U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

The U.S. Department of Education has opened an investigation into Harvard University’s policies on legacy admissions, which give an edge to applicants with family ties to alumni.

Gov. Ron DeSantis held a news conference Thursday at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa.

As part of a years-long probe into how the St. Johns County School District imposed its dress code policy, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights worked with the district to circulate a questionnaire to groups of students at five district schools.

There’s new help for local law students saddled with student loan debt.

The average student walks away from college with a diploma and $40,000 of debt.

The state of Florida has officially returned $878,000 it had withheld from eight local schools districts for implementing mask mandates with no parental opt-out earlier in the school year.

The state of Florida’s ban on coronavirus mask mandates in schools will stay in effect.

The U.S. Department of Education filed a 'cease and desist' complaint against the Florida Department of Education.

Alachua County Public Schools announced Thursday that it is the first school district in the nation to receive a federal grant to replace funding that was withheld over its mask mandate.

As some Florida districts are defying an executive order by requiring students to wear masks, that move is getting some support from the highest level.

Florida Coastal School of Law’s hopes of staying open suffered a setback Monday when a federal judge denied a motion for a court order restoring its eligibility for federal funding.

Florida Coastal School of Law’s hopes of staying open suffered a setback Monday when a federal judge denied a motion for a court order restoring its eligibility for federal funding.

As the St. Johns County School District continues to grapple with a dress code policy that has been the source of controversy for months and is the subject of a federal investigation, the ACLU of Florida weighed in Friday, sending a letter to the district about the policy.

Florida Coastal School of Law has filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona.

We’re looking into what will legally happen for the St. Johns County School District now that the U.S. Department of Education has launched an investigation into a complaint that the school district discriminated against female students through its enforcement of the dress code.

A Jacksonville school is receiving recognition from the U.S. Department of Education for its efforts when it comes to the environment and sustainability.

The U.S. Department of Education has opened an investigation into whether a Florida school district broke federal law when it shared private information about students with the local sheriff’s office.

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – In a letter sent to Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, members of the St. Johns County School Board asked the state not to penalize the school district based on the results of the Florida Standards Assessments (FSA) tests. “We want to give the test because we want to understand where our children are performing. AdThe letter, which was also signed by Superintendent Tim Forson, cites the U.S. Department of Education which said assessment flexibility was needed due to the ongoing pandemic. “Man students and staff members have missed time at school due to the illness itself, or mandatory quarantine, and students struggled in online platforms for a variety of reasons,” the letter states. Standardized testing begins April 15 and continues through May 28 in Florida schools.

The U.S. Department of Education is threatening to withhold some federal funding for Connecticut school districts if they follow a state policy that allows transgender girls to compete as girls in high school sports. (AP Photo/Pat Eaton-Robb, File)HARTFORD, Conn. – The U.S. Department of Education is threatening to withhold some federal funding from Connecticut school districts if they follow a state policy that allows transgender girls to compete as girls in high school sports. But the U.S. Education Department's Office for Civil Rights argues the policy violates the civil rights of girls who are not transgender under Title IX, the federal law that guarantees equal opportunities in education. The ACLU of Connecticut, which is representing the transgender athletes, said the Trump administration is trying to pressure schools into denying transgender athletes an opportunity to compete. “Transgender girls are girls, and the Office of the Attorney General will continue to protect every woman and girl in this state against discrimination.

After the Federal Trade Commission recently got a restraining order against a financial group accused of making false promises about reducing student loan debt, the agency issued a reminder for ways to avoid student loan debt relief scams. To help consumers avoid falling victim to such fraud, the FTC has consumer education materials related to student loan debt relief scams at ftc.gov/StudentLoans. Only scammers promise fast loan forgiveness, and they often pretend to be affiliated with the government, the FTC said. For federal student loan repayment options, visit StudentAid.gov/repay. Here are some signs of a student loan debt relief scam, according to the FTC:Never pay an up-front fee.

According to the Mentor: An Academic Advising Journal, there are three types of parents of first-generation students: hand-holders who make every decision for their child, the unavailable parent, which is the opposite and the happy medium who are the perfect balance. And while 56% of students whose parents have a bachelors degree graduate within five years, only 44% of first-generation students earn a degree. They come into the university and then crash their first quarter, common for a lot of first-generation students, said Margarita Azmitia, developmental psychologist at UC Santa Cruz. Some colleges offer bridge programs that can assist both students and parents with the college transition. Bridge programs help first-generation students become more comfortable with campus life and can make up for a lack of college preparation during high school.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Edward Waters College in Jacksonville is among 97 historically black colleges and universities that are receiving grants from the U.S. Department of Education. While EWC will receive $1,297,176, Florida A&M University will receive $6.6 million, Bethune-Cookman University will receive $2.9 million and Albany State College was awarded $3.7 million. In addition, funds may be used for the purchase, rental, or lease of scientific or laboratory equipment and the development of academic instruction in disciplines in which African-Americans are underrepresented. "HBCUs have made enduring, even staggering contributions to American life despite the steep financial challenges many have faced," U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said in a release. "The grants will help these important institutions continue to provide their students with the quality education they need to compete in the global economy."