When the Florida Department of Education recently announced the school grades, I felt a deep sense of pride for the students, faculty and staff at F.W. Springstead High School. In 2004-05, SHS was the first high school in the district to receive the B rating. In 2006-07, we earned a C, then received a D due to a penalty clause that the state of Florida has in place when one segment of the testing score does not meet its prescribed percentage. ...more

July 26, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - The Pasco County School Board will hold its first hearing on the 2008-09 budget Tuesday as it prepares for what is expected to be a tight financial year that could get even worse with more state funding cuts and rising gas and electricity prices. ...more

July 24, 2008

After teaching for 27 years, Patricia Carter has no plans to leave the classroom when she is eligible for retirement in three years. ...more

July 22, 2008

The Florida Department of Education this week issued grades to the state's public schools. This no doubt re-ignited water-cooler debates on whether testing-based grading of school performance is accomplishing anything or is actually counterproductive. ...more

July 12, 2008

As the excitement wears off regarding the Hernando County School District's overall "A" grade for the first time in the history of the state's A Plus plan, officials are taking a closer look at schools that have not met federal standards. ...more

July 11, 2008

As the excitement wears off regarding the Hernando County School District's overall "A" grade for the first time in the history of the state's A Plus plan, officials are taking a closer look at schools that have not met federal standards. ...more

July 11, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - The Pasco County School Board has approved a contract with a new charter school despite concerns that the school has enrolled more students than the Department of Education might provide funding for if the state puts a cap on spending. ...more

July 10, 2008

It has been a decade since Florida started the controversial practice of grading schools and Tuesday's release of school grades from the Florida Department of Education added a celebratory note to the milestone. The results indicate that school accountability is doing just what it was intended to do: revealing what progress is - and is not occurring - in our schools. ...more

July 9, 2008

Highlands County public schools continue to fall within a wide range, A to D, on the state school report card. ...more

July 9, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - Superintendent Heather Fiorentino was ready to do a little bragging Tuesday after the Florida Department of Education released the state's annual report card that grades schools and school districts. ...more

July 9, 2008