Test scores: The Florida Standards Assessments (FSA), six end-of-course exams and a statewide science test scores are released by the Department of Education. Scores were up slightly in the math portion of the FSA, while English scores remained steady. Orlando Sentinel. Tampa Bay Times. Sun-Sentinel. Palm Beach Post. Palm Beach Post. Florida Times-Union. Pensacola News-Journal. Fort Myers News-Press. Lakeland Ledger. TCPalm. TCPalm. TCPalm. Bradenton Herald. Naples Daily News. Tallahassee Democrat. Gainesville Sun. Panama City News Herald. St. Augustine Record. Daily Commercial. Sunshine State News. Highlands Today. Three of the five lowest-performing elementary schools in St. Petersburg show significant improvement in test scores. The other two reported mixed results. Tampa Bay Times.

Gates report: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's effort to reform education has had mixed results, according to a report by the Rand Corp. and the American Institutes for Research. More high-performing teachers are working in low-income schools, but even there they tend to teach wealthier white students. Teachers are getting more training, but they're unhappy with their job evaluation process. And while math and reading scores improved for grades 3 and 8, reading scores dipped for poor and minority high school students, and the dropout rate rose. The Hillsborough County School District took part in the Gates initiative. Tampa Bay Times.

Charter issue in court: The 4th District Court of Appeal is being asked to decide what makes a charter school innovative and who should pass judgment on charter school applications. In 2014, the Palm Beach County School Board has turned down a charter application, saying the school didn't offer anything more than the district already had. The Florida Board of Education ruled that the district had no reason to reject the application. Palm Beach board members say they alone have the right to oversee charters. Sun-Sentinel.

Paying for grades: A biology teacher at West Boca High boosted the grades of students who donated money for him to buy things for his classroom. The donating students received a "free pass" that allowed them to turn in assignments late and improve test scores or their overall class grade. Palm Beach Post. (more…)