LWVeducation
Representative Fresen refused to accept most parts of Senator Gaetz’s education funding plan. Now, the talks will escalate to the House and Senate Appropriations committees. It will be up to Chairmen Lee and Corcoran to hammer out a deal. According to news reports, the only agreement between the two was to avoid increasing local property taxes to support new education funding.
Senator Gaetz and Representative Fresen are meeting this weekend to hammer out the education budget. I received a list of Representative Fresen’s proposals. It shifts $430 million in projected funding increases from local property taxes to the State. The new per student amount would be $7,178.49 and tops the 2007 level by about $52 per student. This is long overdue.
There are increases in specific areas and as much total funding as reported earlier.
A manifesto appeared in support of a “new” approach to testing signed by a seemingly random list of educators and instructional materials developers. It is frankly a little bizarre. So, I looked up the federal grants they mention which support assessment. Now, I understand why this collection of people is trying to build support. It is the federal department of education’s response to the Common Core testing fiasco.
I am not really opposed to at least some testing, especially if it is used to help students and teachers improve instruction. When I used to be involved in testing, I was intrigued by the possibility of using technology for innovative learning–especially simulations and critical thinking. These end of year marathons for which our district began to prepare 4o days in advance are, however, something else.
This new vision puts an emphasis on individualized learning. Every student moves at his/her own pace. Computerized testing periodically provides feedback. This means cumulative data records must be kept on each child.
It troubles me. Children learn from each other. Teachers facilitate that learning. Computers are machines, not teachers. Yet, I want computers in the classrooms. I want children to have easy access to information, simulations, complex problems and alternative solutions.
We can’t be afraid of the unknown. We have to experiment–yes, even with our children. We cannot move blindly forward either. Technology is creating change all around us that we all recognize. Our phones are attached to us and too often control us. Their convenience is addictive but not necessarily productive. I am sitting here at 7:30 in the morning with my computer on my lap. I should be outside! Who is in control, me or the machine?
So here is the manifesto. We will be OK as long as we are watching, thinking and in control.
Have you thought about going to Diane Ravitch’s NPE conference this year? I am thinking about it. They will have workshops on community activities to spread the word on improving public education. This is the kind of thing we are doing in Gainesville. Maybe we could all get together and share strategies. Here is a link to the conference announcement.
THE NPE CONFERENCE IS IN RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA APRIL 16, 17
SHARE THE POST WITH THOSE WHO ARE IN THE TRENCHES WITH US!
Can you help us? Can we help you? Shall we get together in Raleigh?
We are working with our PTAs, meeting with legislators, speaking at community organizations, working with school board members, holding forums, writing newspaper articles…..lots of things. We recognize we need to hone our messages so others will listen more carefully. We know we need to listen carefully to others to find common ground.
There is a better way than the test and punish approach to achieving equity in our educational system. School grades, student retention, student achievement gain scores for teacher evaluations have narrowed the curriculum and resulted in test driven instruction. They do not improve student achievement.
What are the alternatives? Many analysts report that solutions must be community based. Educational, economic, and social factors are intertwined. Improving schools takes the support of the entire community. How this can be accomplished is beginning to emerge.
The two new bills heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee today were not really new. Senator Gaetz collapsed a number of existing bills into two omnibus bills. The recess bill did not get included. The limit on capital outlay for public school facilities was included.
The second bill relates to early childhood education, open enrollment, dual enrollment, private school sports participation, and charter school accountability.
These bills move on next week. A lot of negotiation will happen between the House and the Senate. The specifics follow:
Legislation
The devil is often in the details, and this bill HB 830 Stargel has many provisions. In a nutshell, it requires better background checks and more transparency for charter providers. This is good, right? It also gives the State Board of Education the ability to authorize High Impact Charter Networks. Maybe this is not so good.
Charter providers in approved networks apply to districts, but if they are already authorized, is this simply smoke and mirrors? In a way, this is a mini version of the bill to amend the constitution to create a separate charter system. It takes away local control. The constitutional amendment will not make it to the ballot, but the High Impact Charter Networks are likely to become law. If I were a betting person, I would think this is another effort to attract and expand KIPP schools.
Have you seen the latest headlines: Florida is the only state meeting NAEP standards? You might think we have the highest standards in the country.
What it really means is that Florida is the only state which reports five levels on its state assessment that correspond to the five levels of NAEP. This is a good thing.
It is not enough.
I really enjoy little children. So must Bill de Blasio in New York City. His universal full day preK program enrolls more children than in any other state except Georgia. All four-year-olds have access to preschool. All income levels participate.
It is no secret that early childhood is important, under staffed, and under enrolled. Where do you start in recommending improvements in standards and staffing? How is quality measured? Which are the most critical priorities to improve care? The Florida Association for the Education of Young Children did a survey. We also compiled some legislative initiatives.