FL DCF Under-Performing in Foster Kids' Help

The Florida Department of Children and Families has been given 90 days to figure out how to improve care for foster kids after a study by a federal agency found it "underperforming in critical areas."

The Tampa Bay Times reported that a study "compiled by the Children's Bureau", titled "Children and Family Service Review", found in more than half of the 80 foster care cases handled by DCF from April 1 to September 30, children were removed "from homes without first providing appropriate services and were lax in following safety plans."

The Children's Bureau, which rated DCF's performance as "needing improvement in 11 of 14 categories," is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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Florida Polytechnic Has First Grad Class

Florida Polytechnic University held its first commencement Tuesday afternoon for fifteen students. The school, which has yet to achieve accreditation, splintered off from the University of South Florida in 2012.

The school is "Florida's first university dedicated to science, technology, engineering and math," according to the Tampa Bay Times.

The students were offered free tuition, while others saw a "chance to shape a new school."

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools was expected to decide on Florida Polytech's accreditation last year, but couldn't get all the information it needed. While a SACS campus visit is scheduled for February, "a final decision likely won't be made until December 2017." However, accreditation would cover Tuesday's group.

To view the article ("Florida Polytechnic celebrates an early milestone as first grads turn their tassels") in its entirety, click here.