The state of Florida, by most accounts, has one of the most successful community college systems in the United States. It’s led the country in the number of associates degrees issued for six straight years. Traditionally, most of those degree holders entered the work force or moved on to a four-year university. But thanks to recent state legislation, more community colleges can retain those students by offering their own bachelor’s degree programs. And as Steve Brown reports, the move could give traditional universities some previously-unseen competition.

The Florida Board of Governors says state universities need to give faculty a pay hike to prevent a –quote “brain drain” of professors and staff leaving for other states. The Board met yesterday (Thursday) in Jacksonville. Kevin Meerschaert reports.

There’s a new study that tries to explain why Florida’s high school graduation rate appears high when calculated by the state, but near the bottom of the list according to national statistics. Bobbie O’Brien reports.

Grades for Florida’s public schools are going up. The Department of Education released the 2008 school grades yesterday. Students did well on the FCAT this year and the DOE says the school grades reflect that. Lynn Hatter reports.

Nearly 10-thousand teachers, administrators and education officials are gathered in Washington D-C thru the weekend for the National Education Association’s 146th annual Representative Assembly…including many from here in Florida. The Assembly is the highest decision-making body within the more than 3-million-member NEA. One of this year’s attendees is Andy Ford, president of the Florida Education Association. He told WGCU's Mike Kiniry that one of the big topics of discussion at this year’s Assembly is whether education is getting the attention it deserves this election season. He says it’s not…

There’s good news coming from Florida’s classrooms – at least at the elementary school level. The push for better reading skills seems to be paying off with younger students…that’s according to a report on education progress in Southern states released Tuesday. Bobbie O’Brien reports.

Enacted in 2002, No Child Left Behind forced states to step up their accountability measures with increased testing. In Florida it meant the FCAT. Since the program’s start test scores in Florida have been steadily rising. And as Lynn Hatter reports, those gains aren’t flukes…but are part of a national trend.

A premise behind the school-choice movement is that the marketplace can do a better than government in educating children. Award-winning ABC Journalist John Stossel spoke to that effect Thursday night at the Excellence in Education Summit in Orlando. Lynn Hatter reports.

Forty three children from Immokalee are getting a unique summer school experience this year. They are among the first recipients of new low cost, high quality laptop computers in this country – and they’re enrolled in a program aimed at enhancing learning through digital technology and fun. WGCU’s Valerie Alker prepared this report.

As former Governor Jeb Bush hosts an education summit in Orlando, Florida House Minority Leader Dan Gelber sent him an open letter criticizing low funding for Florida’s schools. Margie Menzel has more.