Step Up For Students

1 week ago | nextstepsblog.org | Matthew Ladner

“War, huh, yeahWhat is it good for? Absolutely nothing”— Edwinn Starr, “War”The District of Columbia Public School system has a troubled history with special education.

2 weeks ago | nextstepsblog.org | Camille Knox

Around the state: The House and Senate have reached a consensus on a $29.5 billion K-12 education budget, a teacher initiative plan was approved in Lee, a teacher was arrested in Manatee, budget woes in Gilchrist and a win for the state teacher’s union. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:Broward: A new initiative in this school district is bringing artificial intelligence into the classroom.

2 weeks ago | nextstepsblog.org | Camille Knox

Around the state: Florida’s falling reading and math scores contributed to an overall decline of the state’s ranking for child wellbeing, Manatee district officials are searching for a new superintendent, officials in Clay are dealing with a  budget shortfall, teacher shortages continue across the U.S. and enrollment for Florida Virtual Full Time Public Schools —  the state’s only fully virtual public school district — has opened for the 2025-26 school year.

2 weeks ago | nextstepsblog.org | Matthew Ladner

EdChoice has an interesting survey question comparing what sort of school parents would prefer (district, charter, private or home) and comparing the results to actual enrollment patterns. In 2024 it looked like this:There is a lot happening in that chart, starting with the apparent desire of approximately 50% of the parents of district students to have their students somewhere else.

2 weeks ago | nextstepsblog.org | Keith Jacobs

When our son Keith — affectionately known as “Deuce” — was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at age 3, we were told he might never speak beyond echolalia (the automatic repetition of words or phrases). Until age 5, echolalia was all we heard. But Deuce found his voice, and with it, a unique way of seeing the world.  He needed to find the right learning environment, with the assistance of a Florida education choice scholarship.