Storm closes schools: More school districts around the state announce closings because of Hurricane Irma. Orlando Sentinel. Sun-Sentinel. Tampa Bay Times. Florida Times-Union. Florida Today. Lakeland Ledger. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Bradenton Herald. Charlotte Sun. Fort Myers News-Press. Gainesville Sun. Ocala Star-Banner. Daytona Beach News-Journal. Flagler Live. St. Augustine Record. Daily Commercial. WPBF. Bay News 9. WTSP. WESH. WOKV. News 13 Orlando. WUFT. WGCU. WKMG. Other districts say they will keep their regular school schedules, at least for now. Tallahassee Democrat. WFSU. Pensacola News Journal. Northwest Florida Daily News. Clay Today. Citrus County Chronicle.
School budgets: The Palm Beach County School Board approves a $2.9 billion budget, up from $2.6 billion last year. Most of the increase comes from a higher sales tax voters approved in November to upgrade or replace schools and technology, and buy new buses. Sun-Sentinel. The Gulf County School Board is expected to approve a budget today that boosts spending by 12.5 percent. Port St. Joe Star.
ACT scores: U.S. students show a slight improvement in ACT scores this year, up to an average of 21.0 compared with 20.8 last year. Minority students also post gains. The number of students taking the ACT declined by about 60,000, down to 2.03 million. That represents about 60 percent of the nation's graduating high school class. Education Week.
