School recognition money: Hundreds of Florida schools will split more than $123 million in state recognition money for student performance based on school grades. Schools that receive or maintain an A grade from the state are eligible, as well as those that improve a letter grade. Schools receive an extra $100 per student, which they can use for bonuses, supplies or temporary workers. Traditionally, most of the money goes to employee bonuses. If school employees and advisory councils can't agree on how to use the money by Feb. 1, the money is split among all the teachers at the school. Gradebook.

Testing for lead: Thirteen water sources at nine Polk County schools have higher levels of lead than the federal threshold for safe drinking water, according to school officials. Faucets and pipes with the contaminated water have been repaired, and will be retested before the schools are allowed to use them. Water in a dozen other schools tested under the EPA's 15 parts per billion standard for safe water. The district began the voluntary testing after neighboring Hillsborough County found lead in the drinking waters at schools last summer. Lakeland Ledger. (more…)