Schools of Hope. The Hillsborough school district could win substantial grants to improve its persistently struggling schools. Tampa Bay Times. School districts are lining up to sue the state over the new school turnaround law. Sunshine State News. The Orange County School Board is the latest to consider joining the suit. Orlando Sentinel.
Community schools. Polk County plans to offer wraparound services at one of its elementary schools. Lakeland Ledger.
Enrollment growth. Florida’s public schools are expected to add thousands of students in the coming year. News Service of Florida. Officials in fast-growing St. Johns County schools add portable classrooms to absorb students. St. Augustine Record.
Collective bargaining. Teacher labor talks are on the rocks in Brevard. Florida Today. The city of Pembroke Pines hits an impasse with its charter school teachers in talks over pay raises. Sun-Sentinel.
Turnarounds. A record number of Palm Beach schools land on the list of 300 low performers in reading. Palm Beach Post.
District budgets. Hernando gets a boost from rising property values. Tampa Bay Times. Duval prepares a spending plan that would reduce tax rates. Florida Times-Union.
Administration. Marion County shakes up a struggling elementary school’s leadership. Ocala Star-Banner. Polk appoints 15 new administrators. Lakeland Ledger.
Grade tampering. A former high school principal is accused of altering students’ grades to make them eligible for sports. Orlando Sentinel.
Legislative issues. State Sen. Travis Hutson, R-St. Augustine, wades into testing unfairness and funding formulas. St. Austine Record.
Teacher certification. Florida raises the bar on certification exams. WBBH. Pasco schools create a new class of “professional substitutes.” Gradebook.
Environmental awareness. A Miami-Dade high school grad promotes plant conservation. Miami Herald.
Sales tax holiday. Computers are back in the mix this back-to-school season. Tampa Bay Times.
