Coding as a language: For the third straight year, a bill has been introduced in the Legislature that would allow computer coding to fulfill two credits of foreign language requirements in high schools. The bill, filed by Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, would not require high schools to offer computer coding classes, but would require universities to accept coding credits in lieu of foreign languages. It also allows Florida Virtual School to offer the coding courses. Gradebook. Florida Politics.

Charters' loans questioned: The Florida Department of Education says two Miami-Dade charter schools illegally loaned $912,094 in taxpayer funds to sister schools outside the county. Keys Gate Charter School in Homestead and BridgePrep Academy in Miami should be asked by the school board to repay the money, recommends a district auditor. A spokesman for Keys Gate disputes the loans were illegal. Florida Bulldog. Miami Herald.

Superintendent search: The Lake County School Board will interview seven candidates to replace retiring Superintendent Susan Moxley on Dec. 13, then make a decision Dec. 14. The finalists are: Bob Anderson, deputy superintendent at Fulton County Schools in Atlanta; Quintin Shepherd, superintendent of the Linn-Mar Community School District in Marion, Iowa; Jerry Wilson, superintendent of Worcester County Public Schools in Berlin, Md.; Mark Mullin, deputy superintendent at the Brevard County School District; Diane Kornegay, deputy superintendent at the Clay County School District; Brennan Asplen, deputy superintendent for the St. Johns County School District; and Verna Ruffin, superintendent for Jackson-Madison County Schools in Jackson, Tenn. Moxley retires in July. Daily Commercial. Orlando Sentinel. (more…)

Math, science testing: Florida eighth-graders have improved their performance in math and science testing since 2011, but still rank below students around the United States, according to a survey of 20,000 students worldwide by Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study. Fourth-graders in Florida performed about as well as their U.S. peers. Orlando Sentinel.

New rules for schools: The Obama administration releases final rules on how to measure schools. Standardized tests will continue to be used, but districts may also consider other factors, and compliance is pushed back a year, to the 2018-2019 school year. The practical effect of the change is unclear, with President-elect Donald Trump expected to make wholesale changes to the education system. Washington Post. Associated Press.

Voucher expansion: Rep. Michael Bileca, R-Miami, the new chairman of education policy for the Florida House, says he wants to expand the availability of vouchers for students with disabilities. Almost 6,000 students with various disabilities now use Gardiner Scholarships. Politico Florida.

Contract agreement: The Brevard County teachers union reaches a contract agreement with the school district that calls for an average raise of 1.8 percent. The deal allots a $581 raise for teachers rated highly effective, $475 for those rated effective and $185 for all others. Teachers will vote on the proposed agreement Dec. 9, and the school board will consider it on Dec. 13. Florida Today.

Teachers drop out: More than 10 percent of the teachers who were hired last summer to teach at struggling elementary schools in Pinellas County have already left their jobs. That's 16 of the 114 teachers hired for the so-called "transformation" schools. Gradebook. (more…)