School Testing 2016: Same Tests, Different Stakes

It has been a high-stakes year for high-stakes standardized tests. The debate over renewing the big federal education law turned, in part, on whether annual testing would remain a federal mandate. Republicans initially said no, Democrats said yes. Ultimately the overhaul passed with tests still in place. On the other hand, this fall President Obama…

New testing bill on its way, Sen. Gaetz says

As Florida’s 2016 legislative session fast approaches, lawmakers keep filing education-related bills even during the holiday lull. The latest: Rep. Reggie Fullwood’s proposal to create a social services oriented pilot program for the state’s poorest, most academically struggling schools. One highly anticipated measure, though, remains conspicuously absent. On the heels of spring testing troubles, and amid calls to…

Florida Board of Education vice chairman speaks against school grade rule proposal

Florida Board of Education vice chairman John Padget, long a vocal proponent of tougher academic standards, on Monday expressed his disappointment with commissioner Pam Stewart’s proposed school grading rules in a letter to his colleagues. Stewart’s grading simulation, released earlier in December, would allow schools with less than 50 percent of points in the grading…