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Today's newsletter is 1,072 words — a 4-minute read.

Erika Donalds knows there are few people who have as much expertise or experience as she does when it comes to education and related policy in Florida.

• A former school board member, Donalds has worked on state and federal policy, founded charter and private schools in Florida and helped further school choice laws across the country.

Why it matters: Her husband Byron Donalds' gubernatorial bid, if successful, could boost her already substantial influence when it comes to education in the state.

• Few spouses have entered the governor's mansion with a more defined track record of shaping policy.

The big picture: Florida's education system has undergone a multi-decade overhaul — starting with former Gov. Jeb Bush, who introduced school choice initiatives.

• In recent years, lawmakers have restricted what teachers can and can't talk about in the classroom, revamped curricula and given parents a more prominent role.
• But perhaps the most consequential change has been the state's universal voucher program — a policy Erika Donalds pushed for.
• Signed into law in 2023, it expanded school choice to all Florida students by eliminating financial eligibility restrictions.

State of play: When it comes to the future of the state's education landscape, Erika Donalds told Axios in a recent interview that she doesn't see the direction changing.

• "We're going [toward] more parental empowerment, more choice, more diverse options; that's going to continue to expand as we move forward," she said.

Yes, but: Academic content, like the science of reading and ensuring there's "accountability for how [teachers] are implementing [it] in our schools," hasn't gotten enough attention, she said.

• The concept says reading should be taught with an emphasis on phonics and word recognition instead of context clues or pictures.

Zoom in: Erika is a self-described AI enthusiast and says the Legislature needs to be cautious with "overstepping parental rights boundaries."

• Regulations should be implemented to ensure student safety, she said, but rulemaking shouldn't infringe on a parent's rights to make a decision about how their kids use AI "and/or, the right of private schools that parents choose to utilize tools in the way they see fit."

Meanwhile, during a roundtable event in Washington, D.C., she said teachers, including those with positive results, are the "biggest challenge" to adopting new technologies, per the Miami Herald.

Friction point: Her stance on school choice has long clashed with education advocates who argue policies she's backed (like universal choice) have harmed public schools by diverting money to private institutions.

What they're saying: "How much bigger can [her influence] get? She's responsible for the moving forward of not just the DeSantis education plan but the Trump education plan. She's a messenger for the privatization of schools," Sue Woltanski, Monroe County School Board member, told Axios.

• "But should she have to give up her work? I don't think she has to."

The bottom line: "I anticipate that I will continue to do a lot of the work that I've been doing for the past 10-15 years in education, and certainly [will be] involved in major policy discussions around education."

• "I would be doing that whether I'm first lady or not."

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Sweat Records, Miami's beloved record shop, turned 20 last year.

• Now, it's reaching another landmark: It's expanding its Little Haiti shop.

State of play: The Sweat Annex, located two doors down from the current location, is set to open next month.

• The new space will allow for expanded programming, including more workshops, crafts and community gatherings, like listening parties.

Between the lines: A special sneak preview event is on Thursday, Oct. 1 from 7-9pm, with sliding scale fundraising tickets available to support the launch.

What they're saying: "We've been needing more space for a really long time," owner Lolo Reskin told Axios.

• "We've been doing these listening parties [for some time] and the best part is seeing fans come together and connect and talk to each other."
• The opportunity for Sweat to "expand our capacity to let people gather" is really exciting, she said.

What's next: "Our ultimate goal is a bigger, permanent space with everything combined," Reskin told Axios.

• "But in the meantime, we're excited to keep [the annex] a blank canvas."

Tell a friend

🍦 The Original Rainbow Cone, a 100-year old ice cream parlor from Chicago, is set to open its first Miami shop next week in Palmetto Bay. (Miami New Times)

✔️ Miami planning staff are preparing a rezoning application for 26 properties in West Grove, a step forward in a long-stalled rezoning effort. (Coconut Grove Spotlight)

• The proposed changes would allow for greater density and mixed-use development.

🥇 Inter Miami's Nu Stadium will host the semi-finals, bronze medal match and final for the 2027 Women's Champions Cup in January. (The Athletic)

Girls flag football has become the fastest-growing high school sport, as tens of thousands take up a game that barely had a varsity footprint a few years ago.

Why it matters: Few girls high school sports have moved from niche to mainstream so quickly, broadening athletic opportunities in the process.

By the numbers: More than 102,000 girls played high school flag football in 2025-26, a 551% increase in the past four years, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations.

Catch up quick: In 2024, just 12 states sanctioned high school girls flag football.

• Today, 23 states plus Washington, D.C., sanction it as an official varsity sport, and 3,990 schools reported participants in 2025-26.

The intrigue: Florida was the first state to recognize girls flag football as a varsity sport in 2003, according to multiple outlets.

State of play: The NFL is backing its growth, too. It has invested millions to launch and expand high school programs, and featured the sport in its Super Bowl commercials.

Reality check: It's not yet clear whether flag football is mostly creating new high school athletes or pulling girls from established sports.

2028 Olympic debut

🤩 Sommer and Martin are excited for Sweat Record's expansion!

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This newsletter was edited by Jeff Weiner.