Today's news

READY FOR THE WORKFORCE: Roger Laracuente has lots of goals, not the least of which is to no longer live on the streets of St. Petersburg. He's about to complete his GED, which he sees as a key to his future. (Times photo, Scott Keeler)

"DIPLOMA-GATE" IN COLUMBIA COUNTY: The case involved forged diplomas and alleged racial discrimination. It ended with employees getting terminated and reassigned. It was the No. 2 local story of the year (which we missed in October when it happened) for the Lake City Reporter.

JEWISH VALUES, ACADEMIC MEANING: A Jewish day school in Palm Beach County hopes to lure students with its curriculum that applies Bible stories to the real world, the Palm Beach Post reports (reprinted at miamiherald.com).

TEEN BIRTH RATE UP: The increase marked the end of a 14-year decline . Experts say education, reinforced at school and home, makes a difference. But sex ed remains controversial in many school districts, Florida Today reports.

FUTURE OF HIGHER ED: Funding is a big deal facing FSU, the Tallahassee Democrat reports. Meanwhile, FAMU looks ahead to better days, the Democrat also reports.

LIFE AFTER MOONING: A Naples High senior who was barred from graduation after a mooning prank still got into college, where he's doing well, the Naples Daily News reports.

HELP THE PARENTS, HELP THE KIDS: A Utah school district offers English classes to Spanish-speaking parents and sees academic problems among their children drop, the Salt Lake Tribune reports.