School testing, grades: A Department of Education simulation projecting school grades indicates that despite fears more schools would fail because of the new Florida Standards Assessment tests, little would change in the distribution of grades. Education Commissioner Pam Stewart is lobbying for her version of passing score standards. Superintendents support Stewart's proposal, but still want to suspend school grades until two years of data are in, while some legislators and business leaders think Stewart's standards are too low. The State Board of Education will decide the issue Jan. 6. Tampa Bay Times. Orlando Sentinel. Lakeland Ledger. Tallahassee Democrat. Meanwhile, Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, says the Legislature will continue to work on bills that would allow schools to use tests other than the statewide standardized exams for such things as teacher evaluations and school grades. News Service of Florida, via Gainesville Sun. WFSU.

No Child bill: The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly approves the revised No Child Left Behind Act, and President Obama says he will sign the bill into law today. The changes allow states greater control over public schools, particularly in the ways student and teacher performance are assessed. New York Times. Associated Press. Florida Times-Union.

School superintendents: The DeSoto County School Board is asking Gov. Rick Scott to remove Superintendent Karyn Gary while the state attorney investigates charges that she hired two administrators and fired another without board approval and forged the board chairwoman's signature on a contract. WINK. A YouTube video of Sebastian River High principal Todd Racine breaking up a fight won't affect the district's support for him, an Indian River County schools spokesman says. TCPalm. (more…)