Public Education

The authors of some of the nearly 400 books removed from the libraries of Collier County public schools have made their feelings known about these actions.

The Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee and the House Education Quality Subcommittee held workshops last week on the issue, after a deregulation effort was included in a law (HB 1) passed in March that massively expanded the state’s school-voucher programs.

Students entering the Lee County School District in August 2024 are now able to pre-register.The advanced registration period is open to any incoming student who is entering Kindergarten, moving from a private or charter school to a Lee County Public School or relocating to Lee County from another county or state.

Many attending the school board aired complaints about book removal aimed at adhering to a new state law.

A notice posted on the Hodges University website Friday announced the closing of the Fort Myers school after 33 years of education services.

The 24th annual BIG Backpack Event on Sunday made it easier for Lee County families in need to get new backpacks, school supplies and groceries.

Leaders of a First Amendment group and a national higher-education association are pointing to a controversial new law shielding presidential candidates’ identities as harmful to public trust and academic freedom.

Saying Florida will “let the kids be kids,” Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday signed a bill that expands a controversial 2022 law restricting instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.The bill (HB 1069) also limits the way teachers and students can use their preferred pronouns in schools and bolsters another contentious 2022 law that ramped up scrutiny of instructional materials and school-library books. The measure has drawn ire from LGBTQ-advocacy group Equality Florida, which blasted the bill Wednesday as part of DeSantis’ “slate of hate.”

Over 100 scholars attended the Sunshine State Scholars conference, with 28 students earning 1-year scholarships.

The Immokalee Foundation’s Career Pathways Program offers educational scholarships and unique job training to bolster the future of Southwest Florida's workforce.