A new look

The Florida Department of Education has heard your complaints. They know you couldn't navigate their web site, that your searches turned up random responses, that you kept running into bad links and outdated information.

In response, the department has updated its Internet home, giving it a fresh look and, better yet, improved content. The site, launched Monday, uses Google to drive its searches. It has eliminated much of the education jargon. And it has gotten rid of the information that's no longer current.

"What we wanted to do was make it easier to navigate," director of communications and public affairs Jen Fennell said. "A lot of things weren't easy to find."

She said the department welcomes any comments - especially ones that help to further improve the site. In the meantime, folks in the communications office offer this hint: If you get really lost, click on "site index" on the upper righthand corner or at the bottom of the main page. It takes you to a list of departments and programs - sortable by alphabet, subject or office - that should help you find what you want.