The big story: As Florida school districts confront shrinking enrollment, the idea of closing and consolidating schools continues to gain traction.
The Pinellas County district, for instance, closed two campuses this year with officials planning to announce another round in early September. Miami-Dade County district leaders recently released a list of 27 schools under consideration for changes, the Miami Herald reports.
Some scholars who study school closures have raised questions whether such moves will save money as intended.
“Common ‘neutral’ design principles — such as prioritizing schools for closure based strictly on low enrollment or academic underperformance — fail to produce equitable outcomes and — often — do little to advance fiscal goals,” Francis Pearman of Stanford University and Michael Chrzan of the University of Maryland co-wrote in a recent working paper published by the Annenberg Institute at Brown University.
Pearman told NPR over the weekend that much of a school’s money is used for staff salary and benefits rather than buildings. And evidence in California showed that schools lost student funding after closures, as their numbers continued to decrease.
Additionally, the researchers’ report stated, school closures justified through criteria such as student numbers or outcomes frequently have the effect of expanding educational disparities among demographic groups.
“In a turbulent era where difficult choices are increasingly unavoidable, we argue that the methods used to make these choices must be interrogated to ensure they do not replicate historical disparities and offer a new way forward,” they wrote, noting that when schools close, the actions impact entire communities, not just education.
After running through hundreds of simulations, they conclude there is no best practice for closing schools. Considerations that might work in one area could fail in another with different realities.
They do, however, offer a framework for districts to use to evaluate their data and come up with answers that consider the trade-offs and policies, with a goal of balancing competing demands of financial responsibility and equitable treatment of all students.
Read “A Sandbox for Hard Choices” for more details.
Hot topics
A kindergarten coloring sheet is seen at the Pasco K-8 school on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in Dade City.
Early education: Fewer than half of Florida’s 5-year-olds passed a state test measuring their readiness to begin kindergarten, the Orlando Sentinel reports.
Enrollment trends: Miami Killian Senior High, which enrolled more than 3,700 students two decades ago, has shrunk to 430 students this fall, using only about 20% of its space, the Miami Herald reports. Officials hope a new magnet program will turn the school around. • Putnam County schools are feeling the budget strain of a 6% enrollment decline, the Palatka Daily News reports.
Real estate market: The Indian River County school district has placed some of its prime downtown Vero Beach property up for sale, TC Palm reports.
Senior citizens in college: Florida residents aged 60 and older can audit classes tuition free at the state’s public universities, as space permits, Central Florida Public Media reports. Participants say they’re looking for ways to remain active.
Special education: Some Lee County parents are upset with the school district’s plan to close the special education center their children attend, WBBH reports.
Sports sponsorships: Miccosukee Casino and Resort is the first jersey patch sponsor for Florida International University teams, FIU Caplin News reports. • NIL rules are having a dramatic effect on high school football in Florida, WUSF reports.
Student safety: About 4,000 Duval County drivers have received citations for illegally passing stopped school buses since classes resumed in early August, the Florida Times-Union reports. “Stopping is not optional,” district transportation director Chayla Ferguson said.
University leadership: Florida State University trustees gave president Richard McCullough a pay raise along with a strong performance evaluation, the Tallahassee Democrat reports. He’ll also get a $600,000 bonus if he remains through his recently approved three-year contract extension.
From the police blotter … A Broward County assistant principal was arrested on allegations of domestic battery and immediately reassigned out of his school, the Miami Herald reports.
From the court docket … A former Charlotte County high school teacher received seven years in prison after pleading guilty to engaging in sexual activity with a student on campus, WBBH reports.
Quick quiz
Florida State University set a record for its graduates in 2026. What’s the accomplishment?
a) The highest four-year graduation rate in State University System history
b) The highest three-year graduation rate for transfer students from the state college system
c) The highest six-year graduation rate for all students in school history
Find the answer in this story from Florida Politics.
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