Nearly 9,000 children wait for Florida school vouchers, lawmakers say

The big story: Aiming to ensure that “we don’t leave anybody behind” in Florida’s school voucher system, lawmakers quickly advanced legislation to lift the cap on the number of students with special needs who can participate in the program.

During a special session, House and Senate committees approved identical measures, which next go straight to the chamber floors. About 9,000 children stand to benefit from the move, which would be paid for with a fund that the Legislature created in its regular spring session.

If passed, the bill would lift the cap for just one year. Read more from the News Service of Florida.

Lawmakers also moved bills to add funding for security at Jewish day schools, with some members suggesting the need to extend the program to historically Black colleges and universities, Florida Phoenix reports.

Today in Tallahassee ... The House Higher Education Appropriations subcommittee meets at 3:30 p.m. and the Senate PreK-12 Education Committee meets at 3:45 p.m.

Hot topics

Book challenges: Two Moms for Liberty members in Santa Rosa County reported several school librarians to the Sheriff’s Office, accusing them of distributing pornography to minors, Popular Information reports. • Flagler County’s superintendent said the Bible will remain in district schools despite a public challenge over the sexual content in it, the Ormond Beach Observer reports.

Car line safety: Some parents are complaining that their Orange County charter school does not allow cars on campus early for dismissal, causing traffic concerns in the nearby community, Spectrum 13 reports.

College assistance: A Miami-Dade County activist has become the leader of the nation’s largest college aid program for undocumented students, WLRN reports.

High school football: Jesuit High School in Tampa has dismissed a part-time assistant football coach seen on video striking a player on the helmet during a game.

Holocaust lessons: Holocaust survivors shared stories with Palm Beach County high school students, offering new perspectives on world events, WPTV reports.

Permission slips: Bay County students now must have written parent permission for all school-sponsored events, WMBB reports.

School board politics: A declared candidate for Hernando County School Board has decided to run for county commission instead, Suncoast News reports.

School zones: Osceola County commissioners directed staff to draft ordinances for placing cameras in school zones to catch speeders, WKMG reports.

From the police blotter ... Two Hernando County middle school students were arrested on accusations of using a slingshot to shoot a cough drop in a school bus, WOFL reports. • An Orange County private school teacher was arrested on allegations of sexual abuse against a minor student, WKMG reports.

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From the court docket ... A circuit court judge is allowing to advance a lawsuit over the use of the site of Orange County’s first school for Black children, WMFE reports.

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Before you go ... Here’s a Marvel side character never expected to get a show. But it’s on the way, starting in January.

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