Today's news

IF SCHOOLS HAD MORE TIME ... Florida's effort to add time into students' schedules for more physical education has shone a light on just how little flexibility teachers have in a six-hour day if they're to meet the state's accountability standards. (Times photo, Scott Keeler)

TEN IS A CROWD: The races for Pinellas School Board seats are heating up, with 10 candidates in the running for for open seats.

MISSING THE POINT: Florida lawmakers seem more interested in workforce development than in true education these days,
doing a disservice to students, business and society in general, USF anthropology professor Elizabeth Bird writes in guest column.

SEPARATING BOYS AND GIRLS: Supporters and opponents abound on the issue of single-gender classrooms, one of the latest trends in the effort to improve education outcomes. Florida lawmakers are moving a bill to make it easier for the state's schools to segregate children by gender, while acknowledging the split isn't for everyone, the Florida Times-Union reports.

THE REALITY OF SEX ED: Florida only recommends abstinence only sex education. It doesn't mandate it. And so the curriculum varies from district to district, the Orlando Sentinel reports. Two bills moving through the Legislature would help to streamline courses statewide.

WHAT'S IN A NAME? Palm Beach and Broward community colleges want to drop the "community" from their names as they move to offer more four-year bachelor's degree programs, the Sun-Sentinel reports.

MORE THAN RACE: Florida Gulf Coast University president Wilson Bradshaw looks to more than the color of a person's skin when attempting to enhance diversity at his school, the Fort Myers News-Press reports.

RAISE PRICES OR PINCH PENNIES: The cost of food is having its effect on the cafeteria line, including in Florida, the Washington Post reports.

TAXES TO RISE DESPITE AMENDMENT 1: Lee school officials join the growing chorus telling taxpayers that their property taxes are likely to go up if the budget moving through the Legislature passes, the Naples Daily News reports.

STILL STRUGGLING: An audit of Flagler County's three charter schools shows they continue to have financial troubles, despite improvements from a year ago, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reports.

NOT THE END OF THE WORLD: With the freshman class of 2008 bigger than ever, large numbers of college applicants aren't getting into the schools of their choice. But as the LA Times reports, there are other schools out there where the students might find themselves just as happy, if not happier.