School tax revenue shortfall: Tax revenue for building and repair schools is forecast to be lower than expected, and legislators may consider issuing school construction bonds through the Public Education Capital Outlay fund. House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O'Lakes, said issuing bonds would be a last resort, but Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, called bonding appropriate. Naples Daily News.

Charter capital funds: The Florida Department of Education drops a regulation that would have denied charter schools construction and maintenance money from the state if they received consecutive D school grades. The rule was adopted in September, but was changed after it was challenged as discriminatory against charter schools in poor communities. Politico Florida.

Charters to return money: Officials from two Miami-Dade County charter schools that loaned $912,094 to sister schools outside the county say they will return the money. The state Department of Education said the loan violated state rules. District officials say even after the money is returned, they will consider terminating the schools' contracts. Miami Herald.

Testing problems: American high school students are falling further behind their peers from other countries in math. And the results in reading and science literacy testing are not much better, according to a study of students in 70 countries by the Program for International Student Assessment. Associated Press. Washington Post.

Equal access lawsuit: A federal appeals court rules that the Equal Access Act, which requires federally funded U.S. secondary schools to give equal treatment to all extracurricular clubs, applies to middle schools. The ruling overturns an earlier decision that supported the Lake County School Board's decision to stop Carver Middle School students from starting a gay-straight club. Daily Commercial. Orlando Sentinel. News Service of Florida. (more…)