NEEDS IMPROVEMENT: Florida Board of Education member Kathleen Shanahan blasts Pinellas schools for their persistent deficiencies. 

TOP OF THE CLASS: Valedictorians and salutatorians for Wiregrass Ranch High and River Ridge High.

TOO STRESSFUL: Some parents and students say FCAT testing time causes anxiety, the Gainesville Sun reports.

CUTTING TIME: Volusia school officials look for areas to reduce spending by millions after pledging to protect the arts and key electives, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reports. • Miami-Dade considers cutting 200 jobs to save $27 million, the Miami Herald reports. • Seminole leaders look to spread the budget cutting pain among employees and students, the Orlando Sentinel reports. • St. Lucie officials say they're not ready to talk budget cuts yet, the Port St. Lucie Tribune reports.

ENOUGH ALREADY: The Florida Legislature should give up on its annual discussion of whether to force schools to challenge evolution in the science curriculum, Florida Today editorializes.

NEW MATH: Lee elementary schools delve into greater depth on math concepts, the Fort Myers News-Press reports.

TOUGHER STANDARD: Florida lawmakers propose requiring a score of 4 or higher on an Advanced Placement test for students to earn credit at a state college or university, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

VACATION TIME: The Indian River School Board approves a school calendar with shorter than recommended holiday breaks, saying students who remain deserve as much attention as those who plan vacation travels, the Vero Beach Press-Journal reports.

FINDING FUNDING: The Bay school district seeks money to continue providing federally mandated Response to Intervention services, the Panama City News Herald reports.

HELPING HERSELF: An Orange teacher is arrested on allegations that she stole from her school's PTO, the Orlando Sentinel reports.