Teacher bonuses: Broward County's decision to offer bonuses for highly rated teachers to work in at-risk schools is paying off, school officials say. At 28 low-income county schools, only 2 percent of teaching positions were vacant at the start of the school year. Before the bonuses program started four years ago, 30 percent of the jobs in those at-risk schools were unfilled. And about half of those 28 schools have improved their grade from the state. Sun-Sentinel.

School construction: Problems were reported in the air-conditioning systems at all 82 schools in the Brevard County School District in August, school officials say. Even as temperatures are dropping, there are still hundreds of issues reported each month. The problems are being reported at newer schools as well as the older ones. Florida Today. The Polk County School District has almost $448 million of unfunded new construction projects over the next 10 years, and $74 million in unfunded repair and renovation projects. School officials are hoping voters approve an extension of the half-cent sales tax in 2018. The tax brings in about $40 million a year. Lakeland Ledger. A new high school in Bonita Springs is just one of several projects the Lee County School District has in the works. Fort Myers News-Press.

Testing survey says: Almost 90 percent of students who took the online Florida Standards Assessments tests this year say they had no technical problems. But they still aren't happy with testing, according to a Florida Education Department survey. Students complain they are tested too much, and many prefer the paper and pencil tests to the computer versions. They also suggested breaks during the testing, refreshments, more comfortable chairs and warmer testing rooms. Orlando Sentinel.

Software deal: The Brevard County School District is considering terminating an $8 million software contract with Harris School Solutions. The software was purchased three years ago to manage the district's finances, contracts, human resource information, payroll and more. School officials say the software is not fully usable. Florida Today. (more…)

Early degrees: About eight Florida Atlantic University High School students finish high school with a bachelor's degree each year. The Boca Raton school is believed to be the only one in the United States where students can earn a high school diploma and a bachelor's degree at the same time. Associated Press.

Tweet trouble: The Miami-Dade Schools Police Department wants to be more active on Twitter. So a half-dozen people in the department were given the account password and encouraged to tweet. Now the department is having to explain why it's published tweets from Donald Trump criticizing President Obama's Cuba policies, promoting National Drink Beer Day and wondering if marijuana oil is the female Viagra. Miami Herald.

Teacher job security: Thirty-eight school districts in Florida are finding ways to provide job security for teachers that disappeared when Gov. Rick Scott signed a law eliminating tenure in 2011. Pinellas County plans to join that group this week when teachers vote on a proposal to ensure contract renewal for teachers rated effective or highly effective. Tampa Bay Times.

Anti-charter: The NAACP board approves a resolution calling for a calling for a “moratorium on the proliferation of privately managed charter schools.” The civil rights organization has long been an opponent of charter schools, arguing that they represent a privatization of public education. redefinED.

Graduation rates: U.S. high school graduation rates hit a record 83.2 percent in the 2014-2015 school year, according to the White House. Associated Press. (more…)

No homework: Mandatory homework is out at Henry S. West Laboratory School, a public K-8 in Coral Gables. School officials say students will no longer be graded on homework or penalized if they don't finish the optional assignments. Principal Barbara Soto Pujadas says the school's families are overstressed and overscheduled. Miami Herald.

Neighborhood schools: The concept of neighborhood schools is shrinking, as school choice, magnet schools and charter schools give students and their parents more options than the school around the corner. More than 130,000 south Florida students are now in charter schools, which is double the number from a decade ago. And next year, parents can send their children to any public school in the state that has space available. Sun-Sentinel.

Recess for schools: Duval County parents start a petition drive to have 20 minutes of recess every day in every elementary school in the county. Superintendent Nikolai Vitti is resisting, saying he doesn't want to force the requirement on teachers even as he is encouraging them to accept research that says students do better academically if they get free time. Florida Times-Union. Associated Press. (more…)

Miramar High scandal: A 3,000-page report concludes that officials at Miramar High School allowed students to cheat, made questionable grade changes and showed favoritism to football players in 2014. Former principal Brian Faso and current assistant principal Cornelia Hoff deny any wrongdoing and say they will fight any disciplinary action. The football coach at the time, Matt Strout, was fired when the allegations surfaced two years ago. Sun-Sentinel.

Teacher evaluations: Florida officials said a new teacher evaluation system started in 2011 would be a "game-changer." Five years later, little has changed. Before the new rules were set, 99 percent of Florida's teachers were rated satisfactory. Under the new rules, 98 percentage of teachers are rated effective or better. Orlando Sentinel.

'High' high school: The Orange County School District is considering building a six-story high school in the southwest part of the county to meet the demand of growing school enrollment. One problem: The land the district is looking at is just 50 acres, which doesn't meet the county ordinance requirements of 65 acres for high schools in unincorporated areas. The school wouldn't open for at least six years. Orlando Sentinel.

After the storm: Schools in Leon and Wakulla counties will reopen Wednesday. Both counties are still trying to restore power and clean up schools after Hurricane Hermine hit the area late last week. Tallahassee Democrat. WFSU. Jefferson County schools also reopen Wednesday. WTXL. The Manatee County School District may consider using the first days of Thanksgiving week to make up two days lost to the storm last week. Bradenton Herald. (more…)

Retention lawsuit: A group of parents has filed suit against the Florida Department of Education and seven school districts over the retention of third-graders who score poorly on the Florida Standards Assessments reading tests or opt out of taking the test. Sarasota attorney Andrea Mogensen filed the suit in Leon County on behalf of 14 parents. She argues that more factors should be considered if a student doesn't do well on the test, and that students who are doing well should not need a test score at all. Tampa Bay Times. Orlando Sentinel. Tallahassee Democrat. News Service of Florida.

Zika and schools: When classes begin Aug. 22 in Miami-Dade County schools, Florida Department of Health officials will be stationed at each of the six schools closest to the area just north of downtown Miami where Zika cases have been reported. The officials will check for standing water, answer questions and supply insect repellent. Miami Herald. Leon County school officials are taking preventative measures to fight the Zika virus. WFSU.

Mass transfers: About one-third of the 900 students at Daytona Beach's Campbell Middle School decide to transfer. They were given that option through the Department of Education's Opportunity Scholarship Program, which allows students to transfer from underperforming schools. Campbell has received D grades from the state for the past four years. Daytona Beach News-Journal.

Day 1: Scenes from the first day at school for a majority of Florida districts. Pensacola News Journal. Beth Kassab, Orlando Sentinel. Florida Today. Fort Myers News-Press. Bradenton Herald. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Ocala Star Banner. Daytona Beach News-Journal. Northwest Florida Daily News. St. Augustine Record. Daily Commercial. Citrus County Chronicle. Highlands Today.

Planning time fight: Palm Beach County teachers are criticizing the school district after discovering they'll lose an hour of planning time each week for required staff meetings. Union officials say it's a violation of their contract. But district officials defend the meetings, saying collaboration among teachers boosts student achievement. Palm Beach Post. (more…)