USF receives anonymous $5-million gift

TAMPA - An anonymous donor has given the University of South Florida a $5-million gift to support academic and scholarship programs for underrepresented students. The $5-million is eligible for a dollar-for-dollar match from the state'€™s matching gift program, according to a news release from the school.

Of the $10-million, $8-million will go to need-based scholarship initiatives, with preference given to women and minorities as part of the USF Diversity Scholarship Initiative. The remaining $2-million will create the USF Academic Endowment Fund, which will be used as unrestricted academic support where it is most needed, according to the release.

The gift comes on the heels of an announcement by the Helios Education Foundation of a $2-million gift to USF to create the Helios Education Foundation Endowed Scholarship Fund. The Helios gift is also eligible for the dollar-for-dollar match from the state.

Better than a good grade

Once upon a time, students were simply expected to do well in school. Good grades and a brighter future were the reward.

The new vogue is that kids will respond better to monetary rewards. School is their job, so pay them when they perform well, right? At the end of last year's legislative session, at least one Florida senator predicted such a move was on its way to the state, soon. (See that prescient story here.)

Well, state Rep. Anitere Flores (left) has taken the first step to put the concept into Florida law. Flores, a Miami Republican who chairs the House K-12 Education Committee, filed a bill this morning that would offer bonuses to students who score well in IB, AP and other high-level exams. The breakdown would go like this:

• $50 for a 3 or better on an AP exam.
• $50 for an E or higher on the full credit Advanced International Certificate of Education exam. ($25 for the half-credit version.)
• $50 for a 4 or higher on the International Baccalaureate exam.
• $50 for an A or B in a dual-enrollment course.

Teachers could get in on the act, too. Educators who teach dual-enrollment classes would receive bonuses of $50 per student who makes an A or B in the class. If they work in a D- or F-rated school, the teachers would get $500 if at least one of their dual enrollment students earns an A or a B.

Flores aims to push students to higher achievement levels. And her bill also recognizes that not every student has the same opportunities. So she further would require all Florida high schools to offer a minimum of four Advanced Placement classes - one each in English, math, science and social studies - by the 2008-09 school year.

FAMU fiscal woes "being effectively addressed"

FAMU is removing the biggest stain on its reputation. The Board of Governors task force on FAMU all but finalized its report this morning, voting unanimously to accept its recommendations and conclusions and making it clear that FAMU has gotten control of its financial and operational problems.

The report reinforces glowing comments from state auditors and regional accreditors in December, and offers more hope that FAMU will shed its probationary status when the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools meets again in June. "The overwhelming majority of the deficiencies in FAMU's fiscal management, operations, governance internal controls and information technology are being effectively addressed," says a draft report, which will be tweaked over the weekend and distributed to key lawmakers Monday.

FAMU President James Ammons (shown above) offered brief comments at the end of the task force's conference call. "I think it's important that when the report is read, people understand the university is not where it was when the task force began," he said. To read more about the draft report, see yesterday's Gradebook post here.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

It could be even worse

Students and schools have a lot riding on the FCAT results. Some kids face retention, or remediation, depending how they do. Schools could end up being restructured, or having to offer families transfers out, if the scores aren't good enough.

It's a nail biter waiting for the numbers each year.

Expect this summer to be even more stressful.

The Department of Education has told superintendents that the results will come out even later than usual, with fourth through tenth grade scores expected no earlier than June 2, and school grades and AYP ratings coming no earlier than July 14.

Even those dates are ambitious, the DOE reports. If it weren't for the "extraordinary efforts" on the part of 13 school districts including Pasco and Pinellas, the scores could come out even later. Those districts have agreed to an aggressive test collection and pickup schedule in order to make the grading process move quicker.

What's going on? Florida is giving the test later this year (thanks for the delayed school start date, tourism industry), which puts the grading closer to that of other states. That makes it harder to get the work done quickly. The state also is taking steps to ensure it doesn't have a repeat of the scoring problems that plagued the 2006 third-grade reading test. (Add a week for that quality assurance effort.)

The upshot is that parents and educators will have even less time than usual to make key decisions about the coming school year. The test begins March 12. Good luck.

To read the DOE memo to superintendents, click here.

Today's news

SHE LOVES WORDS: Alice Chang, a Gulf High junior, will represent Florida in the National Vocabulary Championship. The Pasco teen says she's surprised to have made the finals, and "terrified" about competing with some of the country's top students.

HILLSBOROUGH'S TOP TEACHER: Debby Dowell, who teaches language arts at Bartels Middle, is Hillsborough's 2008 teacher of the year.

DROP-OUTS: Two popular Hillsborough principals must leave their jobs because of their participation in the state's retirement program.

CHARTERS GO A NEW WAY: Eleven Broward charter school operators turn to the Florida Schools of Excellence Commission for permission to open. Just two win state charters, the Sun-Sentinel reports.

SPEND MORE ON EDUCATION: The Miami-Dade teachers union joins with former Jeb Bush economic adviser Antonio Villamil to push lawmakers to put more money into the state's school system, the AP reports.

BRIGHT FUTURES OFF THE TABLE: The scholarship program might be running out of money. But the political will is not in Tallahassee to do anything about it, the Fort Myers News-Press reports.

A "TRULY SAD DAY IN FLORIDA": The state's university system is falling so far behind that Floridians are heading to Mississippi to get a good college education, FSU senior Sean Jacobus writes in the Tallahassee Democrat.

SAVE OUR SCHOOL: About 200 FAU students rally to protest cuts at the school, the Palm Beach Post reports.

THAT'S A DISQUALIFIER: A Lee County teacher is dropped from contention for teacher of the year as the state investigates accusations that she hit students while teaching in Charlotte County, the Fort Myers News-Press reports.

Teacher of the Year

The Hillsborough Teacher of the Year for 2008 is 50-year-old Debby Dowell, a sixth grade language arts, geography and eighth grade reading teacher at Bartels Middle School.

“She’s just one of those people who go above and beyond,” Bartels principal Maribeth Franklin said. “Debby volunteered to teach six classes and the normal work day for a teacher is five classes. She’s just really dedicated.”

At Bartels, she chaired the School Advisory Committee last year, serves as a team leader and helps to select novels for middle schools around Hillsborough. She’s a single mother with two daughters in college, and a teacher for 15 years.

“Going to work each day is not a job for me, it is my life,” she wrote in her application to be Teacher of the Year. “My students feed my soul, and I work hard each day to ensure that I give back to my students so they gain the confidence, curiosity, enthusiasm, and knowledge to succeed and become the very best individuals they can be.”

Learn more about Dowell and the other 11 finalists for Teacher of the Year: Download HEF_TOY08_Finalist_Bios.doc

(Photo: "I feel like a rock star," screams Dowell after being named the 2008-2009 Hillsborough County Teacher of the Year. Times staff photographer Melissa Lyttle)

BOG Task force: FAMU on right track

FAMU is well on its way to righting the financial and operational control problems that have plagued it in recent years, says a draft report from the Florida Board of Governors task force that was formed to watchdog FAMU finances.

"We believe adequate, reasonable and effective controls have been implemented by the University, which effectively address the vast majority of issues raised by previous operational and financial audits," says the report. "Based upon the comprehensive validation and verification process conducted on the University's Corrective Action Plan, we believe that FAMU has established the foundation to restore financial and operational integrity."

The report was the topic of a task force meeting Wednesday, and is now being revised and finalized so it can be submitted to state lawmakers next week. We'll post the final report when it comes out. In the meantime, click here to see the draft report and here for a related report on the corrective action plan, which FAMU President James Ammons submitted to the task force in July.

FAMU sent out a statement on the report a few minutes ago, leading with comments from task force member Ed Penson: "This work at FAMU is phenomenal in the amount of time and the amount of work," he said. "Last year when this started, it was close to a catastrophe; this has been a tremendous turn around."

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

Chancellor, BOG won't push Bright Futures reform

Why put much effort into pursuing what you're not likely to get? So seems to be the conclusion of the state university system chancellor and under-fire Board of Governors members, who just announced they will not pursue reforms this year to the popular Bright Futures Scholarship program.

“After consulting with members of the Legislature, Board of Governors chair Carolyn Roberts and I have determined that our efforts this year should focus on our top priorities – securing adequate support in an environment of budget cuts and stopping the brain drain from Florida’s universities,” Chancellor Mark Rosenberg said in a written release.

The Board had planned to discuss Rosenberg's proposed scholarship overhaul, with more of the nearly $400-million program going to need-based aid and to students in high-demand fields, at a meeting in late March. No longer.

“We will hold off on that conversation until we get a signal from legislative leadership that the scholarship program is coming under legislative review,” chair Carolyn Roberts said. “We want to contribute to the work of the Legislature, not hinder its efforts in this important session."

One effort coming this "important session": Senate President Ken Pruitt's attempt to strip the Board  of most powers, including the all-important authority to set tuition....

Pruitt's response to the Board's announcement?

“Florida’s parents and students have spoken, and I am grateful their voices were heard.”

The program covers tuition for more than 150,000 students this year.

'A state of denial'

Florida should expand accountability measures beyond the FCAT, fully fund the class-size amendment and bring its teacher salaries to at least the national average, House Democratic Leader Dan Gelber (left) says in a 13-page white paper released this afternoon. "Unfortunately," he writes, "Florida's accountability system has been successful in transforming public education, but not necessarily in improving it."

Gelber covers a litany of subjects in leading up to the legislative session that begins Tuesday – "The State of Florida is in a state of denial," he begins - but he devotes three pages to education. The Miami Beach Democrat points to atrocious grad rates, sinking SAT scores and what he describes as the predictable result of high-stakes FCAT testing: "Because teachers now have no choice but to teach to the test," he writes, "there have been some achievement spikes in tests that are indexed to minimum competence but on the whole, our schools continue to flounder."

Gelber doesn't mention Florida's showing on AP exams (click here) or any of the findings in the recent Education Week report (click here). Is any of that relevant? You decide.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

Senator proposes K-20 committee to coordinate education

Sen. Evelyn Lynn, R-Ormond Beach, is proposing legislation (SB2418) to require education leaders from K-12 through college to better coordinate their programs and budget practices, through a committee that would work to improve students' success in moving from grade school to a college diploma.

The Articulation Coordinating Committee would include members of the K-12, community college, state university, career and technical education, and "non-public" education systems. At least one student would sit on the committee.

Lynn chairs the Senate Higher Education appropriations committee.

Bill would help expand foreign language offerings

TALLAHASSEE - State lawmakers are considering a bill this legislative session that aims to open Florida’s public schools to new languages by making it easier for teachers to teach new and different languages not commonly found in classrooms now.

The bill would give Florida’s teachers an easier way to get certified to teach 11 additional languages, including Italian, Chinese, Arabic and even Haitian Creole.

Right now, the Florida Department of Education only offers state certification tests for Spanish, French, German and Latin, which means those are standard in most school districts. While other foreign languages, like Chinese, are taught in some schools, they’re not common, because those teachers must have a bachelor’s degree in any language that the state doesn’t offer a certification test for.

The proposal would allow teachers to get certified in a language by passing a foreign language test issued by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. Teachers would have to pay for the test out of their own pocket, which runs $134 for the oral exam and $65 for the written test, according to the council.

Already 15 other states, most recently Texas, use the council’s tests to certify foreign language teachers in their school system.

Jennifer Liberto, Times staff writer

Science teachers have all the fun

   

With a smile that big, how could we resist? Pictured above is Steve Crandall, an eighth-grade science teacher at Inverness Middle School and president of the Florida Association of Science Teachers. He was floating inside a refitted Boeing 727 at the Kennedy Space Center Sunday, one of 22 teachers selected to participate in an experience offered by the Stephen Hawking Microgravity Education and Research Center.

Crandall replicated experiments his students had developed in class to test hypotheses involving microgravity. Truth be told, we're not sure what microgravity is (though we can all learn by clicking here), but the experiments involved pendulums, a spinning toy and paper whirlybirds. Videotapes will be available in a few weeks so Crandall's students can see what happened and decide what experiments to do next.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter; Photo courtesy of Space Florida and the Zero Gravity Corp.

Just teach

There's a story in today's Boca Raton News about a $600 per hour consultant who's been hired to teach FCAT test taking strategies to about 500 kids at Manatee Elementary in Palm Beach County.

Some board members raised concerns, mostly about the cost, but they decided not to interfere with the FCAT - especially after the superintendent defended the expense, the paper reports.

Well, stories like this one (many of which have come out of Palm Beach County) have captured the attention of lawmakers in Tallahassee, who now are talking about doing something to stop it. Odds are good that a bill could emerge soon that would aim to bar the use of state funds for FCAT prep and perhaps even cut money to districts that suspend their curriculum in favor of test prep.

Here's what state Rep. John Legg, vice chairman of the House Education Committee and a deputy whip, told the Gradebook:

"One of the things you might see come forth eventually, and I don't know when or how, is this concept of teaching to the FCAT. Broward County has already suspended that concept. I think that's a very good approach. The Legislature does not want people teaching to the test. They want people teaching the curriculum, and the test measures it. All these months and months and months and months of prep work really, of FCAT prep, shouldn't exist. The only time a student should hear 'FCAT' is on test day. That's it. That's all it's designed for. Weeks ahead of time, it's not intended for that."

Committee chairwoman Anitere Flores hinted late last year that she would welcome such changes. The session starts next week, and FCAT comes a week later. Let's see where this goes.

(The image is from a Pinellas school teacher's web site accompanied by the phrase 'tame the FCAT.' Get it?)

Today's news

WANTED: MORE COUNSELORS: All but one of Florida's public universities have higher than desirable student-counselor ratios. The university system put together a mental health subcommittee after the Virginia Tech shooting a year ago.

FOOD FIGHT: Bay Point Middle in St. Petersburg erupted into a melee when the power went down on Tuesday. The fight highlighted what some parents said is a concern over discipline in the school.

TOP OF THE CLASS HERNANDO: Springstead High shines at Nature Coast Envirothon; Students harness power of the sun (Eastside Elementary); Shackles, artifacts part of 'history on wheels' (Challenger K-8); American icons come to life (Pine Grove Elementary)

HANDS OFF: Florida lawmakers are talking about reining in the Bright Futures scholarship program. But they're running into stiff resistance, the Sun-Sentinel reports. See sidebar box here.

BEING GREEN: The Palm Beach school district agrees to adopt environmentally friendly building standards for new construction. But some worry that the effort is too expensive at a time when money is tight, the Sun-Sentinel reports.

LATE RESULTS: The state has announced that FCAT scores will be delayed about a month this summer. That has parents and educators trying to figure out how to deal with the late results, the Florida Times Union reports. Summer school options, AYP school choice and other issues will be affected.

FLORIDA IN THE LEAD: The state has made great strides toward reforming K-12 education and offers examples for other states that are seeing their Hispanic populations grow, Goldwater Institute vice president Matthew Ladner writes in the Stuart News.

WHAT TO CUT: Athletics, guidance counselors and maybe even some teachers are on the chopping block in Broward if the budget turns out as bad as expected, the Miami Herald reports.

MORE MONEY NEEDED: An economist tells the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission that Florida needs to have more cash for education if the state wants to remain competitive, the Miami Herald reports.

NOT THERE: The University of Arkansas says Sen. Mike Haridopolous, who's been defending his controversial hire as a UF lecturer, hasn't been there since 2000, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE FOR EVERYONE: And one Delaware school district is having to revamp its policies as part of a settlement in a lawsuit where two Jewish families sued over the pervasiveness of Christianity in the schools, the NY Times reports.

Senate proposal would abolish state Board of Ed

Not only do Senate leaders propose stripping the Board of Governors of most of its powers overseeing state universities, but SB 2308 by Sen. Lisa Carlton would do away with the State Board of Education and have the Cabinet -- including an elected education commissioner -- effectively serve as the board.

Crist's Challenge

You'd think Gov. Charlie Crist would have his hands full with the state's budget woes -- not to mention all those pesky references to his veepstakes prospects.

But no, he's all about another challenge: Fitness.

Crist unveiled today the eight-week Governor's Fitness Challenge in a hopscotch tour of elementary schools statewide that included a morning stop at Bellamy Elementary in northwest Hillsborough County.

He's asking students to spend 90-minutes each week working to improve strength, endurance, flexibility, speed and agility. From the press release: "Each week a new activity theme will be unveiled on the Governor’s Fitness Challenge Web site, featuring podcasts from popular Olympians and professional athletes that encourage students to get more active."

Schools with at least 50 percent of students participating could win $5,000 to $10,000 to purchase sports equipment.

(Photo from Bellamy Elementary, Chris Zuppa, Times staff photographer)

Use it or lose it

Gov. Crist's proposal to make the unpopular MAP merit-pay plan more, uh, palatable to teachers will get serious consideration in the state House, Rep. Joe Pickens (left), chairman of the House Education Council, tells The Gradebook.

Last week, Crist unveiled a plan to re-distribute MAP money to participating districts, rather than have that money revert back to the state – an obvious attempt to get more teachers to "voluntarily" sign up (see Gradebook post here). Legislative leaders considered that idea last year, but ultimately decided against it, figuring more districts would take MAP for a spin, said Pickens, R-Palatka.

But they didn't. Only eight of Florida's 67 districts have approved MAP plans (see the list here), which means most of the $147.5 million allocated for the program will go unspent. And that has peeved many lawmakers, who thought they had brokered in good faith with teachers unions only to see them dismiss the performance pay plan out of hand.

"I think you see a little bit of frustration," explained Rep. John Legg (right), vice chairman of the House Education Committee, who also supports the reallocation idea. "When STAR was revised into MAP, there was kind of a verbal agreement that this was a good thing. ... I think they turned it into a political issue and said, 'We're not going to do it now.' They went back on their word."

Pickens said budget realities will temper what happens with MAP, but there is a desire to get more districts involved.

"Obviously, we're not going to spend $147 million that we really don't have over 10 districts," he said. "But I do think that in next year's budget we probably are going to fund the rewards at an amount that is greater than just those 10 districts' pro rate share."

- Ron Matus and Jeff Solochek

ACLU investigates Lee

A national probe of the way schools treat minorities and students with disabilities has made its way to Lee County.

The ACLU Racial Justice Project has raised concerns about the way schools use their alternative schools and has discovered some hot spots through its research. That's what brought its team to Lee, the Fort Myers News-Press reports.

Apparently, the group is conducting similar work in a handful of other Florida districts, too. But the paper didn't have any details. Do you?

USF revives Upward Bound with $3.5-million

Upward Bound is back at USF.

The university has received a $3.5 million grant to re-establish the federal program , which supports low income and first-generation college students through high school and college.

USF operated Upward Bound for four-plus decades but was among many institutions, including UF, that lost federal funding last year because of a change in the evaluation procedures. U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL) and other members of Congress helped restore the money, through the five-year grant.

USF Lakeland campus bill just filed

Lakeland Republican Rep. Seth McKeel has filed the bill (HB 1143) to create a separate campus, with separate accreditation, for USF in Lakeland.

Lakeland would have its own campus board that includes four Lakeland residents. But creating a USF Lakeland campus hinges on lawmakers approving USF's $15-million request to build it. Last year, the governor vetoed a $10-million construction proposal.

State universities fall short on mental health counselors

Ten of Florida's 11 public universities need more mental health counselors to serve their growing student bodies, according to a Board of Governors committee formed in the wake of last year's Virginia Tech massacre.

All but tiny New College in Sarasota have higher-than-recommended counselor to student ratios, the committee found. And some universities, including USF, would need more than a dozen additional counselors to reach the student service levels recommended by the International Association of Counseling Services.

The committee recommends several changes, including the colleges seeking more money for additional staff - be it state dollars, federal grants or other sources. One option could be a new student fee, or higher health fee, to cover the costs. State law caps the existing health fee.

One thing's for sure: Campus violence remains a concern, but extra state money will be hard to come by any time soon, given the revenue shortfalls.

The Civil what?

Fewer than half of the 1,200 17-year-olds surveyed by a group called Common Core in January knew when the United States fought its Civil War, and about a quarter could not identify Adolf Hitler. Their knowledge of literature looked even worse, with 4 in 10 unable to pick the name of Ralph Ellison's historic novel The Invisible Man, and half not knowing the basics of the biblical story of Job, as the NY Times reports.

The survey's sponsors, who include education professor Diane Ravitch and teachers union vice president Antonia Cortese, suggest that the results point to the damage that high stakes testing is doing to education by focusing the curriculum too narrowly.

"The nation's education system has become obsessed with testing and basic skills because of the requirements of federal law, and that is not healthy," Ms. Cortese and Dr. Ravitch said to the Times.

We've heard such complaints before here in Florida. But recall the results as you think about this. Music educators said their lessons were getting left out of the FCAT equation, and their compromise was to request another test for music, which they got. Can't you just see more rather than less testing emerge from here? Social studies FCAT is already on the way.

Today's news

NO RESERVES HERE: Florida lawmakers say Gov. Crist's recommendation to use reserves to cover budget losses in education is unrealistic, as the reserves don't exist.

THIS CUT COULD HURT: Leaders of Florida's private colleges criticize the governor's proposal to end a $3,000 per student grant that helps students defray tuition costs at the private schools.

FREE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN: Hillsborough County's Imagination Library expands its services to provide a book a month for five years to every child born after Sept. 1, 2006, regardless of income. All you have to do is apply at a county public library branch. (Times photo, Carrie Pratt)

WORK IT OUT: Pasco's county government and school district need to cooperate better if they hope to make their school concurrency plan, which heads to the state soon, a successful one, the Times editorializes.

TOP OF THE CLASS PASCO: Safe behind the wheel (River Ridge High)

LOOPHOLE: A group of Broward parents who want out of a D-rated high school have found a way - the school is about to be classified as Title I, which will make AYP transfers possible, the Sun-Sentinel reports.

HUMILIATED: A Manatee teacher fired for insubordination sues the superintendent and school principal over her reputation, the Herald-Tribune reports.

BRING YOUR KIDS: To recruit and retain teachers, the Palm Beach district will allow educators who live in neighboring counties to register their children in district schools, the Palm Beach Post reports.

WELCOME BACK: The 16 Indian teachers in St. Lucie County who faced deportation because of visa errors return to school today, the Stuart News reports.

SHUT 'EM DOWN: Volusia will close seven small, mostly rural schools to save money despite parent protests, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

NOT SO BAD: Brevard superintendent Richard DiPatri says his district's budget problems are only about half of what he originally expected, Florida Today reports.

BAD: The money news isn't so good for Collier schools, which are coping with some bad investments and smaller than expected enrollment, the Naples Daily News reports.

Education overhaul proposal filed

As expected, Sen. Lisa Carlton today filed the joint resolution for a proposed constitutional amendment to reinstating an elected education commissioner to the Florida Cabinet and to strip the Board of Governors of many powers.

The amendment would change the Constitution to say simply that the Board of Governors  "shall administer the state university system as provided by law." Currently, the Board is given power to "operate, regulate, control, and be fully responsible for the management of the whole university system," including defining the colleges' missions.

The amendment would change the Board from 14 members to 5, serving four years instead of seven. And they would no longer appoint members to individual university boards of trustees.

Raid the reserves

Gov. Charlie Crist today called upon legislators to use the state's rainy day funds rather than cut Florida's K-12 education budget again this fiscal year, our sister blog the Buzz reports. "I think it's unfortunate," Crist said of the legislative plan to reduce education spending by about $200-million. "This is just the beginning of the process, as we know."

The Legislature is scheduled to talk about the budget during the first days of its upcoming session, which begins next week.

Promoting the ABCs

No, that's not a plug for the alphabet.

State Sen. Lee Constantine, the Altamonte Springs Republican who once headed the Senate Education Committee, is pushing to see more school districts take advantage of his A Business-Community school program, which took effect with the class-size reduction implementation law.

The program allows Florida businesses to provide K-3 classroom space for the children of parents who work for the company, if the numbers warrant a teacher. The closest public school would monitor the program and hire the teacher.

Constantine likes the possible benefits - limited need for day care and eased burden on existing schools among them - and plans to encourage more companies and districts (which are required to have someone on staff available to coordinate the initiative) to take advantage.

"They really haven't pushed the opportunity, and I think it's such a shame," Constantine told the Gradebook.  "I'm trying to find people to take a risk on what I think is a sure thing."

If at first you don't succeed ...

The Florida House wanted to revamp the Sunshine State Standards last year in favor of what Speaker Marco Rubio (shown here on the right) called "world-class standards." Education Committee chairwoman Anitere Flores called the bill, which never made it to the governor's desk, "possibly one of the most important bills that we will pass."

Well, once bitten has certainly not made Rubio twice shy. He issued his legislative priorities memo today and right in there with insurance and tax reform is another stab at world-class education standards. It falls under "Building a Vibrant and Diverse Economy for the 21st Century."

"Building a strong economy starts with making sure that our children are prepared to compete for the high paying careers of the future," Rubio writes. "We have to make sure that our students finish school - both high school and college - with the knowledge and skills they need for tomorrow's economy."

This is, of course, the same Marco Rubio who has signaled a willingness to battle the "world class" evolution standard that the State Board of Education approved earlier this month.

The Schools and Learning Council is hard at work to rewrite the standards, Rubio notes. A year ago, the whole matter fell apart in the Senate. We'll see if they succeed this time out.

School Board double dippers

A growing number of elected officials are quietly taking advantage of a loophole carved into the state retirement law a few years ago that allows double dipping -- collecting a state pension while still getting a regular paycheck from taxpayers.

You'll recognize some of the names: School Board members Doretha Edgecomb and Jack Lamb (Hillsborough), Mary Brown (Pinellas), and Dianne Bonfield (Hernando).

See how much they are making in salary and monthly retirement benefits -- and check out the double dippers in other local governments, too. Times senior correspondent Lucy Morgan reported over the weekend that the cost of pensions for "retirees" who have returned to the payroll was around $300-million last year, according to the Florida Retirement System.

Award time

If you think you've been getting star quality reporting on Florida A&M University in the St. Petersburg Times and on this blog, you're not alone. The Education Writers Association has recognized our own Ron Matus with a special citation (that's like honorable mention) in series reporting among the nation's largest newspapers for his work titled "Saving FAMU." Click here for one of his entries.

Matus is in good company in getting an award in this highly competitive contest. First place went to the Wall Street Journal, and second place went to the Chicago Tribune. Matus won an award from the EWA last year, too, for his special report Ninth or Never. To see the full list of contest winners, click here.

Before you throw that away ...

Pasco County students are taking a more innovative approach to the use of recyclables - they're turning them into art. The winning works from the district's Art of Recycling contest, including the "most innovative in show" Tin Man shown above, are on display through March 20 in the lobby of Building 3 at the district headquarters on US 41 in Land O'Lakes. All pieces are made of at least 70 percent recycled parts. Stop by and see what some really creative kids can do.

Today's news

WHAT IF? The Hillsborough school district puts together a giant committee to look at its options in case the state doesn't change the class-size amendment.

GET SOME HELP: The Pinellas School Board orders its superintendent and top lawyer to go to a facilitator to work out their issues.

BETTER THAN THE CLASSROOM: A group of John Long Middle sixth graders head to the Crystal Springs Preserve to participate in a high-tech scavenger hunt that involves the Pasco school's entire feeder pattern. The kids say getting the hands-on lessons helps them much more than listening to a lecture. (Times photo, Mike Pease)

BUS BARN CONCERNS: The Pinellas board also has several questions about putting a new bus compound in Clearwater, where many residents oppose the idea.

ROAD SHOW: Hernando superintendent Wayne Alexander will conduct six community meetings to talk with the community about his plans and their thoughts.

PUBLIC MONEY, PRIVATE SCHOOLS: One measure to let voters decide whether vouchers should be part of Florida's constitution doesn't get past the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, but another that would change the way the state uses private money for education moves ahead, the AP reports.

MORE TBRC ACTION: A Taxation and Budget Reform Commission committee pushes ahead a referendum to scale back the class-size amendment, the Fort Myers News Press reports. The organization also unanimously moves a plan to close sales tax loopholes and have the revenue pay for education, the Tallahassee Democrat reports. More from the Herald-Tribune.

CAN'T TOUCH THIS: House Speaker Marco Rubio says the Bright Futures scholarship program will remain the same despite criticisms that its cost is outpacing its revenue, the Palm Beach Post reports.

HOW MUCH TO CUT? Florida school districts face a second round of cuts this year that would total about $4-million per district, and next year's budget doesn't look too good either, the Naples Daily News reports. The cuts could be even bigger for larger districts, Florida Today reports.

It's official: Robinson is IB school

Robinson High School is an official IB school, school officials announced Monday.

To achieve the distinction, the Hillsborough magnet program had to undergo an exacting review by the International Baccalaureate organization, which oversees a rigorous academic curriculum that has attracted more than 600,000 students in 126 countries.

The IB program at South Tampa's Robinson High started last school year. Hillsborough also has IB programs at King and Hillsborough high schools.

Dean: $300-mil for USF hospital, but no state money

USF medical school dean Stephen Klasko estimates it would cost $300-million to build the 200-bed teaching hospital he wants on the Tampa campus, but he vowed to the Times editorial board this afternoon that he will not seek state money for it.

Lawmakers would have to OK proposed legislation that exempts some state universities including USF from getting certificates of need to build such hospitals, a change the Florida Hospital Association opposes.

Klasko said he is "optimistic" about the proposal's chances of passing, and said if it happens USF would use donations and, most likely, a partnership with an existing university hospital to make the USF hospital a reality. He said the University of Pittsburgh is one possibility.

"They've talked to us about a partnership, and that's part of our desire to start a hospital," Klasko said.

Class-size changes move ahead

A committee of the Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission today narrowly approved a measure that would ask voters to amend the class-size amendment, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.

The proposal would stop the class-size limits at a school average - where they are currently - rather than moving them to classroom counts, as the amendment ultimately requires by 2010-11. A recent St. Petersburg Times poll indicates that Florida voters might not look too kindly on that change, which groups including the Florida Education Association have opposed.

The concept next moves to the full TBRC, where it must receive at least 17 votes of the 25-member board to go before voters. The group, which meets once every 20 years, can put measures on the ballot without legislative approval or voter petitions. It must make its ballot recommendations by May.

Vouchers still dead

Our sister blog the Buzz reports that the Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission didn't bite on a proposal to ask voters to put vouchers into the state's constitution.

Tax commission member Roberto Martinez, a Coral Gables lawyer and member of the State Board of Education, sponsored the new proposal, saying that he wasn't criticizing the court, but that Florida voters have never had the opportunity to speak on the issue. The Government Services Committee killed the proposal, led by opposition from lawyer Martha Barnett, former Democratic Sen. Les Miller, Pinellas teacher union leader Jade Moore and former GOP Senate President Jim Scott.

For more information about the proposal, click here.

USF gets House muscle in hospital bid

House Speaker-in-the-making Will Weatherford just filed a bill that would allow USF to build its own teaching hospital by exempting state universities meeting certain benchmarks from certificate of need (CON) requirements.

The proposal from Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, is similar to a bill filed recently by Sen. Dennis Jones, R-Seminole. But Weatherford's support is a notable boost for USF, given his high profile and political clout.

Then again, the Florida Hospital Association is a mighty force opposed to such certificate of need changes...

Lakewood debaters head to state with top coach

Sixteen students from Lakewood High School in St. Petersburg are headed to the Florida Forensic League state championship in the Panhandle the weekend of Feb. 29.

The students earned the opportunity to debate for the state title at a qualifying tournament earlier this month at Berkeley High in Tampa, where their coach, Margaret Emelson, was named Florida Forensic League coach of the year.

The students will compete in policy debate, student congress, public forum debate, original oratory, duo interpretation and group interpretation.

- Donna Winchester, Pinellas education reporter

In Tallahassee, it’s a small world after all

Some stories can only happen in the Twilight Zone, or in Tallahassee. Back in August, The Gradebook asked: "How can Jeb Bush, DOE, the FBI, intelligent design and religious discrimination all find its way into the same story?" Now add this to the list: A federal indictment of a former FAMU official.

As the St. Petersburg Times reported in this story Saturday, somehow the religious discrimination suit filed by Kay Stripling of Marianna and the criminal charges against Patricia Walker McGill (left), the former director of FAMU's Institute on Urban Policy and Commerce, all fit together. We’re not sure exactly how yet, but it seems likely that more details will spill out as both cases slog through their respective courts. In the meantime, anyone out there have any insights, conspiracy theories, or better yet, tips?

Maybe this isn't the biggest education story out there, but it just might be the most entertaining. For your reading pleasure, we’ve compiled all of our reporting to date in this one spot. (Aren't blogs great?!)

To see the original Times story on Stripling's case, click here, and for related blog posts, click here, here, here and here. To read about McGill’s indictment, click here.

- Ron Matus, Times education reporter

Today's news

PLUGGING THE HOLE: A Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission committee will decide today whether to move forward with a referendum to end sales tax exemptions, using the added revenue to fund schools.

MENDING FENCES: Jim Farrelly works to smooth the operations of the troubled Pasco-Hernando Early Learning Coalition. (Times photo, Brendan Fitterer)

FIGHTING FOR FARMERS: Hillsborough's farmers lobby UF to protect its funding of local agricultural extensions.

FIGURING OUT FINANCIAL AID: Teens across the Tampa Bay area and Florida attend "College Goal Sunday" to learn about how to afford higher education.

UNEASY COMPROMISE: Maybe the State Board of Education's vote on evolution standards will hold off future battles over the issue, but it's not likely if people don't talk intelligently about the roles of science and religion, guest columnist Liam Julian writes.

CONSTRUCTION CONCERNS: An audit turns up loads of problems with the way Broward handles its  school construction contracts, the Sun-Sentinel reports.

SEND A CHECK: Broward School Board members inadvertently overpay themselves $420.63, and they have to pay it back, the Miami Herald reports.

DON'T DILUTE ARTS: Music and art teachers worry that a bill to expand middle school physical education requirements will limit kids' other options, the Palm Beach Post reports.

NO PRAYER: Lake schools reexamine their policy on whether athletic coaches may lead their teams in prayer, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

EXAMINING FOUR-YEAR DEGREES: Polk Community College looks into offering bachelor's degrees, the Lakeland Ledger reports.

Coming up

Monday: Pinellas School Board, workshop, 9 a.m.

Tuesday: Hillsborough School Board, workshop, 1:30 p.m.; Pinellas School Board, 5 p.m.

Thursday: Education Practices Commission, administrator panel, 9 a.m.; teacher hearing panel, 9:45 a.m.

Friday: Education Practices Commission, teacher hearing panel, 9 a.m.

March 4: Pinellas School Board, workshop, 9 a.m.; Pasco School Board, 9:30 a.m.; Hillsborough School Board, 3 p.m.; Hernando School Board, workshop 1 p.m., meeting 7 p.m.; Florida Legislature, first day of session

March 11: Hillsborough School Board, workshop, 9 a.m.; Pinellas School Board, 10 a.m.

March 12: Hillsborough School Board, workshop, 2 p.m.; Commission for Independent Education, 9 a.m., Orlando

March 18: Pasco School Board, 6 p.m.; Hernando School Board, workshop 1 p.m., meeting 7 p.m.

March 19: Hillsborough School Board, workshop, 2 p.m.

March 25: Pinellas School Board, 5 p.m.

March 26-27: Florida Board of Governors, Tallahassee

Monday: Pinellas School Board, workshop, 9 a.m.

Tuesday: Hillsborough School Board, workshop, 1:30 p.m.; Pinellas School Board, 5 p.m.

Thursday: Education Practices Commission, administrator panel, 9 a.m.; teacher hearing panel, 9:45 a.m.

Friday: Education Practices Commission, teacher hearing panel, 9 a.m.

March 4: Pinellas School Board, workshop, 9 a.m.; Pasco School Board, 9:30 a.m.; Hillsborough School Board, 3 p.m.; Hernando School Board, workshop 1 p.m., meeting 7 p.m.; Florida Legislature, first day of session

March 11: Hillsborough School Board, workshop, 9 a.m.; Pinellas School Board, 10 a.m.

March 12: Hillsborough School Board, workshop, 2 p.m.; Commission for Independent Education, 9 a.m., Orlando

March 18: Pasco School Board, 6 p.m.; Hernando School Board, workshop 1 p.m., meeting 7 p.m.

March 19: Hillsborough School Board, workshop, 2 p.m.

March 25: Pinellas School Board, 5 p.m.

March 26-27: Florida Board of Governors, Tallahassee

Monday: Pinellas School Board, workshop, 9 a.m.

Tuesday: Hillsborough School Board, workshop, 1:30 p.m.; Pinellas School Board, 5 p.m.

Thursday: Education Practices Commission, administrator panel, 9 a.m.; teacher hearing panel, 9:45 a.m.

Friday: Education Practices Commission, teacher hearing panel, 9 a.m.

March 4: Pinellas School Board, workshop, 9 a.m.; Pasco School Board, 9:30 a.m.; Hillsborough School Board, 3 p.m.; Hernando School Board, workshop 1 p.m., meeting 7 p.m.; Florida Legislature, first day of session

March 11: Hillsborough School Board, workshop, 9 a.m.; Pinellas School Board, 10 a.m.

March 12: Hillsborough School Board, workshop, 2 p.m.; Commission for Independent Education, 9 a.m., Orlando

March 18: Pasco School Board, 6 p.m.; Hernando School Board, workshop 1 p.m., meeting 7 p.m.

March 19: Hillsborough School Board, workshop, 2 p.m.

March 25: Pinellas School Board, 5 p.m.

March 26-27: Florida Board of Governors, Tallahassee

Monday: Pinellas School Board, workshop, 9 a.m.

Tuesday: Hillsborough School Board, workshop, 1:30 p.m.; Pinellas School Board, 5 p.m.

Thursday: Education Practices Commission, administrator panel, 9 a.m.; teacher hearing panel, 9:45 a.m.

Friday: Education Practices Commission, teacher hearing panel, 9 a.m.

March 4: Pinellas School Board, workshop, 9 a.m.; Pasco School Board, 9:30 a.m.; Hillsborough School Board, 3 p.m.; Hernando School Board, workshop 1 p.m., meeting 7 p.m.; Florida Legislature, first day of session

March 11: Hillsborough School Board, workshop, 9 a.m.; Pinellas School Board, 10 a.m.

March 12: Hillsborough School Board, workshop, 2 p.m.; Commission for Independent Education, 9 a.m., Orlando

March 18: Pasco School Board, 6 p.m.; Hernando School Board, workshop 1 p.m., meeting 7 p.m.

March 19: Hillsborough School Board, workshop, 2 p.m.

March 25: Pinellas School Board, 5 p.m.

March 26-27: Florida Board of Governors, Tallahassee

Monday: Pinellas School Board, workshop, 9 a.m.

Tuesday: Hillsborough School Board, workshop, 1:30 p.m.; Pinellas School Board, 5 p.m.

Thursday: Education Practices Commission, administrator panel, 9 a.m.; teacher hearing panel, 9:45 a.m.

Friday: Education Practices Commission, teacher hearing panel, 9 a.m.

March 4: Pinellas School Board, workshop, 9 a.m.; Pasco School Board, 9:30 a.m.; Hillsborough School Board, 3 p.m.; Hernando School Board, workshop 1 p.m., meeting 7 p.m.; Florida Legislature, first day of session

March 11: Hillsborough School Board, workshop, 9 a.m.; Pinellas School Board, 10 a.m.

March 12: Hillsborough School Board, workshop, 2 p.m.; Commission for Independent Education, 9 a.m., Orlando

March 18: Pasco School Board, 6 p.m.; Hernando School Board, workshop 1 p.m., meeting 7 p.m.

March 19: Hillsborough School Board, workshop, 2 p.m.

March 25: Pinellas School Board, 5 p.m.

March 26-27: Florida Board of Governors, Tallahassee

Monday: Pinellas School Board, workshop, 9 a.m.

Tuesday: Hillsborough School Board, workshop, 1:30 p.m.; Pinellas School Board, 5 p.m.

Thursday: Education Practices Commission, administrator panel, 9 a.m.; teacher hearing panel, 9:45 a.m.

Friday: Education Practices Commission, teacher hearing panel, 9 a.m.

March 4: Pinellas School Board, workshop, 9 a.m.; Pasco School Board, 9:30 a.m.; Hillsborough School Board, 3 p.m.; Hernando School Board, workshop 1 p.m., meeting 7 p.m.; Florida Legislature, first day of session

March 11: Hillsborough School Board, workshop, 9 a.m.; Pinellas School Board, 10 a.m.

March 12: Hillsborough School Board, workshop, 2 p.m.; Commission for Independent Education, 9 a.m., Orlando

March 18: Pasco School Board, 6 p.m.; Hernando School Board, workshop 1 p.m., meeting 7 p.m.

March 19: Hillsborough School Board, workshop, 2 p.m.

March 25: Pinellas School Board, 5 p.m.

March 26-27: Florida Board of Governors, Tallahassee

Monday: Pinellas School Board, workshop, 9 a.m.

Tuesday: Hillsborough School Board, workshop, 1:30 p.m.; Pinellas School Board, 5 p.m.

Thursday: Education Practices Commission, administrator panel, 9 a.m.; teacher hearing panel, 9:45 a.m.

Friday: Education Practices Commission, teacher hearing panel, 9 a.m.

March 4: Pinellas School Board, workshop, 9 a.m.; Pasco School Board, 9:30 a.m.; Hillsborough School Board, 3 p.m.; Hernando School Board, workshop 1 p.m., meeting 7 p.m.; Florida Legislature, first day of session

March 11: Hillsborough School Board, workshop, 9 a.m.; Pinellas School Board, 10 a.m.

March 12: Hillsborough School Board, workshop, 2 p.m.; Commission for Independent Education, 9 a.m., Orlando

March 18: Pasco School Board, 6 p.m.; Hernando School Board, workshop 1 p.m., meeting 7 p.m.

March 19: Hillsborough School Board, workshop, 2 p.m.

March 25: Pinellas School Board, 5 p.m.

March 26-27: Florida Board of Governors, Tallahassee

More on the class size poll

So the class-size amendment is overwhelmingly popular? Knew that, huh? Bet you didn't know that non-whites were more likely to oppose the amendment (35 percent) than whites (18 percent). Or that Republicans showed more willingness to vote for changes to the rules (41 percent) than Democrats (27 percent) or independents (26 percent).

Hey, that's what happens with news stories. The totals get big headlines, and the details, well ... they get relegated to detail-oriented blogs like this one. So if today's Times story on the class-size amendment left you wanting more info, you can click here to download the full poll results behind the article. (Click on the chart to see it full size.)

Today's news

MERIT PAY DISPARITIES: A Times analysis shows that almost three-fourths of Hillsborough's 5,000 performance pay bonuses went to teachers at high-wealth schools. Just 3 percent went to the district's poorest, most struggling schools. Sidebars: A tale of two teachers; Teacher bonuses by school; Q&A: The Merit Award Program

LOVING CLASS SIZE: Nearly 75 percent of Floridians surveyed by the Times say they like the 2002 class-size amendment. But nearly half say they're willing to consider allowing some flexibility in emergencies, with another third uncertain. That result boosts some lawmakers who are trying to accomplish just that. Visit the Gradebook at 8:30 a.m. for full poll results.

NEEDED IN THE NORTH: The Pinellas School Board helped put the north part of the county on equal footing with the south in magnet offerings by approving an arts magnet school for Tarpon Springs, the Times editorializes.

WHAT A DEAL: There were plenty of "winks and nods" in getting Sen. Mike Haridopolous a job at UF, the Times editorializes.

"NOT THROUGH CUTTING": Florida lawmakers expect to slash the budget again this year and then some more next year, so school districts are getting ready, the Palm Beach Post reports. "We are not through cutting," said state Rep. Joe Pickens, R-Palatka. "We'll definitely make additional reductions for next year. There's no doubt. The question is how much do we have to reduce and where."

HOLOCAUST LESSONS: Required in Florida since 1998, the Palm Beach school district has expanded its Holocaust curriculum to a semester-long elective course at seven high schools, the Sun-Sentinel reports.

DON'T TOUCH: A Venice school teacher is arrested for abusing children in her special education class, the Herald-Tribune reports.

PICKING AN INTERIM: The Lee School Board starts talking about who would serve as temporary superintendent, just in case the current one leaves, the Naples Daily News reports.

A weekend interview with ...

... Dr. Jay B. Labov, a senior adviser for education and communications for the National Academy of Sciences and the National Research Council. He also oversees the National Academies' activities to improve the teaching of evolution in public schools. Labov spoke with reporter Jeff Solochek about Florida's new science standards.

Generally, relating to Florida's new standards, how do you view them?

Well, it's a good thing, first of all, that they're actually acknowledging evolution and including the word in the standards. And I also think it's good news that the standards explicitly state, and the board adopted the idea, that evolution is one of the big ideas in science and one of the underlying principles of biology.

So the words 'scientific theory' don't bother you?

It is a scientific theory. I notice they also put those words in front of other things such as the scientific theory of cells, which is also true.