Education bill: The First Amendment Foundation joins those calling for Gov. Rick Scott to veto the education bill. President Barbara Petersen says the group objects to the process, which she called "secretive." And the Florida Association of School Administrators joins associations representing teachers, superintendents and school boards in urging Scott to veto the bill. Meanwhile, Scott is still offering no hints on what he might do with the budget or education bills once he gets them. Florida Politics. Politico Florida. Lakeland Ledger. Sunshine State News. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. News Service of Florida. The Legislature sends 26 bills to Gov. Scott, but not the overall budget or the education budget. Politico Florida.

Expansion delayed: A Martin County School District plan to add eight administrative positions, at a cost of almost $417,000 a year, is on hold until the school board understands how it will affect teacher salaries. The board did approve the rest of Superintendent Laurie Gaylord's proposed reorganization of staff. TCPalm.

Punished for success: The Citrus County School District and Boys & Girls Clubs of Citrus County discovers they're ineligible for a grant for after-school programs because the district's schools are too successful. Only schools that receive state grades of D or F are eligible for the U.S. Department of Education's 21st Century grant, which would have added tutoring, art and athletics to after-school programs at the schools. All Citrus schools received A or B grades from the state. Citrus County Chronicle.

Spelling bee begins: The 2017 Scripps National Spelling Bee begins today in Washington, D.C., with 291 students competing. Today. National Spelling Bee. Associated Press. 538.com. (more…)