Judge Gievers upheld the Opt-Out parents complaint against districts who denied promotion to children who signed in to take the Florida Standards Assessment this spring. She did not, however, require districts to promote those children without completing a portfolio to demonstrate their proficiency. Some parents withdrew their children from school. Some used a portfolio option. The problem for at least one parent is that the portfolio option required scores on other tests to be included. Since the entire promotion process is under review in the appeals court, Judge Gievers has decided that the courts need time to ponder. Maybe she is correct. Let’s consider the implications of her decision.
Monthly Archives: September 2016
Good News About Little Kids
I have an exceptional soft spot, as do many others, for little children. When I hear good news about kids, it is fun to share it.
PBS Airs Show on Florida Education
From Pat Hall
Pat wanted you to know about a special edition of Rob Lorei’s Florida This Week. This show is on education and airs THURSDAY (not the usual Friday show) at 9 PM on PBS. One of the panelists is Liana Fox who reports that she plugged the League’s work on charter schools. Here is a link that lists the rest of the impressive line-up.
The PBS station airs in the Hillsborough County area.
Escape and Segregate or Integrate: Which way forward?
What is the real reason some parents support charter schools? It is an opportunity, they hope, for their children to escape from other children. This attitude has driven a rift in black communities as reported by the New York Times.
Third Grade Retention Law Under Scrutiny
The State Board of Education (SBE) was asking questions about third grade retention policies. The general understanding was that students who scored a ‘level 1’ on the Florida Standards Assessment (FSA) would be retained unless there was a good cause exemption.
There is more to this than meets the eye.
Is Best and Brightest Bonus Doomed?
The Tampa Bay Times reported that the State Board of Education (SBE) Vice Chair, John Padget has called for eliminating the teacher bonus based on SAT scores. The money for the program has been allocated in the budget, but the law has to be renewed this coming session. Erik Fresen, who championed the measure is no longer in the legislature. Pam Stewart, Florida’s Commissioner of Education, is looking at the impact of the program on teacher retention and will report back to the SBE.