Today's news

HELP IS ON THE WAY: Unable to pay off that federal student loan. A new law caps repayment, based on factors such as your income and family size. Some people might not have to pay at all.

THEY COULDN'T WALK: On Friday, we promised you the full story of Clearview Avenue Elementary's efforts to participate in Walk To School Day, even though few kids actually walk there because there's no real safe route. Well, here it is. (Times photo, James Borchuck)

PLEASE COME TALK: Pinellas School Board members find community input vital in determining where to go with their proposed student assignment changes. They plan a second round of information sessions this week. One of the less-noticed things about the concept: Rezoning would occur more often as neighborhoods change. Still, the Times editorializes that the new proposal is way better than the one it would replace.

THEIR STORIES GRAB YOU: Gladys Sanchez works tirelessly for Pasco County's growing number of migrant students. The state has named her the 2007 Migrant Advocate of the Year.

ZERO TO 6,000 IN $80,000: Wouldn't it be cool to pick all the books for a brand new school's first library collection? Pam Willoughby gets to do it for New River Elementary in Wesley Chapel, and she shares her views on how to choose.

A FAMILY AFFAIR: Some say teaching gets in your blood. So perhaps it's no surprise, as the Sun-Sentinel reports, that so many brothers and sisters, husbands and wives are in top positions throughout the Palm Beach school system.

SUPERINTENDENT SPEAKS: Duval chief exec Joseph Wise talks about his grueling and controversy-filled week, during which he bucked his board's wishes and teachers criticized their paperwork load, the Florida Times-Union reports.

NO JACKPOT FOR SCHOOLS: The promise that lotteries will help fund cash-strapped schools often falls short around the country, as most of the money goes into sustaining the games, the NY Times reports.

DOING SOMETHING RIGHT: It looks like Florida's A-Plus plan and Sunshine State standards are paying off, if a shrinking achievement gap and improving performance on NAEP offer any insight, the Tallahassee Democrat editorializes.

BLOW BEFORE YOU GO: An increasing number of Palm Beach schools are testing students with a Breathalyzer before letting them into their homecoming dances, the Palm Beach Post reports.

'ILLEGAL' SEVENTH GRADERS: Lake School Board members are peeved about a charter school's decision to add a grade without permission, and they're trying to decide how to deal with the school without hurting the kids, the Orlando Sentinel reports.