LONG, LONG DISTANCE: A group of Pinellas students learn about space exploration in a phone call to the International Space Station. (Times photo, James Borchuck) 

INSURANCE TALKS: Hernando nears agreement on contract terms for employee health insurance.

SHIFTING STUDENTS: A new committee meets to begin discussing changes to Pinellas student assignment. 

TOUGH TRANSITION: Two freshmen struggle to adjust to high school life at East Lake High while also playing varsity football.

NEVER FORGET: Hillsborough schools must stand firm on locker room supervision long after the memory of an assault at Walker Middle School fades, the Times editorializes.

"CODE BLUE": A group of Duval civic activists gathers to plan how to reduce the community's achievement gap for black males, the Florida Times-Union reports.

CATCH IT ON TIVO: Collier schools won't be showing President Obama's back to school speech because it's an early release day, the Naples Daily News reports.

BIG SAVINGS: Lee schools could save $10 million in transportation costs by becoming more efficient, the Fort Myers News-Press reports.

FREE, WITH FEES: The ACLU sues California over public school fees, saying public education is supposed to be free, the NY Times reports.