A new law removes the option for a Certificate of Completion for high school students with disabilities who could not meet the requirements for a diploma, instead choosing to focus on alternate pathways to a diploma.

"I’ve had a very busy phone the last 24 hours—families calling, absolutely mortified. But what I want them to know is—it’s okay. Florida’s intent with this law is to make sure every student, no matter their disability, can leave with a standard diploma through access points. That actually gives them more opportunities than a certificate ever could," said disability advocate Stephanie Norden.

Florida first introduced the Certificate of Completion in the 1970s. Until this week, it was one of only three states to still offer it.

Gables Estates, a small gated community located in Coral Gables just outside Miami, was named by Zillow as the most expensive neighborhood in the U.S. in 2024. Beverly Hills, California, which is now ranked No. 4, no longer holds that crown.

According to the report, 7 of the 10 most expensive neighborhoods are in the Sunshine State, including the top 3. Port Royal in Naples (No. 2) and Old Cutler Bay in Coral Gables (No. 3) have typical home values between $11 million and $15 million.

San Marino Island (No. 7), Palm Island (No. 9), and Rivo Alto Island (No. 10) made Greater Miami the most listed area overall. Founded by golfer Jack Nicklaus, The Bear's Club in Jupiter (No. 8) is the only remaining Florida neighborhood listed that is not in Miami Beach.

Essential workers across the state can now apply for financial aid to purchase their first home through the Hometown Heroes Housing Program, a state-funded initiative offering zero-interest loans to help cover down payments and closing costs.

Backed by $50 million in state funding through the Live Local Act, the program provides up to $35,000 in forgivable loans for eligible first-time homebuyers in the communities where they serve.

Eligible applicants include full-time employees of Florida-based companies working in healthcare or schools, first responders, public safety or court employees, childcare workers, or current or veteran service members.

A key feature of the program is its self-sustaining model. When a homeowner sells their property, the assistance is returned to the state, replenishing the fund to help future buyers without new taxpayer investment.

The Farmers Feeding Florida (FFF) program connects farmers and ranchers with surplus stock in the slow season and families struggling to make ends meet.

By expanding food bank infrastructure, the Sunshine State can supply more fresh produce, meat, and other products to more food banks to help hungry people.

Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and Senate President Ben Albritton joined other state leaders and representatives from the agriculture sector to announce the program's launch. Albritton called it a "hand up, not a handout."

Included in the 2025-26 state budget, FFF uses state funding to increase the availability of fresh food products for Floridians who face food insecurity daily. About 170,000 gallons of milk went to needy families within the past month.

Kids head back to school Monday. What’s new this year in Florida?

Among this year’s changes: new schools, new cell phone rules and a few lunches made from scratch. 

After two and a half months off for summer break, nearly 400,000 children across the Tampa Bay region return to classrooms Monday.

As they reconnect with friends and get settled with teachers, students will encounter some new rules, expectations and activities. Here’s an overview of what they can expect:

New state laws

Statewide, schools received new directives for student cellphone use.

Lawmakers declared that phones are off limits for elementary and middle school students from the first bell to the last. Children can have their devices, but with only limited exceptions, they’re to remain off and out of sight throughout the school day.

High schoolers may use their phones during classes only when allowed by teachers and also when there is no instruction.

Local school boards have not yet revised rules to reflect the new law, which went into effect July 1. But local officials said they will enforce the law as written while the codes of conduct get revamped during the fall.

Students and staff also should find it easier to get around campus due to changes to the state’s school security law that last year kept doors, gates and access points locked whenever any child was present.

At the urging of school leaders, lawmakers lightened restrictions that drew complaints that schools were becoming as locked down as prisons. Campuses now may create secure zones inside where doors can remain open for easier passage.

The state also limited hours during which the restrictions are in effect, starting 30 minutes before classes and ending 30 minutes after the final bell. That change should allow parents to get to their children’s after-school events without waiting for someone to let them in.

Schools across the region are redesigning their security plans to accommodate the shift.

There are plenty of changes at the district level, too.

Hillsborough County

Among the biggest changes in Hillsborough County is the opening of a $178 million, state-of-the-art school. The Aquilla J. Morgan High School campus in Wimauma, a fast-growing part of the county, is expected to serve more than 1,500 students. The school includes a cosmetology, e-sports and auto mechanics program that will help students earn credentials. The school is named after the first Black teacher at Wimauma Elementary.

In October, Plant City Technical College will open to adult students. The school will open to high school students in January and include instruction for industrial electricity, building construction, HVAC and forklift certification.

The student code of conduct has been tightened. Those who get in a physical confrontation with a school employee, commit simple battery, cause a major campus disruption or get caught with drugs at school with be automatically expelled.

A new disciplinary measure has been introduced: temporary removal from campus. Students will not be withdrawn but instead reassigned to an alternative site. Once they meet remedial steps, they may return to their school.

Student meal prices in Hillsborough County will remain the same next year due to the district’s size and purchasing power and by relying more on basic and raw ingredients, but adult meal prices will increase from $4.50 to $5. New menu options this year include chicken fajitas, beef teriyaki and Mardi Gras chicken.

The district also has updated its website and launched a Hillsborough Public Schools app and another app for parents to keep track of their children’s attendance, report cards, schedules and communicate with district officials.

Pinellas County

Pinellas schools are rolling out several science initiatives as they aim to improve student performance in that discipline. A new Innovation Lab bus will travel to middle schools providing hands-on STEM lessons. Supporting materials for eighth grade science courses have been added. Instruction in kindergarten through second grade lessons will apply more intentional use of Nature of Science standards.

Middle and high school students will experience a new approach to discipline, as the district introduces alternatives to in-school suspension. The new approach aims to make sure students understand there are consequences for their actions, but also teach them more about proper behavior to deter repeated classroom problems.

School cafeterias will experiment with cooking some items from scratch with fresh and raw ingredients to improve the quality of meals served to students.

Parents are expected to be able to get more up-to-date information about their children’s school bus rides as the district completes a transition to new software that will include notification capabilities. The system is set to be go live in November.

The Largo area will get its first K-8 school as the merger of Walsingham and Southern Oak elementary schools becomes official. It’s the district’s third kindergarten through eighth grade campus, reflecting growing interest in the design. The school, which converted some office space into classrooms over the summer, will add the seventh and eighth grades in coming years and ultimately will fully use space that otherwise would have been empty.

“It’s a declining enrollment strategy to maximize space and provide something better,” superintendent Kevin Hendrick said.

Students and staff at Gulf Beaches Elementary School will try to put last year’s hurricane season behind them as they return to their school for the first time since Hurricane Helene swamped it in September. Extensive repairs to the campus were completed this summer.

Hendrick said the district’s renewed and expanded property tax referendum will benefit students and staff. It will put more money into paychecks and allow schools to continue offering a full slate of arts programs despite shrinking state revenue, while also providing for additional tutoring programs and early literacy initiatives.

Pasco County

Pasco County elementary schools will introduce a new curriculum, and middle schools will see a new progression of courses, as the district works to get more children prepared for high school-level math. In reviewing student performance data, officials found the district lagged behind its neighbors in the subject.

The district is giving teachers more leeway on how they use and grade homework in their courses, revising past policies that said practice materials could not be counted toward report card grades. It’s also tightening up disciplinary procedures to give teachers more control over classrooms.

“We are focusing on student achievement and decreasing distractions,” said superintendent John Legg, adding that policy updates are in the works aimed at improving attendance rates.

Added focus will go toward the district’s eight lowest-performing schools, which will be pulled together under the “Opportunity School” umbrella for heightened attention and added services. Part of the effort includes providing financial incentives for all teachers, in hopes they stick with the schools as they work on improvement plans.

Students will face stricter consequences for vaping on campus, as use has grown — even at elementary schools. All new schools being built now include vape detectors, and students will be assigned to a drug course after their first offense.

“Research shows you need to intervene quick to make a difference,” Legg said.

Pasco’s voucher students will get a chance to take Advanced Placement courses in district high schools. The school board approved offering space in 34 courses to children who otherwise would not attend the district, at a cost of $1,882 per class. Homeschoolers who do not accept a voucher also can enroll without charge.

Students in Port Richey and Lutz will get to attend new K-8 schools this fall as the district continues to expand that model. Chasco K-8 is the product of merging Chasco and Calusa elementary schools with Chasco Middle in Port Richey. Skybrooke K-8 was built to ease crowding at Bexley and Oakstead elementary schools and Rushe Middle.

Starting August 1, Floridians can count on tax breaks for back-to-school and hurricane supplies as part of a larger $1.3 billion tax package signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The new law makes school items, including supplies under $50, clothes under $100, and personal computers up to $1,500, sales tax-free for the entire month of August each year.

It also makes year-round sales tax exemptions permanent for hurricane and disaster-preparedness supplies, including batteries, generators, fire extinguishers, and more. See the full list here.

Critics argue that the relief is too narrow and doesn’t address larger costs, such as housing, but GOP leaders say more tax reforms may be implemented in 2026.