GETTING OUT THE RED PENS: Pasco school district officials begin doing their homework in preparation to cut as much as $30-million more from this year's budget.

WELL, MAYBE ONE NEW TAX IS OK: Anti-taxer Gov. Crist says it might be time to raise Florida's cigarette tax by 50 cents a pack to help with the economic slowdown. Such an increase would generate about $500-million -- the amount, by the way, that Florida schools are expecting to see cut. (Image from Albany's Insanity blog)

OOPS: Several Collier high school students could see their grade-point average drop because the school district mistakenly gave them credit for courses they took as eighth-graders, the Naples Daily News reports.

FEWER STUDENTS: Florida lost 24,000 K-12 students this year, an unprecedented decline, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

LOOKING FOR A BAILOUT: Some key South Florida education leaders suggest Congress should bail out the public school system, the Miami Herald reports.

NO SANTA: In a move that's all about political correctness, Florida Gulf Coast University bans Santa Claus, Christmas trees and all holiday decorations, the Fort Myers News-Press reports. (Image from Anova.com)

TEACHER CLEARED: The Dillard High teacher who stood accused of knowing about a school shooting before it happened is cleared and allowed to return to class, the Sun-Sentinel reports.

AT IMPASSE: Florida Atlantic's faculty and administration seek a magistrate to oversee stalled contract talks, the Sun-Sentinel reports.

THAT'S 'TEACHER MOM' TO YOU: Home schooling participation skyrockets in north Florida, the Florida Times-Union reports.

WHAT TO DO? The City of Palm Bay looks for financial options to help its struggling charter school system, Florida Today reports.