Afternoon announcements: If Indiana won’t have Tony Bennett, maybe Florida will

Is your school district hanging on the edge of the fiscal cliff? The cliff, or the situation the nation will be in if sequestration (automatic spending cuts) go into effect, may affect some school districts more than others. Politics K-12

Tony Bennett may have lost his re-election bid for Indiana State Superintendent of Public Instruction, but it doesn’t mean he’s out of politics. He’s seeking the same job in Florida. In Florida, the position is appointed by the governor, not elected. Indy Star

What if, instead of standardized homework, students were able to work at their own pace? Some educators in the Urbandale school district are allowing their students to do just that. Instead of homework, students take on “quests,” that give them the opportunity to take their education into their own hands. Des Moines Register

It has long been touted that university classrooms may not be the best place for teachers to learn to teach. Maybe the same is true for principals learning to lead. Principal-preparation initiatives – programs that train principals-to-be in the districts and schools they may end up leading, are growing. Education Week

Jeb Bush writes an opinion piece arguing that one solution to the fiscal challenges in higher education is an increased emphasis on online classes. Learning online is inexpensive – it doesn’t involve dorms, gyms or debt. Newsday