Traditional schools: Broward County revamps several struggling schools and sees a boost in technology use and enrollment. Sun Sentinel. Duval’s superintendent tells residents that approval of a bond issue could result in students of the highest-poverty schools gaining wireless Internet and greater access to laptops and computers. Florida Times-Union. Five struggling schools in Pinellas County have made significant improvements during the year, the state Department of Education says, but they still aren’t up to par. The Tampa Tribune. 
Hillsborough’s schools security chief retires. The Tampa Tribune. Hernando County schools prioritize spending. Tampa Bay Times. Manatee County elementary students learn about energy conservation through a traveling theater program. Bradenton Herald.
Magnet schools: A Broward County middle school starts a pre-law program next school year that will offer a class to teach students how to argue. Sun Sentinel.
STEM: Students from Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties compete in a Lego robotics contest. Palm Beach Post.
Common Core: The Department of Education’s effort to rename the Common Core State Standards does little to end Florida’s education debate. Miami Herald. Teachers and principals adjust to the state’s continual educational changes. Tampa Bay Times. The proposal deserves a fair hearing next month, writes the Tampa Bay Times.
MLK Day: Meet the man who helped integrate Sarasota High School. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Desegregation occurred slowly in Sarasota County. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Blake High student prepares to recite “I Have a Dream” speech. The Tampa Tribune.
Smart Cities: Tom Vander Ark names Miami as one of the Smart Cities in his blog series that looks at what communities are doing right to improve education. Getting Smart.
Zero tolerance: New federal school-discipline guidelines for school districts released this month are desperately needed — and school districts must take the voluntary advice to heart, writes Darryl E. Owens for the Orlando Sentinel.
Grad requirements: Brevard County school officials may drop the requirement to take chemistry and physics, or their equivalent, and reduce the credits needed to graduate, from 26 to the state’s minimum of 24. Florida Today.
Teacher evals: Florida’s 1st District Court of Appeal refuses to reconsider a ruling that “value-added” teacher data is open to review as a public record. Florida Times-Union.
School grades: In Miami-Dade County, one school says it wants the A it earned. StateImpact Florida.
Principals: Duval County’s superintendent swaps principals to help improve student achievement. Florida Times-Union.
Edsby: The Hillsborough County School District’s move to the second semester this week presents teachers with another adjustment to the new online grading system, and another chance to grouse that it’s too complicated. Tampa Bay Times.
Tax holiday: Gov. Rick Scott wants to lengthen the state’s back-to-school sales tax holiday to 10 days. Fort Myers News-Press.
Saturday school: Duval County starts a Saturday school in the district. Florida Times-Union.
Lice: A mother questions Volusia County’s school district policy to bar students who have head lice. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Conduct: Three students and two teacher aides are arrested after a brawl in a Osceola County middle school exceptional-education classroom. Orlando Sentinel.
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