GETTING THEIR MONEY’S WORTH? The recession has been good for proprietary schools like Everest University, but some students say they’re getting shortchanged, the St. Petersburg Times reports. (Times photo, Martha Rial)
 
THE DIFFERENCE A TEACHER MAKES: The former students of Palm Harbor Middle School teacher Marga Kiss give her a lot of credit for their success in life.

SMART KIDS LEFT BEHIND: Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Thomas says Florida’s new differentiated accountability system + budget cuts = potential downsides for Florida’s smartest kids.

HIGH SCHOOLS NEED HELP: Florida needs to pay more attentionto its struggling high schools and to what Jeb Bush’s foundation has to say about them, the Orlando Sentinelsays. TCPalm.com says a “concentrated campaign” to improve Florida high schools is overdue.

A CIVICS LESSON IN BAD PIZZA: Former Florida Gov. Bob Graham explains how cold, greasy pizza made him realize the importance of civics education.

BULLYING GETS EXPOSED: More bullying victims are fighting back by reporting their attackers, the AP reports, using the recent Tampa middle school case to anchor its story.

CONSIDERING TAXES:The Duval County School Board will look at raising property taxes this week, the Florida Times Union reports.

CHARTER SCHOOL DOUBLE SHOT: A new Coral Springs charter school emphasizes physical education, the Naples Daily News reports. Meanwhile, the Panama City News Herald writes about a charter school that has consistently earned A grades from the state.

GROUPS PUSH TO END RESTRAINT: Calls to end or limit the practice of restraining special education students are growing louder in Washington D.C., the Wall Street Journal reports.