GOP adopts education platform that follows Florida’s lead

The big story: The national Republican platform this year is looking an awful lot like Florida’s playbook when it comes to education policy.

Ideas from the Sunshine State embedded in the GOP plan include prohibiting instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation, restricting lessons about race, and defunding diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

Despite the connections, some observers suggest the national effort didn’t follow Florida blindly. The party ”is listening to the voters, listening to parents,” Moms for Liberty co-founder Tiffany Justice said.

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Hot topics

Superintendents: A suburban Atlanta school district has named its sole finalist for superintendent. The candidate comes from Miami-Dade County, WAGA reports.

School closures: A Polk County charter school for ninth and tenth graders announced it will close for the new academic year, the Ledger reports. The school had operated since 2011.

Job openings: Hernando County school district officials said they are seeing a reduction in teacher resignations and retirements, paired with an increase in hiring, Suncoast News reports. • The Gadsden County school district is offering signing bonuses to teachers who come to work at several of its schools, WTXL reports.

Flag displays: Students at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg say the school’s removal of Pride and Black Lives Matter flags from the student center raises concerns about whether their viewpoints are considered and respected.

Campus leadership: Four Escambia County schools are getting new principals, the Pensacola News-Journal reports.

Civics: The University of Florida’s fledgling Hamilton Center for Classical and Civics Education is surrounded by questions and controversy as it makes strides toward becoming a college, Inside Higher Ed reports.

Back to school: Students at one Marion County elementary school returned to classes Monday as part of a year-round education pilot project, WCJB reports.

From the police blotter ... A Broward County middle school security guard was arrested on allegations of child abuse against a student, WSVN reports.

From the court docket ... A federal judge denied attempts by the Escambia County school district to shield school board members from testifying in a case challenging their right to remove books from schools, News Service of Florida reports.

Don’t miss a story. Here’s a link to yesterday’s roundup.

Before you go ... Norah Jones has one Florida date scheduled this year, Sept. 22 in St. Augustine. Let this Tiny Desk concert tide you over.