Financial emergency: The Jefferson County School District is in a financial emergency, the Florida Department of Education declares. The state requires districts to have a 3 percent reserve fund, and the district's is now under 2 percent. The state has asked for and received two financial improvement plans, but Education Commissioner Pam Stewart says neither is adequate. Tallahassee Democrat. Gradebook.

Lawsuit hearing: A Leon County judge schedules a hearing today to consider a request for an injunction against the state's retention policy for third-graders. A group of 14 parents is suing the state and several school districts over the policy, which calls for retention of third-graders who do poorly on the Florida Standards Assessments reading test or opt out of it. Gradebook. The Sarasota County School District relents and promotes one of the 14 students whose parents are suing the state. The 9-year-old boy had opted out of the FSAT and declined to take any approved alternative tests, and was detained. After the announcement, the Sarasota district was dropped from the suit. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Zika and schools: Gov. Rick Scott is launching a statewide Zika awareness campaign for schools and students. He told the 67 district superintendents that the state will produce posters and other educational materials for school display and to be sent to parents. The state also is producing classroom materials that can be worked into science courses. Tampa Bay Times. Palm Beach Post. Miami Herald. Highlands Today.

Top high schools: A Florida high school, Stanton College Preparatory School of Jacksonville, is ranked the sixth-best in the United States, and it and nine other state schools are listed among the top 500 in the country in a magazine's annual ratings. Last year, 23 Florida schools made the top 500. The ratings are compiled from graduation rates, college enrollment, standardized test scores and other factors. Newsweek. (more…)