Florida School Boards Association
The Legislature-mandated validity study of Florida’s new accountability tests is officially under way. It started Friday morning with a 90-minute conversation about how to pick a firm to review the exams, and what that firm should look for. The six key areas of the review, as listed on a draft scope of work, were test…
Education Commissioner Pam Stewart says she is largely meeting goals leading Florida schools. The State Department of Education posted Stewart’s self-evaluation of her performance Thursday. The State Board of Education is scheduled to discuss Stewart’s evaluation at a meeting next week. Stewart says she has met the top three goals set out for her by…
The Florida Standards Assessment Review Selection Panel was established during the 2015 Regular Session in House Bill 7069 for the purpose of selecting an independent entity to conduct an independent verification of the psychometric validity of the Florida Standards Assessment. The selection must occur no later than June 1, 2015, and must consider, at a…
This week, Secretary Duncan announced the 2015 class of U.S. Presidential Scholars. This program was established by Executive Order in 1964 to honor academic achievement by graduating high school seniors. It was expanded in 1979 to honor students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the arts. Each year, 141 students are named, including at least one young…
The three-person committee charged with choosing an independent reviewer of Florida’s new state tests will begin its work on Friday. The Standards Review Selection Panel, established in HB 7069, is comprised of appointees from the governor, House speaker and Senate president. The members are Sen. Jeremy Ring, Flagler College president William Proctor and St. Johns schools…
Today’s economy demands that all young people develop high-level literacy, quantitative reasoning, problem solving, communication, and collaboration skills, all grounded in a rigorous and content-rich K-12 curriculum. Acquiring these skills ensures that high school graduates are academically prepared to pursue the future of their choosing. Many state tests, however, continue to mislead the public about…
WASHINGTON — Gov. Rick Scott’s call for a status quo or “continuation” state budget faces growing resistance from leaders of the Florida Legislature, who say they can still resolve an impasse and produce a budget by July 1. Taking direct aim at President Barack Obama, Scott took his case to Washington on Tuesday where he…
UPDATE: The DOE told districts at 10:44 a.m.: “Pearson has confirmed that the issue with PearsonAccess has been resolved and the site is now up and running normally. Please share this information with users in your district and contact our office if you have further questions.” ORIGINAL POST: The Florida Department of Education advised school…
With over 81 percent of students graduating within four-years of entering high school, the Class of 2013 achieved the highest on-time graduation rate in U.S. history according to the 2015 Building a Grad Nation report. After graduation rates languished in the low 70s for nearly four decades, rates have accelerated dramatically over the past decade.…
For years, Florida middle and high school students who did poorly on state math and reading tests had to take remedial classes in those subjects the next academic year. It was a law that frustrated many teenagers, educators and parents. Now, it’s gone. The testing law Gov. Rick Scott signed last month (HB 7069) got…