Department of Children and Families

Several agency heads under Gov. Ron DeSantis are departing ahead of the next gubernatorial transition, including Taylor Hatch from the Department of Children and Families and Ricky Dixon from the Department of Corrections. Julie Gallagher, a Tallahassee attorney, noted this is a common practice as officials seek new roles before a new administration takes office.

New Jersey lawmakers approved a plan to enhance school-based mental health services, including a $8 million pilot program called SPARK and $40 million for the NJ4S initiative. The legislation aims to connect schools with community behavioral health providers and eventually link them to a centralized psychiatrist team, with support from both chambers of the legislature.

Paul Burns was appointed interim education commissioner as Anastasios Kamoutsas departs for Polk State College. Taylor Hatch is leaving her role as Department of Children and Families Secretary, with no replacement details provided.

A Broward couple, Charles Bernard Adams and Alexandra Adams, were arrested on child neglect charges after their 2-year-old daughter tested positive for cocaine. Both parents also tested positive for multiple drugs, and their 4-year-old daughter was removed from their custody. They were ordered to undergo substance abuse evaluation and random drug testing with no contact allowed with their children.

The Connecticut Senate has advanced a bill that targets homeschooling families, requiring them to prove their innocence to the government before educating their children at home. The measure has passed with mostly party-line votes and now awaits gubernatorial action. If signed into law, it could be challenged in court for being unconstitutional.