An issue that apparently has baffled educators in the Heartland is going to be addressed. The high schools in Highlands, Hardee, Okeechobee, Glades, DeSoto and Hendry counties have posted numerous "C" and "D" accountability grades for the past nine years, but few "B" grades and no "A" grades. There is an apparent disparity in the performance of middle school and elementary students compared to high school students, according to the Heartland Educational Consortium. In one recent year, while the elementary and middle schools received primarily "A, B or C" grades, about one-fourth of the high schools received "D" or "F" grades. ...more

January 2, 2008

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - Lessons in public speaking and community service came together over a little karaoke. ...more

December 29, 2007

The music thumped, and you could feel your body vibrating along with the bass. ...more

December 1, 2007

Clark Elementary students' jaws dropped when an Immigration and Customs Enforcement helicopter approached to make a landing on the school's baseball field last week. ...more

November 21, 2007

Chiles Elementary students can expect a busy December. ...more

November 15, 2007

Chiles Elementary students can expect a busy December. ...more

November 15, 2007

The ammonia leak in Riverview has forced school officials to close Riverview Elementary School. Parents will be receiving phone calls this morning to alert them to take their children to Spoto High School at 8538 Eagle Palm Drive in Riverview instead. ...more

November 13, 2007

SEBRING — How many unexcused absences are too many? School Board Member Andy Tuck is alarmed at the nearly 7,700 unexcused absences district-wide in the first nine weeks of school. It's hard to hold teachers accountable when kids don't come to school, he said. Several students have already missed more than 10 days of school. Highlands County School District data shows 43 middle school students (1.5 percent) were absent 10 or more days during the first nine weeks of the school year. At the elementary level, 57 students (1 percent) were absent 10 or more days during the same time period, Aug. 20 through Oct. 24. At the high school level, only five students (one-tenth of 1 percent) were absent 10 or more days. ...more

November 9, 2007

Cell phones are driving teachers crazy. As the phones become smaller and more sophisticated, they are becoming a big problem in schools, even with middle and elementary students. ...more

October 30, 2007

TAMPA - Cell phones are driving teachers crazy. As the phones become smaller and more sophisticated, they are becoming a big problem in schools, even with middle and elementary students. "It's amazing – they come to class with no textbook, no pencil, but they have the cell phone on them," said Mark Danish, a science teacher at Tampa's Benito Middle School. ...more

October 29, 2007