"We're not where we need to be, but this is sort of a weird transition year," said Stephen Hegarty, spokesman for Hillsborough County Schools.

Jose Colindres, chief operating officer of the nonprofit Brink Foundation, said his organization will contribute $25,000 to the scholarship effort. He invited students affected to contact his organization. And he criticized Elia for her statements about HCC and USF. "Honestly, the board and the superintendent do not have a lot of credibility with the community when it comes to this particular topic," he said.

TAMPA — Mekka Mason and her parents were thrilled when they learned a Hillsborough County magnet program would help pay for Mekka, the youngest of six children, to go to college and become a teacher.

Launched four years ago, the Urban Teaching Academy promised scholarships and the cost of books to students who completed the program successfully. In return, they agreed to come back to Hillsborough and teach for three years in urban schools.

TAMPA — In a move that responds to complaints about an Islamic organization, the Hillsborough County School District took a first step Tuesday toward regulating outside speakers in the classroom.

A brief set of guidelines offered by superintendent MaryEllen Elia asks teachers to look for speakers recommended by the district, consult with their principals and refrain from invitations to advocacy organizations.

TAMPA — Should your kid get a C on his Algebra 2 Honors midterm exam with more than half the answers wrong?

Sure, says the Hillsborough County School District.

That's ridiculous, says a math teacher at Wharton High School.

"We all are doing these kids a gross disservice," said Maxine Stark, a veteran teacher who's convinced that some of the grades on the report cards issued Friday were too generous.

TAMPA — Hillsborough County school officials are seeing the flip side of living by the numbers. They can make you look spectacular. Or they can mask a world of complications.

TAMPA - We're No. 38.

That's where the Hillsborough County School District ranks among Florida's 67 counties in first-ever rankings released by the Florida Department of Education.

The department issued those rankings this morning based on how students scored on last year's standardized public school examination, the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

When Charles Brink's company took off and became worth more money than he ever expected, he and his family vowed they would use that blessing to make a difference in other people's lives.

They decided to form the Brink Foundation, an organization that has wowed everyone associated with the donation center at Metropolitan Ministries because of its overwhelming generosity.