Latest glitches erode confidence in students’ online testing

Florida faces a confidence crisis in its annual testing program. Last week, for the second time in two months, the computerized system crashed, the result of avoidable vendor errors. The upshot has been heightened challenges to Florida’s 15-year-old accountability model. Parents and education advocates question whether the state pushed online testing before its time. They…

FSBA Daily Updates: Legislative Session 04-23-2015

In the House SESSION: Bills on 2nd Reading: HB 383 – Private Property Rights by Edwards – READ 2ND TIME; AMENDED; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 4/24/15 Authorizes governmental entity to treat written claim as pending litigation for certain purposes; provides that certain settlement agreements reached between owner & governmental entity apply irrespective of when…

Miami-Dade County Public Schools slashes hundreds of End-of-Course Exams

Miami-Dade County Public Schools has eliminated nearly all of the 300 District-Developed End-of-Course (DDEOC) assessments that were originally scheduled for Spring 2015.  The move follows the passage of HB7069, a law that provides flexibility for districts to determine how to measure student progress, eliminating the state mandate for district-designated, end-of-course exams to be given in…

FSBA Daily Updates: Legislative Session 04-22-2015

In the House SESSION: HB 7137 – Student Extracurricular Activities by Education – READ 3RD TIME; PASSED THE HOUSE Providing for periodic review of the Florida High School Athletic Association’s performance of its duties; providing requirements regarding fees and admission prices; revising provisions regarding eligibility, transfer, and recruiting; providing procedures for resolving student eligibility disputes;…