With the clock ticking and opposition lingering, Education Commissioner Eric Smith has agreed to revise the state's application for up to $900 million through the Obama administration's Race to the Top initiative. ...more

January 6, 2010

Florida's effort to secure up to $700 million in federal funds with a plan including merit pay has met some harsh criticism from state teachers union officials. ...more

December 27, 2009

Florida's statewide teachers union discouraged local affiliates from endorsing the state's application for up to $700 million in federal stimulus grant money that would require the adoption of merit pay plans. ...more

December 20, 2009

Florida is linking its application for $700 million in federal education grant money to the adoption of local merit pay plans, which have been unpopular among teachers in the past although that could be changing. ...more

December 12, 2009

It's no small feat winning $100 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. ...more

December 11, 2009

Florida is changing its policy on youths who opt for a GED to finish high school in less than four years. ...more

August 9, 2009

POLITICAL RESUME Gov. Charlie Crist has a history of moving from one elected position to another: ...more

May 13, 2009

Legislative budget negotiators have agreed to increase public school spending by an average of $28 per student. ...more

May 1, 2009

After enduring criticism that they've been waiting too long, Gov. Charlie Crist and Education Commissioner Eric J. Smith now have formally applied for the state's share of the federal stimulus money for public schools. ...more

April 28, 2009

Budget cuts have hit the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, too. The state Department of Education said Tuesday that it is cutting all FCAT summer retakes and part of the science FCAT. Sample test materials also will be cut, and schools won't get printed score reports. ...more

April 2, 2009