August 11, 2025 • 10 mins
There’s lots of room for optimism as the state looks to establish new records for academic performance.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome to the Brian Munt Show and thank you for listening.
It's time for today's top three takeaways. Helpful, useful, repeatable.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Hello, Hello, new rules and tools for back to school
as it is that day once again where all throughout
the area students return back. You have actually much of
the state that is going back to school today, but
it does mark the first day of school for.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
Most school districts.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Most school districts around, especially the East coast of Florida
and locally Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, Saint Lucis, Indian River
County schools all among those returning today. And my top
takeaway for you today's safety first, as Florida doubles down
on protecting kids and so yeah, as we do get
(00:57):
back to school today, reminder for all of us to
carefully mine the store when driving through school zones and
for those who don't, well, and a bunch of them,
it can be some bad news for you today. You
have a total of thirty three school zones. They will
automatically be send speeding tickets to those who offend go
(01:21):
ten miles an hour or more while those lights are
flashing over the speed limit and boom ticket for you
those new cameras being supported in some school zones and
Bocratone Point Beach, Delray, Beach Lotsahatchie Groves, and Wellington. But
the ea start of the new school year also time
for new policy rollouts as well, and there are a
(01:42):
lot of them all told, there are eighteen laws addressing
education that pass for the new school year in place
as of today. In Florida, schools getting a safety overhaul
that balances vigilance and practicality. The twenty twenty five legislative
session delivered new school safety protocols under the Safe Schools Program,
(02:03):
and so, for example, one of the big changes, schools
now limit perimeter indoor security to thirty minutes before and
after the school day, so there's an easing of logistical
burdens while maintaining protection during peak times. You have temporary
door locks that are allowed during active assailant incidents, ensuring
(02:27):
compliance with fire codes. You have career in tech spaces
cafeterias that get some exemptions during non instructional periods as well.
So a lot of different things are going into play.
Substitute teachers must now complete safety training before stepping into
a classroom. And speaking of more safety related things. You
(02:50):
have firearm detection dogs that are now a tool that
many schools will be able to use to sniff out
any potential threats. Additionally, the Florida Institute of School Safety
has been established. This is a first of its kind,
I believe in the country. Board basically that's been established
to drive innovation in school safety. So the whole idea
(03:11):
of the Florida Institute of School Safety group of people
that will take a look at what technology exists and
what needs and vulnerabilities may be in schools, and then
they can go ahead and make recommendations so that school
security improvements can be made dynamically rather than reactively.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Health measures also front and center.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
We covered a lot of the new health laws that
are going to be in place for this school year
during the state legislative session. For example, new laws band
A Type one diabetes awareness for parents requires staff training
for naphylaxis response. Every school now has automated external defibrillators
and glucagon for diabetic emergencies. Florida also has mandated human
(03:58):
trafficking prevention training for staff. That's been another concern in
schools vulnerable kids, and so these changes show the state's
commitment to creating a secure environment where kids can focus
on learning not worrying, which is something that we've been
doing pretty good job of since Duman Douglas. When for
(04:19):
parents and educators, like in speaking of educators, my second
takeaway today classroom focus banning distractions and boosting foundational skills.
So as we take a look at a lot of
the new policy that is in place, smartphones front and
center in this conversation and Flores's policy put in place
(04:41):
before the results of this study, but chows what a
good idea probably is to limit the use of smartphones
in the classroom.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Box's Alexandria Hoff.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
CDC data published this month found that teenagers with higher
non schoolwork screen use were more likely to experience a
series of adverse health out like reduced physical activity, weight concerns,
depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and insufficient peer support.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
So Florida's classrooms getting to reset that is focusing on
learning over distractions.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
So a new law.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
We've had policies in place within local school districts, but
there's now a new law governing all schools in this
state explicitly ban cell phone use during instructional time. With
exceptions for students that are involved in some kind of
learning experience that requires that smartphone. And so the goal
(05:37):
is pretty clear to cut the digital noise to boost focus.
And on the curriculum side, Florida's doubling down on basics
and career prep enhance reading standards in early grades aim
to boost early literacy rates. That's a point of focus
heading into this year. While new law provides integrated courses
blending career education with core credits. For example, one that
(06:00):
is kind of a new, interesting and innovative thing a
law that allows marching band to count towards PE or
performing arts credits.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
Something that learned.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
That Joel would Joel was always looking to get out
of PE, but apparently not with marching band. No.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
I mean, because it's still exercise. You're still marching while
you're playing. I'm curious.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
So like sitting band, sitting band is good. Like the
sitting band, huh, you just sit and play. What would
you propose would count towards PE or Joel?
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Lunch? Lunch? I don't know, lunch. I did pee. I
had to I had to do it. I had to
do it. I laughed at a little.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
It is an interesting di economy for some of us
as like favorite time of day for you, all right,
so yeah, but in all seriousness, there are certain things
like that that exist now to where you can take
marching band and that is PE or performing Arts credit.
You have the EV and B heart Sell Act and
mandates disability awareness instruction in October and that will be
(07:17):
tailored by grade level. There will be bullying and physical
disabilities education for K through three, autism education for grades
four through six. Then you have career in technical educations
getting a big push with new programs and fields like
aerospace and diesel technology aligning with the state's workforce needs.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
This has been something else.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Governor Decantus has talked a lot about getting kids ready
for the real world.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
By the time they graduate from high school.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
You do have the Florida Civics Seal of Excellence program
that's back as well as it incentivize as teachers with
bonuses for Civics training, reinforcing the state's emphasis on informed citizenship.
So anyway, these move signal back to basics approach with
an eye on future job markets, less scrolling, more skilled building.
As we move towards my third takeaway today, as the
(08:11):
state is looking to set records this year could be
a lot of folks in the Florida Department of Education
are hoping will be a record setting year. You know
when last week you had the Trump administration talk about
the need for expanded school vouchers, Florida use as the example.
(08:33):
Of course, we have universal school choice in our state,
and one of our senators front and center and proposing
to build to make this happen.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
This is Ashley Moody. We want results, not just another law.
We want to deliver results for kids and parents. And
that's what this will do. Yeah, and that's something that
Florida has been doing. You know.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
To say that Florida has made educational progress in recent
years might be like the understatement of the year. You know,
what was once regularly a bottom five state for education
has been ranked number one or two for overall education
for three consecutive years. Plenty of reasons to believe that
this could be the most successful year for Florida's students
and teachers for that matter. Yet, at the start of
(09:13):
the school year, teacher vacancies lower by seventeen percent compared
to the prior school year, as the state has made
retention and recruitment a point of emphasis. Forra's graduation rate
rose to a non pandemic record eighty nine point seven
percent during the twenty three to twenty four school year.
We'll find out what happened in the recently concluded school
(09:36):
year in January. Anyway, the grad rate most recently represented
an increase of one point seven percent for the prior year,
gains across all demographics among the highest in the nation.
And what we've seen since the onset of Governor d.
Santasis administration, which eliminated the comic Core curriculum, replaced it
with the best curriculum, and that has just kind of
like refined things a little bit. Every year we have
(09:57):
the big enhancements as well with rental rights and education policy,
the advent of universal school choice. We've just had constant progress.
That has been the real story here. So if you
take a look at the current trajectory, it is possible
that Florida could exceed the pandemic record for graduation rates
and also in terms of test outcomes and everything else,
put in a record setting year. So there's lots of
(10:20):
room for optimism as the state does look to have
its best year of performance academically and otherwise yet
Welcome to the Brian Munt Show and thank you for listening.
It's time for today's top three takeaways. Helpful, useful, repeatable.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Hello, Hello, new rules and tools for back to school
as it is that day once again where all throughout
the area students return back. You have actually much of
the state that is going back to school today, but
it does mark the first day of school for.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
Most school districts.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Most school districts around, especially the East coast of Florida
and locally Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, Saint Lucis, Indian River
County schools all among those returning today. And my top
takeaway for you today's safety first, as Florida doubles down
on protecting kids and so yeah, as we do get
(00:57):
back to school today, reminder for all of us to
carefully mine the store when driving through school zones and
for those who don't, well, and a bunch of them,
it can be some bad news for you today. You
have a total of thirty three school zones. They will
automatically be send speeding tickets to those who offend go
(01:21):
ten miles an hour or more while those lights are
flashing over the speed limit and boom ticket for you
those new cameras being supported in some school zones and
Bocratone Point Beach, Delray, Beach Lotsahatchie Groves, and Wellington. But
the ea start of the new school year also time
for new policy rollouts as well, and there are a
(01:42):
lot of them all told, there are eighteen laws addressing
education that pass for the new school year in place
as of today. In Florida, schools getting a safety overhaul
that balances vigilance and practicality. The twenty twenty five legislative
session delivered new school safety protocols under the Safe Schools Program,
(02:03):
and so, for example, one of the big changes, schools
now limit perimeter indoor security to thirty minutes before and
after the school day, so there's an easing of logistical
burdens while maintaining protection during peak times. You have temporary
door locks that are allowed during active assailant incidents, ensuring
(02:27):
compliance with fire codes. You have career in tech spaces
cafeterias that get some exemptions during non instructional periods as well.
So a lot of different things are going into play.
Substitute teachers must now complete safety training before stepping into
a classroom. And speaking of more safety related things. You
(02:50):
have firearm detection dogs that are now a tool that
many schools will be able to use to sniff out
any potential threats. Additionally, the Florida Institute of School Safety
has been established. This is a first of its kind,
I believe in the country. Board basically that's been established
to drive innovation in school safety. So the whole idea
(03:11):
of the Florida Institute of School Safety group of people
that will take a look at what technology exists and
what needs and vulnerabilities may be in schools, and then
they can go ahead and make recommendations so that school
security improvements can be made dynamically rather than reactively.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Health measures also front and center.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
We covered a lot of the new health laws that
are going to be in place for this school year
during the state legislative session. For example, new laws band
A Type one diabetes awareness for parents requires staff training
for naphylaxis response. Every school now has automated external defibrillators
and glucagon for diabetic emergencies. Florida also has mandated human
(03:58):
trafficking prevention training for staff. That's been another concern in
schools vulnerable kids, and so these changes show the state's
commitment to creating a secure environment where kids can focus
on learning not worrying, which is something that we've been
doing pretty good job of since Duman Douglas. When for
(04:19):
parents and educators, like in speaking of educators, my second
takeaway today classroom focus banning distractions and boosting foundational skills.
So as we take a look at a lot of
the new policy that is in place, smartphones front and
center in this conversation and Flores's policy put in place
(04:41):
before the results of this study, but chows what a
good idea probably is to limit the use of smartphones
in the classroom.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Box's Alexandria Hoff.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
CDC data published this month found that teenagers with higher
non schoolwork screen use were more likely to experience a
series of adverse health out like reduced physical activity, weight concerns,
depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and insufficient peer support.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
So Florida's classrooms getting to reset that is focusing on
learning over distractions.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
So a new law.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
We've had policies in place within local school districts, but
there's now a new law governing all schools in this
state explicitly ban cell phone use during instructional time. With
exceptions for students that are involved in some kind of
learning experience that requires that smartphone. And so the goal
(05:37):
is pretty clear to cut the digital noise to boost focus.
And on the curriculum side, Florida's doubling down on basics
and career prep enhance reading standards in early grades aim
to boost early literacy rates. That's a point of focus
heading into this year. While new law provides integrated courses
blending career education with core credits. For example, one that
(06:00):
is kind of a new, interesting and innovative thing a
law that allows marching band to count towards PE or
performing arts credits.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
Something that learned.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
That Joel would Joel was always looking to get out
of PE, but apparently not with marching band. No.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
I mean, because it's still exercise. You're still marching while
you're playing. I'm curious.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
So like sitting band, sitting band is good. Like the
sitting band, huh, you just sit and play. What would
you propose would count towards PE or Joel?
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Lunch? Lunch? I don't know, lunch. I did pee. I
had to I had to do it. I had to
do it. I laughed at a little.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
It is an interesting di economy for some of us
as like favorite time of day for you, all right,
so yeah, but in all seriousness, there are certain things
like that that exist now to where you can take
marching band and that is PE or performing Arts credit.
You have the EV and B heart Sell Act and
mandates disability awareness instruction in October and that will be
(07:17):
tailored by grade level. There will be bullying and physical
disabilities education for K through three, autism education for grades
four through six. Then you have career in technical educations
getting a big push with new programs and fields like
aerospace and diesel technology aligning with the state's workforce needs.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
This has been something else.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Governor Decantus has talked a lot about getting kids ready
for the real world.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
By the time they graduate from high school.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
You do have the Florida Civics Seal of Excellence program
that's back as well as it incentivize as teachers with
bonuses for Civics training, reinforcing the state's emphasis on informed citizenship.
So anyway, these move signal back to basics approach with
an eye on future job markets, less scrolling, more skilled building.
As we move towards my third takeaway today, as the
(08:11):
state is looking to set records this year could be
a lot of folks in the Florida Department of Education
are hoping will be a record setting year. You know
when last week you had the Trump administration talk about
the need for expanded school vouchers, Florida use as the example.
(08:33):
Of course, we have universal school choice in our state,
and one of our senators front and center and proposing
to build to make this happen.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
This is Ashley Moody. We want results, not just another law.
We want to deliver results for kids and parents. And
that's what this will do. Yeah, and that's something that
Florida has been doing. You know.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
To say that Florida has made educational progress in recent
years might be like the understatement of the year. You know,
what was once regularly a bottom five state for education
has been ranked number one or two for overall education
for three consecutive years. Plenty of reasons to believe that
this could be the most successful year for Florida's students
and teachers for that matter. Yet, at the start of
(09:13):
the school year, teacher vacancies lower by seventeen percent compared
to the prior school year, as the state has made
retention and recruitment a point of emphasis. Forra's graduation rate
rose to a non pandemic record eighty nine point seven
percent during the twenty three to twenty four school year.
We'll find out what happened in the recently concluded school
(09:36):
year in January. Anyway, the grad rate most recently represented
an increase of one point seven percent for the prior year,
gains across all demographics among the highest in the nation.
And what we've seen since the onset of Governor d.
Santasis administration, which eliminated the comic Core curriculum, replaced it
with the best curriculum, and that has just kind of
like refined things a little bit. Every year we have
(09:57):
the big enhancements as well with rental rights and education policy,
the advent of universal school choice. We've just had constant progress.
That has been the real story here. So if you
take a look at the current trajectory, it is possible
that Florida could exceed the pandemic record for graduation rates
and also in terms of test outcomes and everything else,
put in a record setting year. So there's lots of
(10:20):
room for optimism as the state does look to have
its best year of performance academically and otherwise yet
Popular Podcasts
Fudd Around And Find Out
UConn basketball star Azzi Fudd brings her championship swag to iHeart Women’s Sports with Fudd Around and Find Out, a weekly podcast that takes fans along for the ride as Azzi spends her final year of college trying to reclaim the National Championship and prepare to be a first round WNBA draft pick. Ever wonder what it’s like to be a world-class athlete in the public spotlight while still managing schoolwork, friendships and family time? It’s time to Fudd Around and Find Out!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.