Roll Call: Early Childhood Ed Funding; More Class Time in Pinellas; Presidential Advisors Debate Education

A Naples area early childhood program is getting more funding, in Tuesday’s education headlines.

Southwest Florida early learning program shorted millions over last decade – A Southwest Florida early childhood education program was shorted millions of dollars, preventing thousands of students from enrolling in the program and — potentially — their parents from seeking a job. The Naples Daily News

Pinellas superintendent wants kids to spend more time in school – Pinellas County schools’ new superintendent has told principals to design plans for additional voluntary school hours, including Saturdays. The Tampa Bay Times

Gov. Rick Scott seeks to remake his image by stressing education – Gov. Rick Scott’s new focus on education — including proposing a teacher training program — is part of a plan to try to improve Florida’s economy. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Ed in the Election: Obama and Romney advisors debate education spending – “President Obama isn’t the big investor in education he has claimed to be on the campaign trail, Mitt Romney’s education advisor, Phil Handy, argued in a debate Monday with his Democratic counterpart. Obama advisor John Schnur countered that the math behind Romney’s budget plan virtually ensures there will be cuts to education if the former Massachusetts governor is elected.” The Hechinger Report