Today's news

YES, EVEN MORE GRADS: Hernando County begins its round, with Nature Coast High graduating its first group of four-year seniors.

FROM THE OP-ED PAGES: The Pasco County teacher accused of cheating on the FCAT made plenty of excuses, but offered no acceptable defense for helping students, the Times editorial board says. And, there's nothing wrong with teaching the Bible in public schools, so long as teachers don't try to indoctrinate students, the Washington Post editorializes in the wake of a Texas-based lawsuit on the issue.

FIELD TRIP FINANCE: Letting kids go on school trips can be good for their minds. But the costs aren't always pocketbook friendly. School districts do all they can to help students who can't afford them make up the difference, the Miami Herald reports.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME: The North Florida community of Yulee celebrates the return of its high school after more than 30 years sending its teens to Fernandina Beach for classes, the Florida Times-Union reports.

MORE FLORIDA SCHOOLS ON THE LIST: Only three other states had more schools listed on Newsweek's top high school list this year, demonstrating the increasing numbers of teens taking AP classes across Florida, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

FORGET FINALS: An increasing number of high schools are letting students submit projects in place of taking year-end exams, the LA Times reports. Some of it is a pushback against high-stakes testing, some of it is the recognition that a "snapshot" assessment doesn't really help the student or teacher.

ONE CHILD AT A TIME: A Colorado school district struggling against its changing demographics turns to targeted teaching in hopes of making progress, the Rocky Mountain News reports.

DRUG TESTING: Texas joins Florida in adopting a law that requires random steroid testing of high school student-athletes, the Dallas Morning News reports.