By Marilyn Brown, Tampa Tribune, Fla. Mar. 10--UPDATED: 11:23 PM TAMPA -- Florida's top education official can be an inspiring visionary, an administrator for the state's biggest bureaucracy or a lackey to carry out a powerful politician's agenda.

By TIA MITCHELL Duval County is joining with other school districts in challenging a state law that takes away their sole authority to approve new charter schools.

By Akilah Johnson, South Florida Sun-Sentinel Nov. 15--In a challenge to state education authorities, the Broward County School Board began an effort Wednesday to regain exclusive control over which charter schools can open in the district.

By Hemmy So, South Florida Sun-Sentinel Nov. 4--As many as 70 students once squeezed into Oscar Siflinger's social science classroom at Charles Flanagan High School in Pembroke Pines. That was before 52 percent of voters amended the state constitution in 2002 to limit class sizes.

By Catherine Dolinski, Tampa Tribune, Fla. Sep. 27--TALLAHASSEE -- By definition, charter schools exist to compete with regular public schools. But charter schools also rely on public school districts to approve and oversee them. This year, the state Legislature decided that's a problem.