Judge Blocks Florida Requirement To Hold In-Class Instruction

NPR: Florida Judge Rules State Order Requiring Schools To Reopen 'Unconstitutional' 
A Florida judge on Monday ruled against the state's order requiring schools to open for in-person instruction by the end of August, calling parts of it "unconstitutional." He granted a temporary injunction, putting the decision-making power in the hands of individual districts. The emergency order was issued by Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran in early July as the state's coronavirus cases surged, and mandated that all districts open "brick and mortar schools" at least five days a week for families who want to send their students back, or else risk losing already-allocated funding. (Treisman, 8/24)

CNN: US Coronavirus: Florida Judge Blocks State Requirement That Public Schools Open For In-Class Education 
A Florida judge on Monday blocked the state's requirement that all brick-and-mortar public schools must offer in-class education by August 31. In his temporary injunction, 2nd Judicial Circuit Court Judge Charles Dodson said Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran "arbitrarily prioritized reopening schools statewide in August over safety, and over the advice of health experts and that all districts complied in order to avoid loss of state funding." (Ellis, Kaye and Shepherd, 8/24)

NBC News: Florida Teachers Opposed To Returning To Classroom Win Lawsuit With Gov. DeSantis
Florida teachers worried about returning to the classroom during the coronavirus pandemic won a legal battle Monday with Gov. Ron DeSantis, who wants to reopen schools by the end of the month. Declaring that the state "essentially ignored the requirement for school safety" by insisting that teachers resume in-person education, Leon County Circuit Judge Charles Dodson issued a temporary injunction blocking the order, ruling in favor of the Florida Education Association. (Siemaszko, 8/24)

San Jose Mercury News: Lack Of Nurses Another Worry For Bay Area Schools
For the first time, the Bay Area’s K-12 students are beginning the school year on computer screens rather than in classrooms. And if students finally return to school this year, the minutes before the morning bell won’t be spent on the playground or chatting with friends. Instead, students will be standing in line for their daily temperature checks. A minor cough that last year would have gone unnoticed will earn a trip to an isolated room, a speedy return home and a mandated test for COVID-19. (Kathan, 8/24)

Albuquerque Journal: ‘We Don’t Want To Be A Well-Kept Secret’ 
Schools may be keeping their doors closed, but school-based health centers are not. While Albuquerque Public Schools students are attending school remotely, health centers are still seeing the district’s students on site and through telemedicine visits. The centers see all APS and APS-authorized charter school students. (Perea, 8/24)

Dallas Morning News: ‘Let Us Play': Dallas ISD Students, Parents Use Protest To Send Message That Delaying Sports Isn’t Fair
Dallas ISD athletes and parents wasted no time making their message clear during a peaceful protest Monday. They want sports seasons to start as soon as possible amid the coronavirus pandemic, rather than waiting at least two to three more weeks, as DISD superintendent Michael Hinojosa said would be the case. (Riddle, 8/24)

The Washington Post: College Counseling Centers Plan To Help Students Returning Virtually Or In-Person 
As colleges begin on-campus and virtual returns by students, counseling center directors hope “even students not previously engaged with the centers will drop by, tune in, check out websites or at least open email messages of support and suggestions the centers will be sending out to everyone,” said Micky M. Sharma, director of the Office of Student Life Counseling and Consultation Service at Ohio State University in Columbus. (Kritz, 8/24)