Today's news

THEY'RE BACK: We told you Thursday about the latest effort to put the controversial class-size amendment back on the ballot. Well, the Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission took up that issue and, surprise, the perhaps more heated school voucher concept as well when its committees met Friday, the AP reports. If it likes the ideas, the commission could put them before voters without worrying about legislative politics.

HAZY FUTURE: The battle over who controls Florida's university tuition could drag down the popular Bright Futures scholarship program.

ASSISTANTS NO MORE: Pinellas promotes at least a dozen assistant principals to lead schools where the principals have retired.

THE SEARCH IS ON: Lake County has begun looking to hire its first appointed superintendent in 30 years, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

FAMU RESIGNATION: The dean of Florida A&M's College of Education, who started about a year ago, has quit. The provost has told him not to bother sticking around the month he offered to remain before departing, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.

CANDIDATES SHOULD CARE: When they debate, the presidential candidates should be talking about education, former LA superintendent and Colorado governor Roy Romer writes in the Tallahassee Democrat.  You can push the issue by submitting questions to the CNN/YouTube debate that happens Monday.

CHECK A BOX, HELP A SCHOOL: Businesses that collect sales tax for the state can donate their collection fee, generally $30 or less monthly, to support classroom technology costs, the Sun-Sentinel reports. If everyone did it, the program would have generated about $61-million last year.

PROBLEMS WITH PERFORMANCE PAY: The Orange County school district finds errors throughout its hastily organized Merit Award Program plan, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

Visit the Gradebook at noon for an interview about Florida's budget woes with state Rep. Joe Pickens, chairman of the House Schools and Education Council.