Teacher performance pay exploded onto the political and educational scenes during the 2010 legislative session, but it was eventually vetoed by Gov. Charlie Crist. Now advisers on Gov.-elect Rick Scott's education team have made some tweaks that might help a similar bill to SB 6 pass in 2011.

The Florida Department of Education is asking for more than $3 million in damages from contractor NCS Pearson over a delay in reporting the results of the state's standardized exam, the FCAT.

“I fully realize that assessing these damages does not completely make up for the significant inconveniences being felt by students and their families, teachers and school administrators, but it does show very clearly that we are holding Pearson accountable for their failure to uphold the terms of the contract,” state Education Commissioner Eric Smith said in a release Thursday.