Proposal would give students alternatives to controversial statewide test

TALLAHASSEE — Although Florida lawmakers don’t plan to revamp the beleaguered Florida Standards Assessments this session, they’re likely to consider a related proposal to let students take other standardized tests — like the ACT or SAT — instead. State Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, this week filed a highly anticipated plan to let students make use…

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FSBA #FridayFive – Week of Jan. 3, 2016

1.  Cut Scores and School Grades approved by State Board of Education http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/testing/state-education-board-to-make-key-decisions-today-on-florida-school-grades/2260120 2.  Florida high school graduation rates improved http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/floridas-graduation-rate-soars-0?utm_source=Constant%20Contact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=News%20Alert 3.  Legislative session starts next week:  issues to watch http://miami.cbslocal.com/2016/01/04/10-issues-to-watch-during-the-2016-session/ 4.  Tallahassee downtown public parking (see you soon!) http://www.tallahasseedowntown.com/sites/default/files/dntwn_parking_2014.pdf 5.  Just for fun:  NEW elements added to periodic table http://www.huffingtonpost.com/melanie-fine/our-ephemeral-periodic-table_b_8921490.html Have a great weekend!…

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A primer on the damaging movement to privatize public schools

Marion Brady is a veteran educator who has long argued that public education needs a paradigm shift. Brady says schools need a complete transformation in what and how students learn — not the Common Core State Standards, standardized tests and other elements of corporate-influenced school reform. Here’s his latest piece, on efforts by some reformers…

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Can Schools Be Fixed?

Experts on K-12 education offer their reasons for optimism and pessimism going forward. It’s been a tumultuous year for America’s schools—one marked by an expanding minority-student population, an increasingly discontent teaching force, a backlash against standardized testing, and shifting understanding of education reform. It’s seen greater attention on areas traditionally dismissed as nonessential: things like…

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