Posted on 01/03/2011 6:39:06 AM PST by SoFloFreeper
In November, voters in 37 states elected governors, most of whom are new to office. Job creation and economic growth will likely top the list of challenges these leaders will tackle first, and rightly so. But let's hope education reform is not far behind. Florida's investment in reform is already paying off.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Here is an example. For the last decade, Florida has graded schools on a scale of A to F, based solely on standardized test scores. When we started, many complained that "labeling" a school with an F would demoralize students and do more harm than good. Instead, it energized parents and the community to demand change from the adults running the system. School leadership responded with innovation and a sense of urgency. The number of F schools has since plummeted while the number of A and B schools has quadrupled.
Another reform: Florida ended automatic, "social" promotion for third-grade students who couldn't read. Again, the opposition to this hard-edged policy was fierce. Holding back illiterate students seemed to generate a far greater outcry than did the disturbing reality that more than 25% of students couldn't read by the time they entered fourth grade. But today? According to Florida state reading tests, illiteracy in the third grade is down to 16%.
First thing the new super of Memphis City schools did was implement NO FAIL policy for K-3. Now they are thinking of surrendering their charter, so Shelby Co which has the better schools will have to take over the funding. Which will mean a return of busing, flight of both white and blacks out of the County to avoid the busing into the crime/gang/drug plagued City schools.
MCS has dumb down their already dumb down schools to cater to the more under educated illegals swarming into Tennessee.
We are regressing not progressing.
All accountability standards, no matter the state, are “gamed” by the education establishment. It is naive for the WSJ to think anything much has changed. But, even, if these modest improvements have occurred, they nowhere close to bring Florida schools up to an acceptable academic standard.
Unfortunately, even if the academics were acceptable, the schools would still be spiritual deserts and moral cesspools that no parent should allow his children to attend.
I am not yet a parent, but I can assure you there is no way that my children will ever be in the Volusia County School system...
Bravo! In a more critical vein, it would have been nice if I had proofread my post....
Bravo! In a more critical vein, it would have been nice if I had proofread my post....
Florida schools have one major problem, a good old boy entrenched administrative system that almost outnumbers the teachers, all school money goes to the state, then back tio the counties . Our new Guv wants to issue everyone a vouchers, good for any school, public or private. private schools will get 85% of the money a public school would for the same student. Still it would let people vote with their feet to get off the current treadmill of failing schools.
Bush - jut another open borders, pro-La Raza, pro-amnesty and no domestic oil drilling RINO.
I agree with Jessie - “Stay out da bushes!”
and then competition will force an improved product to be provided to customers everywhere...
I hope the public schools are making progress, but I doubt it. My son attended a Christian private school. Every year there were parents who withdrew their children to send them to the public school. They always cited that their children weren’t learning at the Christian school and were only getting C’s and D’s. Miraculously, when they went to the 2000 student public school, they suddenly were straight A students. My son wanted to go to a larger state college. He just completed his first semester, with ease, and told me that many of his friends who went to public school get D’s and F’s on papers because they can’t write and don’t know how to study. He thinks alot of them won’t be back next semester. (he was a B student at the Christian school) Antecdotal, I know.
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