For more than a decade, Florida's legislators and governors--first Jeb Bush and then Charles Crist--have pushed one of the nation's most ambitious education reform agendas: grading the performance of schools before No Child Left Behind was even an idea. Florida may be more known to outsiders for everything from its Indian River citrus crop to the family entertainment megalopolis in Orlando. But the state's menu of school improvements and its continuing appetite for school reform have drawn away plenty of attention from around the country. The rise in Florida's educational fortunes, supported steadily increasing student and school achievement, represents an accomplishment light years ahead of and worlds apart from the state's early days. This article discusses Florida's educational timeline, its challenges of diversity, and its plan for education.