We're extending the deadline for submissions of questions to the Towson University officials who are partnering with the city schools to run four elementary/middle schools in Cherry Hill and one in Morrell Park. Between now and next Wednesday, May 24, let us know what questions you have about how these schools will be run.

In The Sun's education news today...  A possible contender to be Baltimore's next schools chief has faced ethical questions in Philadelphia about a trip he took to South Africa, partly subsidized by an education software company that later received a no-bid contract in his school system. An investigation cleared the candidate, Gregory Thornton, of wrongdoing. Reports conflict about whether he remains under consideration for the top job in Baltimore. Read our story here. Meanwhile in Howard County, a high school guidance counselor was charged with cocaine possession. On a brighter note... Leah Waller, a teacher at Maree Garnett Farring Elementary, was named Baltimore's Teacher of the Year. And in Baltimore County, 117 students from eight high schools were recognized last night during a ceremony at Towson University that marked their completion of a national college-prep program, Advancement Via Individual Determination.  

The state today released an analysis of U.S. Census figures showing that more than half of Maryland's preschool students were minorities in 2006. Learn more about the changing face of Maryland schools here.