Scott gets budget: The Legislature has sent the $82.4 billion state budget to Gov. Rick Scott, who has until June 15 to decide if he will sign it, or veto all of it or parts of it. Scott has been especially critical of the education spending and cuts to his economic development agency Enterprise Florida and the tourism marketing agency Visit Florida. Scott has vetoed $1.9 billion in spending in his six years as governor. Tampa Bay Times and Miami Herald. Sun Sentinel. News Service of Florida. Tallahassee Democrat. Sunshine State News.

District sued over textbooks: Three parents are suing the Collier County School Board over textbooks that they say have errors and omissions and were selected "behind closed doors to the exclusion of the public." The suit asks for an emergency injunction against the textbooks and in the district's selection process. Naples Daily News.

National Spelling Bee: Following the performances of the 15 Florida students competing in the 2017 Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. National Spelling Bee. Florida Times-Union. TCPalm. Miami Herald. Palm Beach Post. Naples Daily News. Tallahassee Democrat. Associated Press.

Zero tolerance: The Miami Beach Committee for Quality Education votes to lobby the Miami-Dade County School District to bring back a zero-tolerance drug policies for Miami Beach Senior High School and its feeder schools. The district phased out zero-tolerance policies years ago. Miami New Times. (more…)

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…)