When Florida began its voluntary prekindergarten program, the criticisms began that it aimed to serve many youngsters but with little quality. It’s been 15 years since voters put the system in place, and the reviews have yet to change. In a report released Wednesday, the National Institute for Early Education Research found Florida second of…
After considering and incorporating extensive feedback from stakeholders across the education system and the public, the U.S. Department of Education today announced final regulations to implement the accountability, data reporting, and state plan provisions of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), with a focus on supporting states in using their flexibility to provide a high-quality,…
Newly released national high school graduation rates show improvement across the board, including in Florida. But Florida continues to sit near the bottom of the pack, despite its growth. The 2014-15 data, distributed by the White House on Monday in advance of an education speech by President Barack Obama, shows Florida had a 77.9 percent…
FSBA #FridayFive – 5 Things You Should Know Don’t miss these 5 top education articles and announcements: The public’s view of public education 2016 PDK poll is in 16 ideas for education (you may not agree with all) 2017 Magna Awards Nomination Period Now Open Get ready to submit your best…
Calling it a “game changer,” Florida leaders made a sweeping overhaul of teacher evaluations in 2011, tying those reviews to student test scores in a push to boost educator quality and, in turn, student achievement. But by the numbers, the new evaluations have led to little change. At the end of the 2009-10 school year,…
The testing company that administers Florida’s key standardized exam has lost nearly $5 million because of problems that marred the roll out of the computer-based tests in 2015, the Florida Department of Education said Friday. The department said American Institutes for Research, or AIR, will reimburse the state or lose payments that total $4.8 million.…
As retained Florida third graders return to school this week and next, district leaders are reminding principals and teachers that the children still may move up to fourth grade after classes resume. State law requires all districts to have midyear promotion plans for children held back in third grade because they did not show grade-level reading…
FSBA #FridayFive – 5 Things You Should Know Each week, Executive Director, Andrea Messina, compiles a top 5 list of news stories that School Board Members should know about: Website Development School To Open In Wyoming More states sue over transgender bathroom directive Florida parents crowd funding fight against third grade retention What’s good in public…
Annual school grades were just part of the latest data released Friday by the Florida Department of Education Less noticed, but also with their own impact, school districts grades came out, along with the list of lowest performing elementary schools. Those schools have to offer an extra hour of daily reading instruction. More than half…
Teachers and other school employees who have long anticipated a bonus from the state’s A-Plus plan shouldn’t have to wait much longer. The money should be delivered to school districts on Tuesday, according to the Florida Department of Education. School grade appeals have been reviewed, and the 2015 grades are now formalized. So the $134.6…