uring his recent campaign for re-election, Gov. Rick Scott called for a “thorough investigation” of standardized testing in Florida’s public schools.
“That work has begun,” Education Commissioner Pam Stewart said this morning at the State Board of Education meeting in Seminole County.
The Florida Department of Education, Stewart said, has begun the review that Scott, re-elected earlier this month, called for in late August while he was in a tight campaign battle with former Gov. Charlie Crist.
Stewart provided few details but to say the work was underway.
The investigation was expected to look at how many tests students take, who requires them (the state or local school districts?) and how much time they take up.
Across the state, testing has been a key issue — and the source of many complaints — this school year.
That’s because Florida is moving to a new, tougher series of standardized language arts and math tests this spring, which many fear will be harder for students to pass, and by state law this year districts must give end-of-course exams in all subjects not covered by state tests. That is expected to increase the volume of testing significantly.
