School grades. This year’s elementary and middle grades, the last to be based on FCAT scores, brought more A’s, more F’s, and an even more pronounced trend among charter schools. Tampa Tribune. Miami Herald. Tampa Bay Times. Sun-Sentinel. Palm Beach Post. Florida Times-Union. Orlando Sentinel. Florida Today. Bradenton Herald. redefinED. More than 300 schools – three times more than last year – will be required to provide an extra hour of reading instruction. Tampa Bay Times. Sentinel School Zone. Fort Myers News-Press.
Charter schools. WJXT profiles an administrator focused on turning around struggling charter schools in Jacksonville. The Palm Beach school district says it will give charters one more year of transportation services. Palm Beach Post. A new Alachua school will have a year-round schedule. Gainesville Sun.
Special needs. A district review finds problems with Broward’s special education programs. Sun-Sentinel. A charter school for children with autism continues its switch to a private school. Tampa Tribune.
Campaigns. Gov. Rick Scott and Charlie Crist keep assailing each other’s education records, but “neither candidate has released anything approaching a detailed education plan.” Orlando Sentinel. The Northwest Florida Daily News reports on the expense of running for Okaloosa County School Board, and the Tampa Bay Times does the same in Hillsborough.
Digital learning. Pinellas schools prepare major technology upgrades. Tampa Tribune.
Administration. Marion County schools invite a review of district policies by the Department of Education’s school improvement office. Ocala Star-Banner. The Walton school district brings in financial help from the Florida Association of District School Superintendents. Northwest Florida Daily News.
Facilities. With no money in the budget to pay for a paint job, parent volunteers pitch in. Gainesville Sun. Basketball coaches at a Winter Haven middle school seek funding for a gym. Winter Haven News Chief.
Health. Pasco superintendent Kurt Browning wants a district-wide tobacco ban. Tampa Bay Times.
At-risk students. Hillsborough revamps its dropout prevent teams. Tampa Tribune.
