AM News: Duncan Pressures Hawaii; NY State Pressures NYC

 States Hit Turbulence in School Overhauls WSJ: The major stumbling block is the state's inability to reach contract agreement with the Hawaii State Teachers Association. 

New York State Schools May Lose Aid Over Teacher Evaluations NYT: The state education commissioner put pressure on New York City and nine other districts to prove they will carry out new evaluation systems for teachers and principals. Also GothamSchools here.

Gov. Brown says he will increase education funding LAT: The governor's 2012-13 spending plan, to be released in January, assumes billions in additional revenue from his tax increase initiative. If the measure fails, Brown says, more drastic cuts would be needed.

Fla. legislators likely to cut budget again AP via Boston.com: It's almost becoming an annual rite each year in Tallahassee: Another year, another billion-dollar plus budget shortfall.

Battling Anew Over the Place of Religion in Public Schools NYT: Despite Supreme Court rulings in 1962 and ’63, open prayer and Christian symbols have never really disappeared from some schools.

MORE NEWS ITEMS INSIDE

NC boosts student tracking from cradle to college AP via WRAL.com: A new federal grant will expand North Carolina's digital record-keeping of student academic histories beginning in infancy for some children.

Suspensions high in Baltimore County Baltimore Sun: Report released this month shows county has highest rate in the region