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Tag: APP Latest Education Stories

  • Veteran students hope for changes to the Post-9/11 GI Bill

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Logan Cappelli is a Coast Guard veteran and also a student at St. Pete College in Pinellas County and thanks to the Post-9/11 GI Bill, or Chapter 33, Cappelli has had the financial support he needed to attend SPC since 2024.  

    What You Need To Know

    • HR 1965, better known as, The Veteran Education Assistance Adjustment Act, was introduced to legislation in early March 2025 

    • The bill would raise stipend amounts to $1,400 for books and supplies. The program is estimated to assist almost 1 million participants with $13.4 billion in benefits 

    • The amount of money provided through this stipend has not changed since 2009; the new stipend raise will respond to changing inflation and costs for tuition

    • Current Post-9/11 GI Bill regulations require veterans to take at least one in-person class to receive full benefits, a rule veteran students like Logan Cappelli find outdated as programs shift online


    Focused on providing needed benefits to eligible service members and veterans who served on or after the events of September 11, 2001, it supports veterans by paying tuition, offering a book stipend, and a living expense stipend.

    “It definitely pays for a lot of things that I wouldn’t be able to pay for,” Cappelli said.

    However, the GI Bill isn’t perfect, and Capelli said many parts feel outdated or tied to regulations that aren’t realistic anymore. That includes the requirement to take at least one in-person class to keep GI benefits.

    Many of Cappelli’s classes for his major are offered virtually online.

    “I ran into a problem in the summer where I couldn’t take any classes because none of them were going to be in person,” said Cappelli. 

    Additionally, Cappelli thinks stipends for education support need to provide more money to keep up with rising costs.

    The Post-9/11 GI Bill book stipend has stayed at $1,000 since 2009. But with an inflation increase of over 50 percent the last 17 years, that money is now worth a total of $1,500.

    “One textbook could be $300 or more just for one textbook,” Cappelli said. “So, I definitely don’t think that it’s kept up with modern times. Nor do I think I’d be able to afford my Wacom tablet with it.”

    That’s what New Mexico Rep. Gabe Vasquez wanted to target when he introduced the Veteran Education Assistance Adjustment Act in 2025. The new legislation would raise the book and supplies stipend to $1,400 and tie future adjustments to inflation.

    He sent Spectrum News the following statement:

    “Currently, the GI Bill’s annual book stipend no longer reflects today’s costs and falls woefully short of meeting the financial needs of our veterans today. At a time when millions of veterans are already working to make ends meet, Congress should not allow outdated policy to become yet another barrier to their success.”

    SPC Veteran Student Advisor, Trevor McGilvery, said a vast majority of veterans at the college in Pinellas County use the GI Bill for education assistance.  

    He said this potential increase could make a big difference for many veterans or service members looking to go back to school.

    “The last thing I want any of my students to have to do is take out a loan to pay for books or a computer or any of their mandatory educational supplies when the GI Bill, its original purpose was to ensure that they didn’t have to do that,” McGilvery said. 

    Spectrum News reached out to the Department of Veterans Affairs as well. They directed us to their testimony to the House committee last summer, which stated:

    “While this stipend has remained constant since the Post-9/11 GI Bill was initially enacted in 2009, the cost of books has increased every year. Thus, VA fully supports an annual adjustment to the stipend, similar to the adjustments that are made for tuition and fees payments.”

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    Matt Lackritz

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  • LILLY Learning Center offers students new direction on path of education

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    ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. — A Pasco County entrepreneur is changing the perception of homeschooling.

    What You Need To Know

    • Lexa Duno opened the LILLY Learning Center in 2024 as an alternative teaching method for students with learning disabilities

    • With a smaller atmosphere focused on helping students with learning disabilities, the center differs from your average school
    • Now, already two years in existence, Duno is noticing a positive trend among students and parents


    Lexa Duno opened the LILLY Learning Center as an alternative teaching method for students with learning disabilities. The learning center is helping shape the young minds of tomorrow.

    Hard at work inside a classroom are students, including mother and daughter duo Dacia and Julia Mitchell.

    “She’s an incredibly gifted child,” said Dacia of her daughter, Julia. “Both of our kids really are.”

    The center differs from your average school. It’s a smaller atmosphere focused on helping those students with learning disabilities.

    “As a mom of six, I find that there’s a learning environment for every child and every child is different,” said Dacia.

    Dacia said it was a struggle to find the right fit for her children — a struggle many parents go through.

    “We’ve done public school, private school, homeschool, we have two in boarding school — I mean, literally, you name it. If there’s a school out there, we’ve given it a go. I think that a lot of parents are finding the same frustrations that there is not necessarily one right way,” she said.

    Something that founder Duno realized while working as a literary specialist.

    “I work with a lot of kids who need reading interventions and, at that point in time, I was getting a lot of kids who were homeschooled in the area,” said Duno.

    That’s when she decided to open up LILLY, with the help of SMARTstart Pasco Incubators. It’s helping students who might need a little help on their path to education.

    “A diagnosed learning disability or maybe because they, for some reason, aren’t fitting socially or emotionally in the traditional school system and their families are looking for a really small, safe environment beyond the school system for them to grow and thrive and to be able to learn amongst their peers in a social learning environment,” said Duno.

    Now, already two years in existence, Duno is noticing a positive trend.

    “We have parents who think (their) child is probably not going to interact or participate,” she said. “And then, in a short amount of time, they come and they’re able to just thrive, which is amazing.”

    It’s changing the lives of Dacia and her daughter, and helping these students reach their full potential

    “It’s just a great place for you to learn who your child is and for them to learn who they are, about themselves and really grow into that,” Dacia said.

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    Calvin Lewis

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  • Two Hernando schools closed Monday due to rolling power outages

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    HERNANDO COUNTY — Hernando High School and Brooksville Elementary School will be closed Monday, Feb. 2 due to rolling power outages scheduled by Duke Energy, according to the Hernando School District.

    The district says YMCA programs are also cancelled.

    All other campuses will remain open.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Students studying about the next mission to the moon, history of flight

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    BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — All eyes are on the upcoming Artemis II mission to the moon because America hasn’t been to the moon in more than 50 years, and some Brevard County students are following along and learning about the history of flight.

    What You Need To Know

    • Some Viera Middle School students are learning about the history and future of flight

    • They are part of a program created through a partnership between FlightWorks Alabama and Airbus U.S. Space and Defense 

    • Some students are building model airplanes, and others are building their own space capsules

    • Teachers are helping the students understand the importance of developing a talent pipeline for future engineers and aviators

    The students learned Friday that NASA delayed a key test, the wet dress rehearsal, because of expected cold temperatures. The wet dress rehearsal, a simulated launch day for the team and the fueling of the rocket to check for issues before the real liftoff, is now scheduled for Monday, Feb. 2, with a potential launch on Sunday, Feb. 8.

    In one classroom at Viera Middle School, students are studying the dawn of aviation.

    It all began when the Wright brothers took flight in Kitty Hawk, N.C. in December 1903. Their Wright Flyer was the first to achieve sustained, powered and controlled flight.

    Those students are building their own model planes.

    Seventh-grader Olivia Toler and her peers are cutting, sticking and gluing their models as part of the We Build it Better program, which was created through a partnership involving Airbus U.S. Space and Defense.

    It has reached 600,000 students in classrooms across the United States, United Kingdom and France and was created to help students like Toler understand the importance of developing a talent pipeline for future engineers and aviators.

    “Something like in the field of aerospace and launching rockets,” Toler said about a potential career.

    Down the hall in Lynn Dotson’s class, her students are focused on the future of flight.

    Every Friday in her classroom, it’s Artemis “Fri-yay,” where students learn something new about the moon mission.

    This time, it’s all about the Orion capsule, which will take the four-person crew to the moon.

    Liam Stevens and his friends built their own capsules out of plastic and Styrofoam cups.

    They put chocolate on the inside and are applying gradual heat to test the strength of the mock heat shield.

    “Testing it, seeing what’s wrong and trying to fix it,” Stevens explained.

    Dotson took time away from teaching in schools to be an educator at NASA. Now she’s back in the classroom mentoring future engineers — maybe even preparing them for spaceflight.

    “What if they become astronauts?” Dotson said, smiling.

    She said she is excited her students are immersing themselves in studying Artemis.

    “How cool would that be? I could be the one that inspired them — and the other teachers here. That’s our job,” Dotson said. “We are inspiring the next generation.” 

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    Greg Pallone

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  • Plant City private school looks to expand as interest increases

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    PLANT CITY, Fla. — Choosing the best education for a child comes with a lot of decisions, whether it involves selecting a public school, homeschooling or a private school. In Florida, that decision is leaning more toward a private education for many parents.

    What You Need To Know

    • School officials say the number of parents interested in a private education has increased
    • They are looking to expand and build a new building to accommodate the growth


    From home life to education, Elizabeth Phillips, the PTO president at Faith Christian Academy private school in Plant City, loves being involved with her children and helps with events like the maji market.

    “Every time they look around, they can see my face and I’m always there for them, that’s the main reason why I do it,“ she said.

    Phillips says her children were enrolled in a public school until about two years ago when she decided to make the switch to a private education.

    “My older two were struggling, the classes were a lot bigger, and they couldn’t get that one-on-one attention, and they were, in my opinion, just kind of falling through the cracks,“ she said.

    She says smaller student-teacher ratio has helped her children succeed.

    This comes as private school enrollment in Florida continues to grow. The latest report available from the Department of Education shows enrollment from the 2022 to 2023 school year increased by more than 28,000 students from the previous school year.

    Enrollment specialist Nylah Williams says it’s a trend they’re experiencing firsthand. “Our elementary is growing very fast, we currently have 191 students here at Faith Christian Academy, and we are still growing for next year.”

    The growth is so much that they’ve had to divide classrooms to accommodate more students.

    Assistant principal Benimowei Jombai says they’re planning an expansion to meet the growing demand.

    “As they say if you build, they will come and we built this; they’re coming so we need to build more so that more can come so that we can serve more people here in Plant City and the surrounding area,“ he said.

    Head of school Nicole Williams says the expansion will also include additional amenities that will help preserve its faith-based education and sense of security. “A new athletics center, a welcome center, we want to make our center even more safe with gates and security.”

    Phillips hopes the expansion will mean more opportunities for her children. “Once we get into more classrooms, they can have more socialization with more students.”

    Faith Christian Academy is looking to start off the expansion by adding a modular building on its property, and school officials hope to host a groundbreaking for the new building in April, with a completion date in 2027.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • WS/FCS updates security measures after fatal stabbing at high school

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    WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — North Forsyth High School students returned to in-person classes Friday as the community is still grappling with the deadly stabbing.

    What You Need To Know

    • All middle and high schools in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth system will be required to perform at least one kind of metal detection screening per day

    • The school district uses a smart entry that requires the entire student body to go through a single entrance and randomized checks outside of a set of classrooms

    • District leaders say they are working to get more metal detectors, but the devices are just one part of ensuring school safety

    Winston-Salem/Forsyth Schools Superintendent Don Phipps said the students aren’t going back to the same school security policy that was in place before the killing.

    “What I’ve asked is that they are the devices that we have that are used every day,“ he said in an interview with Spectrum News 1 on Friday.

    The new policy requires that middle and high schools perform either a safe entry check or a randomized check every day.

    Right now, all the high schools have a pair of detectors, while middle schools rotate.

    Phipps said to provide OpenGate detectors to every middle school, they would need about $2 million.

    District leaders said they have been trying to get more OpenGate sensors for more than 2 years, but now they could come sooner rather than later.

    “I’ve also had a couple of folks in the community that have stepped up. They want to have a conversation, and I’m hoping that we’ll be able to find the opportunity to fund that,” Phipps said.

    Despite a budget deficit triggering a reduction in force, school leaders said the number of staff responsible for security hasn’t changed.

    But Phipps, who was a school psychologist in Cumberland County where he also led trauma outreach, said that metal detectors are just one piece to keeping students safe.

    “We have to know what their normal is and where they don’t seem to be normal. We have to know what resources exist within our community and encourage them to seek help in the community,” he said. “But I think it really is about caring for one another and making sure that they’re the best person they can be.”

    He said he is ready for the role and hopes his experience will make a difference for Forsyth County students.

    “My desire to be here is to help be a part of the solution,” he said. “For me, it’s about staff morale and the well-being of the folks that make up the school system. They’re operating under a really heavy cloud of just negative, and this is not any different.”

    “We’ve talked about changing the narrative and the things that I see when I go out and do school visits,” Phipps said. “I want the public to know about that.” 

    The surviving student involved in the fatal stabbing Tuesday will not face charges, the Forsyth County district attorney said Thursday.

    Crisis response teams will also be available for affected students as long as needed.

    Additionally, Phipps says that the district is taking a look at phone policies to see if any revisions are necessary.

    He said that they are working with many partners that have reached out in the aftermath to offer anti-violence programs for students.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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    Sasha Strong

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  • Lakeland students create a banned book club

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — There are more than 700 books that are banned in public schools in Florida. It might not sound like a lot, but for two students in Polk County, the list has sparked a desire to learn why.

    So much so that they created a “banned book club.”

    What You Need To Know

    • Two Polk County students created a banned book club | View their page on Instagram

    • The book club dives into why the books are banned and brings people together to share their perspectives on the books

    • The first book they are starting with is “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”


    With every turn of a page, Matthew is diving into the pages of a book. “I really wanted to choose this book because I thought it was something everybody could relate to,” he said.

    He and Charlotte, who asked that their last names not be shared, are the founders of the club.

    They say it started with curiosity and a Facebook post to see if there was any interest. For Matthew, it’s about expanding his love for reading.

    “One of the points of starting this book club in general was to learn more about these books and the content of them and even their authors and stuff and how it impacts us,” he said.

    The first meeting was comprised of only four people.

    But Charlotte says it led to a good conversation about the state of banned books. “We talked about our opinions on banned books and kind of what we think what it means to have a book banned,” she said.

    The book they’re starting with is “The Perks of Being a Wallflower.” It’s one of the more than 700 books currently removed or discontinued by the Florida Department of Education. The latest list was released for the 2023 to 2024 school year.

    Charlotte says the club gives students like herself the freedom to learn about topics she might not otherwise learn.

    “Banned doesn’t mean we can’t access it, it just means we can’t read it in school, and it’s not free,” she said.

    Matthew is hoping this creates a space where the younger generation can feel motivated to learn more about and connect with the pages in each book.

    “I’ve gotten so many perspectives and the books that I have read so far are so important,” he said. “So when I heard there were books I couldn’t read, I was intrigued.”

    They’re cracking open the books their schools have closed to them so that they light a fire in others to read.

    You can view the club’s page on Instagram.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • Madeira Beach class of 2000 opens 25-year-old time capsule

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    MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. — For 25 years, the 5th grade class of Madeira Beach Fundamental from the year 2000 has waited patiently to open their time capsule.

    What You Need To Know

    • A 25-year-old time capsule was opened by the 5th grade class of Madeira Beach Fundamental from the year 2000

    • The capsule contained items like old pictures, notes and PokĂŠmon cards

    • Former students and teachers reunited for the event, sharing memories and enjoying the occasion


    With the help of a buzzsaw, hammer and other tools, former students and teachers got a peek into what they stored.

    Former student Ryan Malize said he’s excited to see what’s inside.

    “I know they were like paint can size, and I know that we can fit as much as we could into half a paint can with a friend that you were partnered with, and I believe that I got some PokĂŠmon cards in there,” he said.

    Malize isn’t the only one ready to open the capsule.

    Former teacher Dave Rapp taught at the school for decades.

    He said he’s happy the time capsule brought everyone together, but what’s truly special to him is seeing how all his former students are living their lives.

    “This was a special class,” he said. “You know, teachers really shouldn’t have favorite students or classes, but if I have a class that I can certainly remember, this would be one of them.”

    Opening the time capsule and handling the cans with care, some opened with a soft bang on the table, while brute force took care of the others.

    Slowly, the highlights of 2000 appeared.

    “A lot of plastic made it through, some paperwork, and photos,” Malize said. “The smartest people used Ziploc, so they were ahead of the game here.”

    From old pictures, notes, toy cars and even PokĂŠmon cards, many things from the 5th grade class of 2000 stood the test of time.

    As the memories from that year rush back, Malize said he’s happy they have a reason to come together.

    “It’s a riot of a good time and seeing people after so much time, everyone should meet up every couple decades at least,” he said.

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    Matt Lackritz

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  • Pinellas school officials host meeting about declining enrollment

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    LARGO, Fla. — Pinellas County community members got to hear from the school district Monday night at Largo High School. 

    This is one of the meetings they’re hosting to address declining enrollment.

    What You Need To Know

    • Pinellas County saw enrollment decline by 3,651 students from last school year to the current school year

    • Attendees got the chance to leave feedback for the school district

    • The next meeting is on Dec. 2 in Dunedin


    From shrinking enrollment to possible uses for empty school buildings, Jennifer Dull, the Chief Operations Officer for Pinellas County Schools, gave a presentation to address parents’ questions and provide them with an opportunity to weigh in.

    “We’re trying to be really thoughtful about what is happening in our community and also taking into consideration and being thoughtful about what our community is really looking for as we go through a long-term planning process,” Dull said.

    According to the school district, enrollment has gone from nearly 78,000 last school year to just over 74,000 this school year. The official decrease is 3,651.

    Dull said with enrollment not expected to increase in future years, that’s why they’re hosting these meetings.

    No questions were taken during the meeting, but the district wants to make sure they hear people’s concerns.

    Boards were set up in the back, and attendees wrote dozens of posted notes, leaving suggestions for what they want to see.

    “That feedback is important to our board and to our superintendent that our school community really comes forward and kind of helps us determine as we make recommendations for what Pinellas County Schools looks like in the future,” Dull said.

    This is not the last of these meetings the school district is hosting.

    While the presentation won’t change, there are still three meetings to give community members across Pinellas County a chance to listen.

    The next one is in Dunedin on Dec. 2.

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    Matt Lackritz

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  • N.C. college helping students affected by shutdown

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    DAVIDSON COUNTY, N.C. — Data shows food insecurity continues to affect college students across the country, an issue heightened by the federal government shutdown.

    A Government Accountability Office report estimates over 3 million students were eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, long before this recent shutdown. But many students reported not receiving those benefits. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Food insecurity continues to affect college students nationwide

    • The issue has been heightened by the recent government shutdown 

    • Many college students rely on SNAP benefits, which have been only partly funded as of Nov. 1

    • One North Carolina college shares how they’re ensuring student needs are taken care of during the shutdown


    The Hope Center Student Basic Needs Survey released in 2025, fielded between spring 2023 and summer 2024, found 59% of students nationwide experience at least one form of basic-needs insecurity, connected to food or housing.

    Identifying which students are impacted by the reduction in SNAP funding can be difficult task for some higher education institutions.

    A North Carolina community college has taken steps to raise awareness about services and resources, so students can focus on academics and not their next meal.

    Davidson-Davie Community College’s vice president of student affairs Keisha Jones is supporting staff and faculty with helping nearly 4,700 students flourish along their academic journey.

    Jones notified employees on Oct. 30 about the potential SNAP funding stoppage and possible effects it could have on students.

    Jones said the message was meant to raise awareness about resources in place to support students, like the food pantry, so their academic pursuits would continue uninterrupted.

     “Something like SNAP benefits being taken away from certain people, it could impact the way they show up in the classroom,” Jones said. “Helping faculty and staff really think about signs I should be looking for that [a] student may be in distress, what are resources I can notify my entire class about [and] not singling anyone out. We provide a lot of resources to our students that they are aware or not aware of.”

    “Ways the faculty and staff could potentially donate through the foundation if they wanted to add to what we already have. We also connect students to community resources [like] additional food pantries to get support from,” Jones said.  

    That guidance has helped instructors better respond to students’ needs.

    Assistant professor of mathematics Kevin Eagan said the college’s leadership has encouraged flexibility and awareness as students navigate uncertainty of the shutdown.

    “It helped me feel supported to support them,” Eagan said. “Sometimes, you feel like you don’t really know what to say to a student, but not the case here.”

    Eagan said that simply offering understanding during a tough time can make a difference for a student.

    “I’ve noticed a couple of things and try to be really flexible as an instructor and understanding,” Eagan said. “Our students, they’re so hard-working, I know sometimes just to give them a little bit of flexibility is all they’re going to need and give them support so they can succeed.”

    For weeks, student volunteers at Davidson-Davie have been stocking shelves at the Storm Food Pantry as more learners turn to it for help during the shutdown.

    “We are stocked up for any student to come and utilize if they are in need,” said Katrina Prickett, a student and pantry volunteer. “We service students daily. Me going through this myself, I can relate to the disadvantages people may be going through right now.”

    The food pantry served nearly 500 students in 2024, double the previous year’s total.

    Staff said they’re on pace for another record season, as more students turn to the pantry for help.

    “We have seen a tremendous increase in student use of the food pantry since the government shutdown and lack of SNAP benefits,” said Lynne Watts, director of student life and leadership at Davidson-Davie. “I understand there may be some partial benefits coming this month, however, some food is not nearly enough food, especially when college students are left to decide between finding their next meal and studying for an exam.”

    “Food should not be a luxury and today, sadly, many college students are in a position where that’s exactly what their reality is,” Watts said.

    Prickett said for her, the college has become a trusted, reliable resource for students trying to overcome so much. 

    “Once I notified staff here at the school that I had [something] going on, they sprung into action to connect me to those resources,” Prickett said. “Coming from someone that has little to no support already, I fit right in here. They have felt like my family.”

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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    Jennifer Roberts

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  • Head Start programs face financial challenges as government shutdown continues

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    WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Helping low-income children and families access education is an investment that pays off for the entire country, says Khari Garvin, president and CEO of Family Services of Forsyth County.

    “The way that I like to think about it is Head Start is one of several programs that’s part of our nation’s prescription to end poverty,” Garvin said. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Head Start programs in North Carolina receive $290 million in federal funding

    • The program supports 19,500 students and more than 5,600 jobs in the state 

    • Head Start is responsible for 20% or more of licensed child care facilities in 22 rural counties statewide


    Head Start and Early Head Start programs provide free learning and development services to children in low-income families. The ages of participants range from birth to 5 years old.

    Most programs receive funding from the federal government, and some have not received those payments because of the ongoing government shutdown.

    Family Services of Forsyth County is the grantee for 10 sites in Winston-Salem and the surrounding area. The nonprofit secured enough grants to keep its Head Start programs funded through May. 

    “The theory is that if you assist a child and family with accessing those important resources to development, health care, education, nutrition, parent engagement and parent development, if you help these families access to services that they would otherwise not have ready access to given their situation, then you’re giving them a head start, as it were, to development,” Garvin said.

    Other programs across the state, such as the East Coast Migrant Head Start Project and the Salisbury-Rowan Community Action Agency, are on hold or suspending operations because they don’t have the funding.

    Gov. Josh Stein, Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt and Superintendent of Public Instruction Maurice “Mo” Green sent a letter to Congress in April about potential cuts to funding for Head Start programs. According to the letter, Head Start programs statewide receive $290 million from the federal government. It says Head Start supports 19,500 students and more than 5,600 jobs in North Carolina. State leaders believe if federal funds end for these curriculums, roughly 500 child care programs could close.

    “These are not children who, No. 1, they’re not being babysat,” Garvin said. “Secondly, they’re not just sitting around watching cartoons all day and eating snacks. These are early education programs designed to help support children’s educational trajectory to enter kindergarten and go beyond literacy, numeracy and social emotional development.”

    North Carolina is considered to be a child care desert. On average, five families compete to fill one spot at licensed child care facilities. Statewide, Head Start is responsible for 20% or more of licensed child care facilities in 22 rural counties.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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    Zach Tucker

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  • Special needs rights group seeks uniform PIP in Hillsborough schools

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Project ABA Rights is asking Hillsborough County School Board members to write an official PIP, or Private Instructional Personnel, policy.

    They say this will ensure consistency across all Hillsborough County Schools when it comes to students receiving personal therapy while at school, like Applied Behavior Analysis therapy for students diagnosed with autism.

    What You Need To Know

    • Project ABA Rights is advocating for a uniform Private Instructional Personnel policy in Hillsborough County

    • They say this will ensure consistency across all Hillsborough County Schools when it comes to students receiving personal therapy while at school, like ABA Therapy

    • Hillsborough County Schools says its current policy is in line with state statute and that they have worked with ABA Rights to make access easier


    “For us, ABA therapy has been absolutely life changing for my son,” said Tamara Perez, founder of Project ABA Rights. 

    Perez’s son Grayson is now 11 years old, in fifth grade, and thriving. She first started Project ABA Rights after seeing how difficult it was advocating for her own son to get the help he needed in school.

    “Hillsborough County is the third largest district in the state of Florida, they have over 230 school sites and that is a lot to manage, so I think with a policy in place we can get more consistency across all school sites,” she said.

    Perez says right now, depending on the school, the process to get private providers in classrooms can be very difficult for families, and can take a long time to be approved. Perez says a district wide policy would solve that. 

    “We’re going to band together again and go speak out at the school board meeting tomorrow and ask the school board to write an official school board policy for private providers in Hillsborough County,” she said.

    Colleen Lama owns Lama Pediatric Therapy. Many of her ABA therapists work with their clients in Hillsborough County Schools, including Amy Purcell. 

    “Some of the schools have been super accommodating to us, without any issues, and some of them have been accommodating at first, and then they want us out as soon as possible, it depends on the school,” said Purcell.

    They both say a countywide policy would help.

    “I think it’s really important for them to all be held to the same standard and accountability so that no matter where you’re zoned to go to school you’re able to access that care,” said Lama.

    Which is also Perez’s goal—to help make sure all students receive the support they need to succeed, just like Grayson.

    “I attribute so much of his success, I don’t know where we would be, he would be a completely different child if we didn’t have his therapist with him at school. I just want parents to have the same opportunity,” she said.

    Project ABA Rights will speak during public comment at Tuesday’s school board meeting. 

    Hillsborough County Schools issued the following statement: “Our policy is in line with state statute. We have worked with the ABA Rights group to design a process to make access easier. We continue to work with our schools to have uniformity, and when there is an issue, we work to address it.”

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    Fallon Silcox

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  • High Point school closes after state revokes its charter

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    HIGH POINT, N.C. — What once was a place to learn is now quiet. The Triad International Studies Academy in High Point closed this week after losing its charter. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The North Carolina Charter School Review Board revoked the Triad International Studies Academy’s on Oct. 6 for failure to meet minimum enrollment standards

    • State law requires charter schools to have a minimum of 80 students 

    • TISA, which had only 45 students, closed this week



    “I wish we were given the opportunity to save the school before it was too late,” said Breanne Kraft, whose daughter attended TISA.

    The North Carolina Charter School Review Board during its meeting Oct. 6 revoked the school’s charter after it failed to meet enrollment standards. State law requires charter schools to have at least 80 students. TISA had only 45. 

    Kraft’s daughter, who is autistic, was a kindergarten student at TISA. Kraft says her daughter enjoyed the immersive language program offered at the school.

    “My daughter speaks a little bit of Spanish at home, but being here in this environment helped her Spanish improve and get better,” Kraft said. “Her favorite subject was Chinese.”

    Kraft was surprised when she received the message about the school’s closure. 

    “They just suddenly said, hey, the charter review board voted to close our school,” Kraft said. “They said they’re going to give us until maybe Dec. 30, but it could be sooner than that. We may have to help you transfer your kids out of the school. It was very like, where did this come from?”

    The TISA board has since released a statement thanking students, families and the TISA team for their support. “Our team remains committed to serving and supporting our community in other capacities,” it says. 

    “I haven’t been given time to really do as much research as I did before school started,” Kraft said. “For me, I don’t know what I’m going to do. I don’t know. I’ve had other parents and people saying, ‘Oh, we’ll help you find another school,’ but for me, it’s like, I feel like I’m throwing my kid who developed bonds with their teachers and their fellow students into a school that I don’t know if it’s right for her.”

    In response to a question about whether TISA could reopen in the future, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction said: “The board for TISA could decide to reapply in future application cycles. There is no prohibition against that.” 

    “I wish that they would actually come by the school and see how great my kid and other kids are doing in the school, rather than most kids do in other schools,” Kraft said. “I wanted them to see for themselves that they’re making a mistake.”

    TISA is still planning on holding a free medical clinic Nov. 8.

    Data from the Department of Public Instruction shows there are 220 active charter schools in North Carolina, which supported almost 150,000 students during the 2024-25 school year. Fourteen charter applications were submitted this year for schools that would open in 2026 or 2027.

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    Zach Tucker

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  • N.C. campus creating spaces to promote student wellness

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    LOCUST, N.C. — October marks Mental Health Awareness Month for many wellness organizations, aligning with World Mental Health Day and National Depression Screening Day.

    At Stanly Community College, staff are using this time to spotlight resources and support services for the 10,000 students at its Albemarle campus, Crutchfield Education Center in Locust and other learning sites.

    What You Need To Know

    •  Organizations are spotlighting mental health wellness, coinciding with World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10

    •  A North Carolina community college hosted wellness activities as part of its commitment to mental health 

    •  Stanly Community College said these recent events are just one piece of its long-term efforts to promote student wellness 



    This week, the college hosted “Color Yourself Happy” and “Walk & Talk with a Counselor” events, inviting students to take a break and focus on the moment.

    “We try to do things like that throughout the year, we know college can be extremely stressful,” said Kara Finch, dean of Health Sciences and Public Services. “We want to make sure we’re paying attention to mental health needs of college students.”

    Finch said over the years, the community college has taken huge strides with supporting mental health needs, taking a more holistic approach all year-round.

    This includes resources embedded across the school’s campuses to meet wellness needs.

    “We have a food pantry, counseling services here on our campuses to provide support,” Finch said. “We also have a focus on mental health first aid and QPR (question, persuade, refer) suicide prevention for our faculty and staff. We have a lot of staff and faculty trained in mental health first aid, about 85% of our faculty and staff are trained in suicide prevention.”

    Finch said the college is also integrating mental health awareness into student orientation, where staff discuss self-care and signs of depression and anxiety.

    “We want our students to be successful,” Finch said. “Part of that means there’s not just a focus on their education, there’s a focus on their mental health and physical needs, all of those things.”

    “We know students can’t learn on an empty stomach. Providing snacks for them when they’re on break, having the food pantry for those students who might need that support, we know it’s a stressful environment,” Finch said.

    Jonathan Ho is a student in the emergency medical science program at SCC. He said midterms and constant studying can be overwhelming.

    “Trying to remember everything you learn in class, there’s so much stress,” Ho said.

    For Ho, the “Color Yourself Happy” activities were an opportunity to draw while releasing stress. 

    “Take our mind off studying, trying to focus on mental health and doing something non-school-related while at school,” Ho said. “Makes you forget about everything else, you’re just focusing on the picture.”

    “[These events] make you feel like you’re not just a student, people actually care about you and want to see you succeed,” Ho said.

    The school said mental health extends to academics, particularly in the nursing program, where self-care is part of the curriculum.

    “We spend a lot of time in one of the first classes they take [focusing on] self-care, the importance of self-care while they’re in school and also while they’re in the field,” Finch said.

    Nursing student Maggie Thompson said the program’s new “fidget basket,” filled with stress-relief tools, helps her manage anxiety.

    “Even after tests, my nerves are always up. Having something in my hands [a fidget toy] can relieve my stress. I love it, it shows that I’m cared for and they’re constantly evolving to be there for students,” Thompson said.

    SCC adds a self-care statement in each course syllabus, a reminder that mental wellness is a priority.

     

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    Jennifer Roberts

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  • NCCU uses new immersive technology to teach next batch of N.C. nurses

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    DURHAM, N.C. — Artificial intelligence is making its way into one university’s curriculum to help teach the next batch of North Carolina nurses.

    What You Need To Know

    • North Carolina Central University’s nursing program is the first in North Carolina to adopt artificial intelligence technology in its training 

    • The immersive interactive room on the second floor of the nursing building allows students to engage in virtual medical training scenarios

    • Scenarios include therapeutic communication, mental health, post-operative complications and rural community health simulations 


    North Carolina Central University is the first in the state to have an immersive technology room on campus. It’s a new way for students to learn and grow in preparation for their career in medicine. 

    The room on the second floor of the nursing building lets students engage in virtual medical training scenarios. The scenarios include therapeutic communication, mental health, post-operative complications and rural community health simulations. The school has more than 2,000 scenarios.

    The room is built to help students with real-life situations that will prepare them for when they are working with a patient.

    “They’re actually put in situations and have to make critical decisions and assess their patients appropriately,” said Dr. Janice Collins-McNeil, associate professor in NCCU’s Department of Nursing. “So here we were able to create the cell, for instance, for the students to be able to walk through, we’ve been able to, develop cardiac exercises so that the students become totally familiar with the heart.”

    The Nursing Department is also using virtual reality systems with AI to help students feel more comfortable with real-life patient interactions.

    “So usually at the first interaction I clam up. But with the VR now, it has helped me open up and actually practice what I’m going to say before I say it,” Noa Ledger, a senior nursing student, said. “When you start the scenario, you now can check out your patient informations at the front desk. That’s like the first thing you see when you walk through the door. And then you can go to the patient rooms. You can see the patient rooms on the sides, you can go to the medication room and everything.”

    In addition, the immersive rooms offers 360-degree cameras, so they can create their own scenarios.

     

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    Zyneria Byrd

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  • Coach Ryan Day, wife Nina highlight mental health with students

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    HEBRON, Ohio — Ohio State football coach Ryan Day and his wife, Nina, spoke to students at Arts Impact Middle School on Friday about mental health as part of the “Day Time Break” program with Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

    What You Need To Know

    • Ryan and Nina Day shared the “Day Time Break” program at Arts Impact Middle School in partnership with Nationwide Children’s Hospital

    • The program aims to teach students facts about mental health and practical ways to care for themselves
    • The Days and hospital leaders emphasized the importance of early conversations to reduce stigma and prevent crises

    The couple joined hospital leaders at the assembly to share personal experiences and encourage students to recognize mental health challenges early, stressing that no one has to struggle in silence.

    Ryan Day said young people today face many challenges and he wants to ensure they have the resources to manage them. His wife, Nina, echoed that message, stressing the importance of letting students know they are not alone.

    “It’s so important to remind these kids that, you know, they’re not alone, that a lot of people are feeling what they’re feeling,” Nina Day said. “I remember being their age and feeling anxiety and not knowing what it was and having no one to really talk about it.”

    Nina Day also told students she lived with anxiety for two decades without speaking up. 

    “I suffered for 20 years in silence. And this is to show you that you don’t have to suffer alone,” she said.

    Nationwide Children’s Hospital Executive Clinical Director Ariana Hoet said parents should pay attention if a child seems persistently sad, anxious or irritable for weeks at a time, noting those changes in behavior may signal a deeper problem. She urged families to start conversations early rather than waiting until a crisis develops.

    Eighth grader Julius Scott said the assembly felt personal, sharing that he had lost someone close to suicide.

    “Mental health is actually very important to me because a few years back, one of my close friends, a family friend of my brother’s, yeah, killed himself because he was going through mental stuff,” Scott said.

    Coach Day left the group with a message of hope.

    “Every problem that you guys have, there is a solution,” he told students. “I don’t want anyone to ever think there’s such a big problem that we can’t solve it. But in order to do that, you have to communicate.”

    The Days said sleep, diet and building strong relationships are other ways youth can improve their mental health.

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    Saima Khan

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  • N.C. school preparing students for construction careers

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    FLAT ROCK, N.C. — Blue Ridge Community College is trying to fill gaps in the workforce while helping speed up recovery from Helene. 

    What You Need To Know

    •  An North Carolina community college is helping prepare students for construction careers

    •  The program also aims to help rebuild communities impacted by Helene

    •  A western North Carolina student says the program has empowered his career 


    The school’s Level Up: Core Construction accelerated workforce program offers free training for students, preparing them for entry-level construction jobs. 

    In partnership with the National Center for Construction Education and Research and Lowe’s, Blue Ridge Community College launched the course to help workers in western North Carolina get jobs and help with rebuilding communities damaged by Helene. 

    The training is providing workers hands-on experience in skills, including forklift operation safety.

    Graduate Agustin Ramirez-Cruz secured an apprenticeship after completing the Level Up program. 

    He said the training prepared him to step in when families needed help after the storm.

    “Working with a lot of air conditioning units, damages after Helene, a lot of flooded units, loose connections, damaged fence, and this class really prepared me for most of it,” Ramirez-Cruz said. 

    “[A customer] was upset because during Helene [her unit] wasn’t working. Now that we got it back up and running, she’s very happy and that felt good. They really appreciate when somebody comes out and fixes something they can’t do themselves,” Ramirez-Cruz said. 

    Ramirez-Cruz has returned to Level Up to mentor new students. 

    “I feel great giving back,” Ramirez-Cruz said. “You’re gaining a lot. For anyone that wants to take this course – it’s really a step forward.” 

    Instructors say the program, made possible through a grant from NCCER, is also addressing the region’s shortage of skilled trades workers.

    Jason Baxley is the skilled trades and advanced manufacturing instructor at Blue Ridge. 

    He said the program is helping neighbors pursue construction careers while helping to rebuild their communities. 

    “We wanted to make sure there was no burden on the student for tuition,” Baxley said. “Made sure this is a free class for anyone who wanted to take it to get back on their feet.” 

    “We are already lacking in the skilled trades environment as it is in terms of employment. Being able to offer a program that’s free to the students really invigorated that spirit in a lot of people to give back and want to help their community,” Baxley said.

    Level Up graduates earn the NCCER Core Credential and a professional toolkit valued at over $500. 

    Blue Ridge has added more sessions of the Level Up courses, beginning Sept. 17 and Sept. 23. Blue Ridge leaders said students leave the program prepared for immediate employment or further training through Apprenticeship Blue Ridge. 

     

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    Jennifer Roberts

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  • Grants help UNCA students stay in school after Helene

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    ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Nearly a year after Helene disrupted life across western North Carolina, UNC Asheville students are still rebuilding with help of resilience grant funds.

    What You Need To Know

    •  The University of North Carolina Asheville has distributed $3.9 million in grants to help students affected by Helene

    •  Those grants are supporting students with tuition and emergency needs

    •  One student says those dollars went far for those rebounding from last year’s storm 


    The university has distributed $3.9 million in aid to cover tuition and emergency needs.

    The grants were made possible through support from the North Carolina General Assembly and are designed to help students from storm-affected areas stay enrolled.

    Melanie R. Fox is associate vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of students. 

    The UNCA alumnus spoke with several students who credited the grants for making their education possible.

    “I talked to a number of students who would not be able to be in school without the benefit of receiving those grants,” Fox said.

    Lainie Sopa is a music technology graduate and now works as UNCA admission counselor and campus tour leader.

    From storm debris to full parking lots, Sopa recalls the days when the student parking lot hosted a water filtration site run by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

    “It’s kind of crazy now that it’s a full parking lot,” Sopa said.

    “We were without students for so long,” Fox said. “It is amazing to see student vehicles back.”

    Obi Osaro is an atmospheric science major at UNCA. He also serves as student body president.

    Osaro said grant assistance helped him cover the cost of textbooks and replace food he lost during the storm.

    “Last year was a pretty tough semester,” Osaro said. “I was able to fund food I lost from Helene.”

    The resilience grants are part of a broader wave of support from the university to keep students on their educational pathways.

     

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    Jennifer Roberts

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  • Warren Wilson farm experiencing comeback after Helene

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    SWANNANOA, N.C. — Nearly a year after Helene swept across western North Carolina, Warren Wilson College has made progress in recovery on its student-run farm and garden that were devastated by floodwaters.

    What You Need To Know

    •  It’s been nearly a year since Helene damaged a student-run farm at a western North Carolina school

    •  The college has since made progress with restoring the river and farm areas since the storm hit 

    •  Staff said their method for cleanup and restoration may serve as a model for other communities rebuilding from a storm 


    The mixed-crop and livestock operation farm sits in the floodplain of the Swannanoa River, which runs 2.5 miles through campus.

    When Helene hit, the farm bore the brunt of the flooding, leaving fields and crops damaged.

    Although there’s some infrastructure left to fix, many of the farm operations strained by the storm are back in motion.

    “It’s really exciting to see the transformation,” said student Wren Tisnado-Blake.

    Tisnado-Blake is a senior, serving as cattle crew boss on the farm where she’s gaining hands-on experience for farming careers.

    She been participating in cleanup efforts on the farm.

    Many of the crew duties included hauling debris and helping replant fields.

    “We all had to band together to get through this horrible event that happened to us,” Tisnado-Blake said. “We’ve had to work really hard to get it back to even ground floor where it was. Being able to rethink things, it’s like a fresh start for us.”

    The campus garden that helped feed community members facing food insecurity was also damaged by Helene.

    “Now they are finally able to grow vegetables, and I know all of them are so excited about it,” Tisnado-Blake said.

    Students are celebrating the growth of a summer corn crop, ahead of the harvest season.

    “There’s no way I could have seen this happening,” Tisnado-Blake said.

    The college is involved in not only restoration work, but ways to build resilience against future storms.

    Dave Ellum is the dean and director of The Center for Working Lands at Warren Wilson College.

    On Thursday evening, Ellum led an on-campus discussion, updating the community on cleanup and restoration work.

    “The students, staff, faculty have all really come together,” Ellum said. “[Since Helene hit] we’ve completed our Army Corps of Engineering work. I think Warren Wilson is going to serve as a model for how to do this type of river cleanup properly and correctly, thinking about the ecological resilience of the system.”

    “There’s been a lot of I would say not best practices used around the county. We were able to facilitate the management of our river cleanup in a way that protected the ecological resilience of the land,” Ellum said.

    Ellum is stressing the importance of focusing on lessons learned from Helene and strategies to strengthen ecological resilience ahead of future weather events.

    “Does it mean going back to how things were before, does it mean we need to get together and bring lots of stakeholders to think about how we rebuild those ecosystems for better resiliency down the line,” Ellum said.

    “I think we need to move away from ‘if this happens again’ and with climate think — this is probably going to happen again,” Ellum said.

    On Oct. 4, Warren Wilson College is hosting a Fall Fest and Working Lands Showcase. It will include discussions about ecological resilience and tours of the river.

    The free event will include music and activities for children.

     

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    Jennifer Roberts

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  • Florida phases out certificates for students with disabilities

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    WIMAUMA, Fla. — The Florida Department of Education recently voted to eliminate certificates of completion for students with disabilities. The certificates were an alternative to diplomas for those students who could not meet graduation requirements.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Florida Department of Education voted to eliminate certificates of completion for students with disabilities

    • These certificates were previously alternatives for students unable to meet graduation requirements

    • Educators are concerned about the impact on employment opportunities

    • Education leaders are now tasked with creating new guidance about adult education and post-secondary options for students with disabilities


    The vote was to move forward with the implementation of House Bill 1105, which instructs education leaders to create new guidance about adult education and post-secondary options for those students by the next calendar year.

    Luz Gaona, the speech-language pathologist at Southshore Bilingual Therapy, says this change is a setback for the children they serve.

    “If any of them were to seek some type of employment, this is going to be hindering that opportunity for them,” she said.

    Employees at the center help students with disabilities learn skills they can use both at school and beyond.

    “All different kids, all different goals and all different things that they’re working on,” Selena Cadwallader, a certified occupational therapy assistant, said. “There’s something beautiful about kids learning to do things on their own and being able to be a part of this society that they maybe could not have been prior.”

    Many families look forward to their children earning a certificate of completion. They will now have to work around the change to eliminate them as education leaders work to establish a new program.

    The center says they’re now focused on how they can support parents who may be unaware of the changes.

    “(We are) educating our parents on the importance of attending (Individualized Education Program) meetings and asking questions,” Gaona said.

    In the meantime, Gaona and her team will continue to advocate for education opportunities for all.

    The high school graduation requirements for students with disabilities will also be revised to update definitions and permissible course substitutions.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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