We missed this yesterday, and note that it received little play in the statewide media:
When it comes to graduating students after four years of high school, Florida ranks at the bottom of the nation's 50 states for the second consecutive year, according to a study being released today.
Only 56 percent of Florida high-school students graduated in 2001 - up slightly from 55 percent in the previous year. Florida nearly tied Georgia's graduation rate, separated by only about three-hundredths of a percent. Nationally about 70 percent of high-school students graduated, the study says. "State ranks 50th in graduation rate".
AND IN THE MEANTIME . . .About 35,000 students hoping to enroll in Florida's community colleges this fall were shut out because the schools could not afford to offer them classes they need, officials said. "Community colleges turn away 35,000".
THE MEDIA IS MAD -Government officials shouldn't have the right to edit public records. An ill-considered decision by Florida's highest court has created a huge new loophole in the public's constitutional right of access to government information. "Court-created loophole".
NOT A GOOD TIME TO HAVE ELECTED SPINELESS REPUBS WHO ARE AFRAID TO INCREASE FUNDING -Florida had the nation's largest increase in school-age children in the new millennium at a time when the state is struggling with mandatory limits on class sizes, new Census Bureau estimates show. The state's fountain of youth produced a dramatic 150,000 new children between 5 and 17 years old between 2000 and 2002, as young families flocked to places like Broward and Palm Beach counties, Tampa and Orlando. "Florida's kids boom biggest in nation".
CLARK COMES TO FLORIDA - Retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark, who sent presidential politics into a frenzy Wednesday with his entry into the race, will make his first official campaign appearance today in South Florida. "Clark's first stop: A prized S. Florida".