Today's news

NCLB REVISIONS: US Rep. George Miller, one of the act's key sponsors, talks about what the reauthorized No Child Left Behind bill might look like while visiting Tampa-area school leaders and teachers. The biggest change: A move to the "growth model" to determine whether kids really are learning. A survey says dislike of the law is growing, Education Week reports.

SLOW IT DOWN: Belcher Avenue outside Sutherland Elementary used to have flashing lights and a 15 mph school zone. Now all it's got is a traffic light. And the speed limit has been raised, too. Parents don't like the changes.

BLEAK BUDGET: Lawmakers learn the state's finances are even worse than first thought. Some senators are looking at tuition increases as one potential fix, the Tallahassee Democrat reports. Education spending cannot be spared the cutting, the Palm Beach Post reports.

TOO EXPENSIVE: A study says the costs may outweigh the benefits of putting defibrillators in every US school, as a national campaign seeks to do, the AP reports.

MERIT PAY: The idea can work, but only if teachers have a say in how the plans are written, Yahoo News opines. The editorial lauds Denver's  program, and suggests that unions are thwarting the effort in Florida.

GOD MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE: How teachers talk about the Almighty can make or break the Ben Gamla Hebrew-focused charter school in Broward County, the Sun-Sentinel reports. "The devil is in the details," the school board's attorney says, somewhat unfortunately.

BANKING AT SCHOOL: Spanish River High is poised to become the first South Florida school to house a full bank branch. Students will get special rates, and lessons on savings, the Palm Beach Post reports.

LET SOMEONE ELSE DO IT: After hearing dozens of hours of testimony in a teacher firing case, the Manatee School Board wants to outsource the proceedings, the Bradenton Herald reports.

ON THE JOB: Dennis Thompson, the new Collier superintendent, makes the rounds on his first day, announcing his plans for the district, the Naples Daily News reports.

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES: FSU opens a research office for undergrads, to give students more chances to explore, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.