A group of educators, teacher advocates and lawmakers recently chosen by the governor to ensure Florida wins $700 million in federal money for education is recommending that the state implement a revised form of teacher performance pay.

And, says a member of the group, the decision was unanimous.

“I think that sends a powerful message to the governor that this is a good plan,” said the group's chairman, Alberto Carvalho, Superintendent of the Miami-Dade County School District

Businesses fretting over a major hike in the state unemployment compensation tax can relax. At least, for now.

On their first day of session, lawmakers delayed until 2012 a looming increase that could have resulted in as much as a twelvefold increase in the unemployment tax for businesses. Gov. Charlie Crist immediately signed the bill into law.

If taxes had not been delayed, the minimum unemployment tax businesses would pay per person would have risen from $8.40 to $100.30.  Businesses paying the maximum rate per person would have seen a rise from $378 to $459.