Some schools still closed: Communities along Florida's east coast are recovering from the damage caused by Hurricane Matthew last week, and schools in several districts remain closed today. Florida Times-Union. WJCT. WJXT. WJAX. Florida Today. Palm Beach Post. WFTV. St. Augustine Record. Daytona Beach News-Journal. Fernandina Beach News-Leader. TCPalm. Palm Coast Observer. WWSB. The National Guard is helping get schools ready for the return of students. Associated Press. Palm Beach County School Superintendent Robert Avossa says the district will come up with a new half-day plan for possible use in future emergencies. Avossa drew some criticism last week when he declined to cancel the scheduled half-day Wednesday as Matthew was approaching the coast. Avossa said the logistics of arranging for buses would have been impossible. Palm Beach Post. Miami-Dade students are helping with hurricane relief efforts for Haiti. WSVN.

Makeup days: Some students may not have to make up the days lost when Hurricane Matthew struck last week. The state requires schools to have 180 days of classes, but that can be cut to as few as 170 if school districts have enough extra time built into their days. Sun-Sentinel. In several central Florida counties, makeup days are already scheduled. Orlando Sentinel.

Rookie teachers: Hillsborough County school officials are struggling to correct the longstanding problem of low-income schools having the least experienced teachers. An analysis shows that the district's seven designated "Elevate" schools have low-income rates of 88 percent or higher, and 11 percent to 47 percent of the teachers are starting their first year. At several other schools with low-income rates ranging from 11 percent to 24 percent, first-year teachers make up 5 percent or less of all teachers. Tampa Bay Times. The Pinellas teachers union and the school district collaborate to provide mentoring to first-year teachers. Tampa Bay Times. Twelve percent of all public school teachers are in their first or second year, according to an analysis of U.S. Department of Education data. Education Week. (more…)

Reading bill: State lawmakers say a prolonged focus on reading has not worked, and they want to sharpen the approach. A bill has been filed that would require more intense training for teachers, earlier intervention for struggling students and regular updates for parents. Tampa Bay Times.

Vouchers for disabled: A bill in the Florida Legislature would widen eligibility for Personal Learning Scholarship Accounts for special needs students. Step Up For Students, which hosts this blog, helps administer the accounts. The bill, a priority of Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, also would provide extra money for school districts that require uniforms.  WFSU. AP.

Charter schools: A charter high school is approved by the Alachua County School Board. Resilient Charter School will serve students who don't "fit" in public schools. Gainesville Sun. WCJB. A charter high school is being considered for the Sunny Isles Beach-Aventura area of Miami-Dade County. Sunny Isles Beach. A group of Boynton Beach neighborhood associations cite traffic concerns for fighting a proposed charter school. Palm Beach Post.

Sales tax hike: The St. Johns County School Board begins discussion on how to use the money it will get from a voter-approved half-cent hike in the sales tax. New construction is the priority. St. Augustine Record. (more…)