New Rules & Tools For Back to School – Top 3 Takeaways, August 11th, 2025
Takeaway #1: Safety First – Florida Doubles Down on Protecting Kids
Today marks the first day of school for most school districts across the state. Locally Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River County schools are among those returning to school today. As school gets back underway it’s a reminder for all of us to carefully mind the store when driving through school zones. For those who don’t a host of new school zones will be using camera systems to automatically send speeding tickets to those who offend. A total of 33 school zones will sport new cameras in Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Loxahattchee Groves and Wellington. But the start of a new school year is also a time for new policy rollouts as well. All told there were 18 laws addressing education passed for the new school year that are in place as of today. Florida’s schools are getting a safety overhaul that balances vigilance with practicality. The 2025 legislative session delivered new school safety protocols under the Safe Schools program. Schools now limit perimeter and door security to 30 minutes before and after the school day, easing logistical burdens while maintaining protection during peak times. Temporary door locks are allowed during active assailant incidents, ensuring compliance with fire codes, and career/tech spaces or cafeterias get exemptions during non-instructional periods—common-sense tweaks to avoid overreach. Substitute teachers must complete safety training before stepping into classrooms, and firearm detection dogs are now a tool to sniff out threats. Additionally the Florida Institute of School Safety has been established to drive innovation, so that the state is constantly working on improvements for school safety dynamically – as opposed to a reactive approach after trageties. Health measures are also front and center new laws mandate Type 1 diabetes awareness for parents, requires staff training for anaphylaxis response, every school now has Automated External Defibrillators and glucagon for diabetic emergencies. Florida has also mandated human trafficking prevention training for staff, addressing a growing concern. These changes show the state’s commitment to creating a secure environment where kids can focus on learning, not worrying—a win for parents and educators alike. Speaking of educators...
Takeaway #2: Classroom Focus – Banning Distractions & Boosting Foundational Skills
Florida’s classrooms are getting a reset to prioritize learning over distractions. A new law in place starting today enforces a statewide ban on cell phone use during instructional time (with exceptions in place for students with plans requiring devices). The goal is clear: cut the digital noise to boost focus. On the curriculum side, Florida’s doubling down on basics and career prep. Enhanced reading standards in early grades aim to boost early literacy rates, while a new law provides integrated courses blending career education with core credits, for example a new program that allows marching band to count toward PE or performing arts credits. The Evin B. Hartsell Act mandates disability awareness instruction in October, tailored by grade level (e.g., bullying and physical disabilities for K-3, autism for 4-6). Career and Technical Education gets a big push with new programs in fields like aerospace and diesel technology, aligning with Florida’s workforce needs. The Florida Civics Seal of Excellence program is back as well as it incentivizes teachers with bonuses for civics training, reinforcing the state’s emphasis on informed citizenship. These moves signal a back-to-basics approach with an eye on future job markets—less scrolling, more skill-building.
Takeaway #3: Looking To Set Records
To say that Florida’s made educational progress in recent years is perhaps the understatement of the year. What was once regularly a bottom five state for education has been ranked number one or two for overall education for three consecutive years. There are reasons to believe that this could be the most successful school year for Florida’s teachers and students yet. At the start of the school year teacher vacancies are lower by 17% compared to the prior school year, as the state has made retention and recruitment a point of emphasis. Florida’s graduation rate rose to a non-pandemic record 89.7% during the 2023-2024 school year (we’ll find out what happened last school year in January). The grad rate represented an increase of 1.7% over the prior year, with gains across all demographics, and is among the highest in the nation. What we’ve seen since the onset of Governor DeSantis’s administration, which included the elimination of the Common Core curriculum which was replaced with the B.E.S.T. curriculum, the advancement of the Parental Rights in Education policies and the advent of Universal School Choice is consistent progress. Notably, on the current trajectory, it’s possible Florida could exceed the pandemic record, which occurred due to the suspension of Florida’s graduation test requirement, as soon as the current school year. There’s lots of room for optimism as the state looks to establish new records for academic performance.