The big story: Florida high school students and their teachers have fretted since early April about the fate of their advanced and career-technical courses in the coming academic year.

Their concern centered on a legislative proposal to cut in half the additional funding schools receive for programs such as Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate. The potential loss of millions of dollars threatened to reduce access to such curriculum.

The worries lingered as the Legislature left Tallahassee without a budget deal. Advocates used the time to let lawmakers know how they felt.

Back in budget conference, those lawmakers appear to have gotten the message. The latest Senate proposal calls for a new categorical fund that would include teacher bonuses, school bonuses and distric

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