Tampabay.com
FEBRUARY 09, 2010

Florida education news: Junk food, school taxes, students' civil rights and more

A4s_schoolfood02091_106825c EAT HEALTHY: The Obama administration calls for a ban on selling junk food in schools, including vending machines. Tampa area school officials are working to meet such goals, but kids say they know the loopholes. (Times photo, Keri Wiginton)

FOCUS ON DISCIPLINE: Instead of expanding its fundamental schools offerings, Pinellas should put "fundamental-like discipline" in all schools, the Times editorializes.

BACK THE TAX? As the Sarasota school system looks for a renewal of its local-option property tax, supporters focus their campaign on frugal, older communities such as Venice, the Herald-Tribune reports. 

MIXED REVIEWS: Palm Beach educators and parents like parts, but not all, of what they're hearing about President Obama's plans to revamp No Child Left Behind, the Palm Beach Post reports. 

OVERCOMING THE ODDS: Several Broward low-income schools adopt a culture of excellence to earn consistently high FCAT marks, the Sun-Sentinel reports.

SAVING MONEY: Florida changes some of its FCAT procedures, but district officials say students should not notice, the Naples Daily News reports.

THANKS FOR COMING: Out-of-state students pay four times the tuition and fees that Florida residents pay to attend Florida public universities, the Fort Myers News-Press reports.

LABOR NEWS: Indian River teachers and the administration reach impasse in contract talks, the Vero Beach Press Journal reports.

MORE MONEY? Okaloosa officials consider asking voters to impose a half-cent sales tax for school capital projects, the Northwest Florida Daily News reports.

FIND A COMPUTER: Volusia schools move to online job applications, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reports.

VACANT? OR NOT VACANT? That is the question for Monroe's superintendent job, which might or might not require an election this fall, the Keynoter reports.

EQUAL ACCESS: The USDOE says Orange did not violate students' civil rights in its move of Evans High, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

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About the blog

Gradebook features education articles and insights on schools in Florida, focusing on Tampa Bay area schools. What's the latest from the Florida Department of Education? How is the FCAT being used to compare Florida schools? What's going in on in Tampa Bay schools? Get an insider's view from the Times education reporting team.

Meet the team

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THE TEAM

Rebecca Catalanello covers Pinellas County schools. E-mail her: rcatalanello@tampabay.com.

Tony Marrero covers Hernando County schools. E-mail him: tmarrero@tampabay.com.

Marlene Sokol covers Hillsborough County schools. E-mail her: sokol@tampabay.com.

Ron Matus covers Pinellas County schools. E-mail him: matus@tampabay.com.

Jeffrey S. Solochek covers Pasco County schools. E-mail him: solochek@tampabay.com.

Kim Wilmath covers the University of South Florida. E-mail her: kwilmath@tampabay.com.

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