Just in time for tax season, Valencia College accounting students and professors will offer free tax preparation help to the public on selected Saturdays in February and March.
Valencia College offering annual tax prep help
Just in time for tax season, Valencia College accounting students and professors will offer free tax preparation help to the public on selected Saturdays in February and March.
Valencia College’s Osceola Campus in Kissimmee will provide income tax assistance on Feb. 14, Feb. 21 and March 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., but for the first time, interested residents must make an appointment in advance. The tax-prep sessions will be held in Building 3, room 100 at the Osceola Campus, which is located at 1800 Denn John Lane in Kissimmee. Bring all tax documents (W-2s, 1099s, year-end pay stub, total daycare and medical costs, copy of last year’s return if available, driver’s license, Social Security card, voided check or account and routing numbers as the IRS has eliminated paper refund checks). To schedule a tax-preparation appointment at the Osceola Campus, visit bit.ly/3ZblcXY.
Valencia receives $30K grant to launch students’ healthcare careers
Valencia College has received a three-year, $300,000 grant from Sunshine Health and the Centene Foundation to help low-income residents pursue healthcare careers as medical office specialists and clinical medical assistants.
The need-based grant will cover a portion of tuition and fees for students enrolled in Valencia’s Medical Office Specialist program, or the Clinical Medical Assistant plus EKG program. Offered through the college’s Accelerated Skills Training division, these threeweek programs allow students to earn multiple national certifications, preparing them for careers in the medical field. Graduates may also qualify for college credit toward an associate degree in medical administration.
“This investment is essential for helping individuals who are currently stuck in low-wage jobs,” said Carolyn McMorran, assistant vice president of Professional and Continuing Education. “Not only do these programs lift them up by providing stable careers with living wages, but they also improve the lives of their families and the community. We are grateful for the support from our partners at Sunshine Health and the Centene Foundation.”
“Sunshine Health is proud to partner with Valencia College,” said Charlene Zein, CEO of Sunshine Health. “By supporting these programs, we’re creating pathways to sustainable careers and strengthening Florida’s healthcare workforce. This effort is part of our Sunshine Health Works program, which provides training and career opportunities to our members and the community through partnerships with local colleges, healthcare providers, and community-based organizations.”
Clinical Medical Assistants check patients’ basic vital signs, administer vaccines, manage prescriptions, assist with a variety of medical procedures, and document patients’ medical information. EKG Technicians specialize in electrocardiogram testing, which evaluates heart performance using electrodes attached to the chest, arms, and legs.
The Medical Office Specialist program blends administrative medical assistant career training with certifications in electronic health records, insurance, billing, and coding. Healthcare-related occupations will account for most of the 20 fastest-growing occupations through 2029, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Florida driver license exams to be exclusively given in English
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) has announced that beginning Friday, Feb. 6, all driver license examinations will be administered exclusively in English. This change applies to all driver license classifications, including exams administered orally.
Previously, knowledge exams for most non-commercial driver license classifications were offered in multiple languages, while Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) and Commercial Driver License (CDL) knowledge exams were only available in English and Spanish. Under the updated policy, all driver license knowledge and skills testing will be conducted in English.
To implement this change, FLHSMV has updated its driver license testing system statewide. Language translation services will no longer be permitted for knowledge or skills examinations, and any printed exams in languages other than English will be removed for use.
Department of Education opens Black History Month contests
The Florida Department of Education and Volunteer Florida invited students to participate in the 2026 Black History Month student art and essay contests with the theme, “Celebrating Black History,” as Black History Month is recognized and celebrated during the month of February.
“Black History Month is a time to celebrate the profound contributions of African Americans to Florida’s rich history and culture,” said Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas. “I hope every student takes this opportunity to learn about the ways Florida has been shaped and strengthened by these contributions.”
All Florida students are invited to participate in contests based on this year’s theme. Students in grades K-3 are invited to participate in an art contest, while students in grades 4-12 are invited to participate in an essay contest. Additionally, students, parents, teachers and principals are invited to nominate full-time educators of all student grades for the Black History Month Excellence in Education Award.
The art contest is open to all Florida students in grades K-3. Each student should submit one original, two-dimensional artwork based on this year’s theme. Four statewide winners will be selected, and each winner will receive a $200 gift card for school supplies and a 1-year pass to Florida State Parks.
The essay contest is open to all Florida students in grades 4-12. Six winners will be selected: two elementary school students (grades 4-5), two middle school students (grades 6-8), and two high school students (grades 9-12). Each winner will receive a 2-year Florida College Plan scholarship provided by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation and a $200 gift card for school supplies.
All students, including public, charter, private, home or virtual learning students are eligible but must be able to provide a Social Security Number. Each student may enter only one essay, written in English, no longer than 500 words.
All entries must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, Feb. 9.
In addition, the Black History Month Excellence in Education Award Contest is open to all full-time educators in an elementary, middle, or high school in Florida. Four winners will be selected, and nominations may be submitted by a principal, teacher, parent/guardian, or student. Excellence in Education award winners will receive $2,500 from Volunteer Florida.
For information or contest details, visit www.floridablackhistory.com.
