CREDO Study finds grim results for virtual charter schools

Students in virtual charter schools fare significantly worse than their peers in traditional schools, and the picture in Florida looks especially bleak, according to a new study by Stanford University’s Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO). Virtual charters provide flexibility that might benefit some students, the report concludes, but right now, “Academic benefits from online charter…

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In wake of controversy, LCS conducts gender issues training

The controversy surrounding a gender-neutral student’s decision to wear a dress — an act that flew in the face of anatomical conventions — raised many questions about the district’s bylaws regarding the dress code, school environment and discrimination against certain students. In coincidental timing, a week after the incident, Leon County Schools familiarized dozens of administrators with the policies…

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Amid new test results, a call in Florida to ‘be honest’ about student performance

The senior member of Florida’s State Board of Education called for more honesty in test score reporting Wednesday, just hours after the release of new nationwide data showing student performance had slipped in key areas. Fourth- and eighth-grade scores in the 2015 National Assessment of Educational Progress slid in Florida, after years of steady improvement.…

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Florida Board of Education resists educator-parent pressure on test scores

TALLAHASSEE — Members of the Florida Board of Education want Education Commissioner Pam Stewart to provide them with more data to help them set passing marks for the new statewide assessment, which continues to attract backlash from superintendents, teachers and parents statewide. Standing by the Florida Standards Assessments and in an effort to prove the…

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