Last spring, Florida lawmakers sought to ease the pressure the FCAT applied on public high schools by developing a more rounded appraisal of student performance. ...more

December 28, 2008 |

Last spring, Florida lawmakers sought to ease the pressure the FCAT applied on public high schools by developing a more rounded appraisal of student performance. ...more

December 27, 2008 |

Recently I read in the paper that the Highlands County School Board is considering a 2 percent cut in teachers pay. Teachers in this area don't make what other area schools close by are making and it's difficult enough now to get and keep teachers here in our county. My question is are these cuts only pertaining to the teachers or are others included. Our kids have suffered enough with the shortage of teachers and over-crowded classrooms. Has anyone considered what this will do to our kids? I guess we'll be teaching our kids at home over the Internet. The problem with that is not every kid has access to a computer or the Internet. By the way, where do the monies from the state lottery go to? My guess would be to fund that test that not everyone agrees with (FCAT,) but that's another subject. That's my take on the matter, save our kids and our teachers. Look somewhere else for these cuts. ...more

December 19, 2008 |

TAMPA Tampa's Plant High School has much to brag about, but it's a school in Polk County that made U.S. News & World Report's list of the top 100 high schools in the United States. The International Baccalaureate School at Bartow High School is rated No. 7 in the nation. The top high school in the country is Thomas Jefferson High School for Sciences and Technology in Alexandria, Va., according to the report. ...more

December 5, 2008 |

As my daughter's third-grade career continues, I can't help but find myself rather awestruck at how the state of Florida handles education. Everywhere we turn, it seems mixed messages are being sent to our youngest learners. ...more

November 19, 2008 |

Elementary school students will be reading, writing, doing math and - of course - preparing for the dreaded FCAT this year. ...more

September 21, 2008 |

You can choose a sandwich and salad most days in the cafeteria at Boca Ciega High School, but never anything like this. ...more

September 3, 2008 |

Avon Park will soon host a privately run tutoring program at its recreation center near Memorial Field for roughly 50 students from five of the county's underperforming schools. ...more

September 2, 2008 |

Most 11-year-olds who punch and kick others can expect to be punished. Steffanie Brown, however, is rewarded. In fact, the junior black belt has received 29 awards for her sparring matches in karate. The past two years, she has qualified to participate in national tournaments. ...more

August 31, 2008 |

The heir apparent is wrestling with multiplication tables this week, attempting to perfect in a handful of days the expertise that eluded him throughout the previous academic year. ...more

August 15, 2008 |