cottle, Bridge to Tomorrow.

Growing up in a single-parent, low-income household in the late 1970s, Julie Lueallen had fewer opportunities to excel in education.

Now, she's the principal of East Ridge High School, one of the highest-performing schools in south Lake County, Fla.

Growing up, she said, she was an average student who had potential. Her teachers did not steer her into honor courses, which at the time were the only classes available for students to receive more rigorous coursework that would prepare them for college.

“It was all in your grades,” she said. “Nobody even talked about opening that world to me. They counseled kids, but not the kind of kid like me.”

Lueallen, a product of nearby Tavares High School, said she had some excellent teachers. But she might never have gotten onto a college-preparatory track without an advocate who knew the school system well and argued on her behalf: her mother.

“If my mom was not pushing I wouldn’t have gotten into honors courses,” she said. “Having a parent that is savvy in a high school curriculum. That is important.”

Now, as a principal, she advocates for all students to take advantage of the opportunities she and her mother had to fight for. Her school has emerged as a leader in Florida's effort to push more into Advanced Placement courses and toward college credits.

According to a new report from the College Board, the nonprofit that administers the AP program, Florida ranks fourth in the nation in the percentage of graduating seniors who have passed at least one AP exam, which can lead to credit for an entry-level college course. Over the past decade, low-income children of color have driven most of the state's improvements.

Beginning in the 1990s, Florida leaders decided to open AP courses to more low-income, black and Hispanic students. The College Board, which administers AP exams, has adopted an equity and access policy, which states: (more…)

Charter schools. Problems at a Pensacola charter snare its operators' applications in North Carolina. WECT. Charter Schools USA is expected to have a Collier County application approved. Naples Daily News.

Facilities. A charter school could lease a defunct YMCA's property, giving the community a new aquatics facility. Northwest Florida Daily News. A charter school for at-risk students abandons a proposed location near a troubled flea market. WPTV. A Belle Glade charter breaks ground on a new play facility. The Sun. Lake County schools try to balance access to facilities with safety. Leesburg Daily Commercial.

Budgets. The House and Senate agree to boost funding for education, but differences remain. News Service of Florida. Orlando Sentinel. Times/Herald. Palm Beach Post.

Dual enrollment. A growing collegiate high school program helps students earn college credit while still in high school. Tampa Tribune.

Discipline. Hillsborough schools face a federal civil-rights probe of their discipline practices. Tampa Bay Times.

Superintendents. The Brevard school district narrows its list of applications. Florida Today.

Administration. The Tampa Bay Times takes a closer look at the new Hillsborough school district leadership team, which includes a Catholic school superintendent. The Hernando school district shuffles principals with an eye toward improving A-F grades. Tampa Bay Times.

Plagiarism. More questions emerge about a Palm Beach principal's graduation speeches. Sun-Sentinel.

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Charter schools. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel investigates charter school operator Mavericks in Education.

Tax credit scholarships. In a Fox News guest column, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio says school choice programs increase options for disadvantaged children.

Career education. More students are being told they have options aside from a traditional four-year college. Northwest Florida Daily News.

Project-based learning. A Florida Times-Union exploration of recent curricular changes focuses on a Jacksonville private school.

Digital learning. Students who do not have home Internet access must rely on public libraries. Miami Herald.

Testing. The Polk County school board is poised to take up anti-testing resolutions approved by its counterparts elsewhere. Lakeland Ledger. The Florida Department of Education is preparing to take legal action over required testing for English language learners. Gradebook. An outgoing administrator criticizes the state's testing system. Gradebook. Tampa Tribune. Lake County schools plan to scale back some local assessments. Orlando Sentinel.

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Education commissioner. The Florida Board of Education appears poised to hire interim commissioner Pam Stewart to permanently replace Tony Bennett instead of launching the third search in two years. Associated Press. Common Core, school grades and new tests aren't on the agenda. Miami Herald.

Common Core. Lawmakers face growing resistance as they return to Tallahassee next week for the first round of committee hearings in advance of the 2014 session. StateImpact Florida. Common Core will be the bedrock Florida needs for a world-class education, writes former Florida Board of Education member Roberto Martinez in the Miami Herald. The Naples Daily News writes up state Rep. Debbie Mayfield's bill to halt Common Core.

Charter schools. Lawmakers should drop the model charter school contract and give districts more say over charter applications. Orlando Sentinel. The Palm Beach County school district moves to immediately shutter a troubled charter where a student allegedly went missing for a few hours. Palm Beach Post. The Sarasota Military Academy charter school offers a firearm safety course. Sarasota Herald Tribune.

Private schools. A new private school for students with disabilities opens in Sarasota, with student funding coming from McKay vouchers. Bradenton Herald.

Education spending. The Florida Board of Education's proposed budget calls for $15.1 billion in spending next year, $65.3 million less than the current spending plan. StateImpact Florida. The Pasco school board will consider a budget that is $1.079 billion, up 5.11 percent from last year. Gradebook. In Lake, impact fees aren't keeping up with growth. Orlando Sentinel.

Teacher pay. Pinellas Superintendent Mike Grego touts $32 million worth of teacher pay raises this year in a new video. Gradebook. Hillsborough teachers and support staff could get 4 percent raises under a tentative deal with the district. Tampa Tribune. Leon teachers ratify a new contract that includes a $2,182 across-the-board pay raise. Tallahassee Democrat. (more…)

Common Core: The new national education standards are attracting opposition and causing a rift among Republicans. Miami Herald. Parents can expect more project-based homework, group work in class and less multiple-choice tests thanks to Common Core State Standards. Sun Sentinel. More from the Miami Herald. Parents: This school year will be the last time your student has to take the FCAT. Probably. Palm Beach Post. Treasure Coast educators say the curriculum this year will be a blend of current and new standards. TC Palm.

Charter schools: Florida's auditor general calls for increased oversight of charter schools after report shows an increase in the number operating at a deficit. In Broward County, 17 of 73 charter schools ended the 2011-12 financial year in the red. In Palm Beach County, it was four out of 35 schools. Sun Sentinel. Pembroke Pines considers selling a highly-contested 43-acre property to Discovery Schools to build a charter school. Sun Sentinel. Duval County's charter schools have tripled from seven in 1999 to 21 today with enrollment jumping from 609 in 2003 to more than 7,500. Florida Times-Union.

Parents: The Tampa Tribune looks at what some education experts say has the biggest impact on a child's academic success.

Scheduling snafu: An open house at Olsen Middle School in Dania Beach leaves parents and students waiting long hours in line to fix class schedules. Miami Herald.

Special needs: Unicorn Village Academy opens in West Boca and caters to students with autism and other learning differences. Sun Sentinel. Federal funding cuts hit home for Polk County's ESE students. The Ledger.

Bus battle: A blind Lake County mom wins her battle to get her visually impaired 5-year-old son on a bus to his district school. Orlando Sentinel.

International learning: Students from China are attending the Community School of Naples in Lee County, part of an international education program. Naples Daily News.

School security: Hillsborough County students and parents are greeted with tightened security as they head back to class, with controlled access about to be the norm at all 215 district schools. The Tampa Tribune.

Conduct: Manatee County Superintendent Rick Mills says the district still does not have a plan to replace three assistant principals charged with felonies in a recent investigation. Bradenton Herald. (more…)

Parent focus: Lincoln Park Elementary Principal Cassandra Smith plans to work closely with parents at the turnaround school in Escambia County. Pensacola News Journal.

School spending: Manatee County School Board members meet tonight to consider a 2.16 percent increase to this year's tax levy to help bring in more money for the district. Bradenton Herald. Palm Beach County teachers will get raises and elementary schools will get 24 new police officers under a tentative $1.6 billion budget. Sun-Sentinel. And Palm Beach school board members don't like that an advisory committee didn't get to review the entire budget. Palm Beach Post. Teacher raises, and new buses and computers are on tap for Broward County schools. Sun-Sentinel. Miami-Dade school board members discover that despite Gov. Rick Scott's pledge for a $2,500 raise for every teacher, the figure is really more of a suggestion. Miami Herald.

Overhaul: Renovations at North Palm Beach Elementary continue with the Palm Beach County school set to open next fall featuring a new choice program, the Children’s Orchestra and Performing Arts (COPA) project. Palm Beach Post.

Charter schools: The Hillsborough County school district formally closes GATES High School after the charter school's leaders failed to obtain land for expansion. Tampa Bay Times.

Athletics: Hillsborough County school officials continue working on a new policy concerning student participation in district school sports. Tampa Bay Times. Booker High School football players finish up with a Summer Athletic Academic Enrichment and Life Skills Program to bolster their academic and social skills. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Cutbacks: Lake County students will lose their bus ride to afterschool programs due to the district slashing $1.4 million from its transportation budget. Orlando Sentinel. (more…)

Charter schools. The Miami Herald writes up the latest celebrity champion for charter schools: rapper Pitbull. Palm Beach Post columnist Frank Cerabino isn't a fan.

Tax credit scholarships. The "escalator" provision on the enrollment cap for Florida's program - something most programs in other states do not have - is a plus for low-income parents and taxpayers, writes Cato's Jason Bedrick.

Testing. What should replace the FCAT? StateImpact Florida. Florida plans for using PARCC tests remains uncertain. Gradebook.

School grades. There needs to be truth in advertising, Tony Bennett says. Gradebook. Manatee officials like the proposed tweaks. Bradenton Herald. So do officials in Volusia and Flagler. Daytona Beach News Journal.

School spending. Miami-Dade considers a $4.3 billion budget. Miami Herald. Lake wants impact fees reinstated. Orlando Sentinel.

School technology. Middle and high school students train teachers on the latest. South Florida Sun Sentinel.

STEM. USF offers an elite camp for a handful of gifted high school students from around the country. Tampa Bay Times.

Teacher conduct. As part of a settlement deal, a former Gilchrist County teacher of the year accused of inappropriate behavior with female students will not return to the classroom but will get $54,000 in unpaid sick leave. Gainesville Sun.

Charter schools. A Lake County charter will get money to stay open despite an unfavorable audit that showed problems with record keeping for enrollment. Orlando Sentinel.

Common Core. The Manatee school board votes to release students early on one Wednesday a month next year so teachers can have more time to train for Common Core. Bradenton Herald.

ALEC. ALEC and Patricia Levesque respond to Progress Florida's report suggesting ALEC has run amok in Florida ed policy. StateImpact Florida.

School spending. Business leaders propose cost-saving measures for the Pinellas district, including limiting sick leave payouts. Tampa Bay Times. Pinellas may also consider transferring its internal police force to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office to save money. Tampa Bay Times.

School grades. The Ocala Star Banner writes up fears of falling grades this year.

Teacher conduct. A Pinellas teacher is charged with felony child abuse after reportedly telling one student to put another in a choke hold. Tampa Bay Times, Tampa Tribune.

Transparency. The Pinellas school district isn't publicly posting a number of key items up for consideration by the school board. Gradebook. An appeals court rules that a Broward whistleblower fired after reporting corruption may be able to get her job back. South Florida Sun Sentinel.

Charter schools. The updated CREDO study isn't as flattering about charter school performance in Florida. Gradebook, SchoolZone, StateImpact Florida.

Virtual schools. Pasco sets up a summer program for its e-school so students don't take Florida Virtual School classes - and cost the district money in the process. Tampa Bay Times.

Private schools. The head of a high-end Tampa private school resigns after a rocky year. Tampa Bay Times.

Common Core. Could weed out some teachers. State Impact Florida. But will put teachers in the driver's seat. Eduwonk. Some Florida teachers see a juggling act between the new standards and current curriculum. Tampa Tribune.

ALEC. Progress Florida says the state's ed policy is run amok with ALEC. StateImpact Florida writes it up.

School grades. DOE appoints a task force to review grading policies before this year's grades are released. Gradebook.

School spending. Seminole plans to move ahead with a property tax increase. Orlando Sentinel. Lake decides against changing school start times to make up for a projected $16.3 million deficit. Orlando Sentinel. Lee aims to save $1 million a year under new Superintendent Nancy Graham's re-org. Fort Myers News Press, Naples Daily News. The Marion school board approves a staffing plan with 525 fewer positions. Ocala Star Banner.

School discipline. Black community leaders are concerned about high suspension rates for black students in Flagler. Daytona Beach News Journal.

Teacher merit pay. A judge denies FEA's request to reconsider his decision to throw out a lawsuit challenging the state's new merit pay law. South Florida Sun Sentinel.

Teachers. Badass Teachers Association says payback is coming. Orlando Sentinel.