"Federal Investigation Expands to Include Arkansas's LEARNS Program and Education Secretary"

Federal authorities are investigating the Florida Department of Education's handling of a contract to oversee the Jefferson County School District, focusing on allegations of steering the contract towards a former GOP state representative and colleague of former Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran. The investigation centers around a bid sought by Florida in 2021 to transition the school district back to a traditional local district after years of poor performance. The federal grand jury subpoenaed documents related to the bid process and requested communications between school officials, charter school lobbyists, and former top leaders in the DeSantis administration's education department. The investigation could shed light on a scandal that sparked outrage and a state investigation in 2022 but has not produced any public findings.