Gov. Jeb Bush keeps the focus on education.
Posted on 04/15/2002 6:16:39 AM PDT by summer
Gov. Jeb Bush keeps the focus on education.
Bush creates panel on FCAT assistance
The governor's order comes after lawmakers fail to agree on accommodations for disabled students.
By STEPHEN HEGARTY, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published April 4, 2002
Legislators couldn't agree on a bill to grant disabled students more accommodations when taking the state's all-important FCAT test, but on Wednesday Gov. Jeb Bush revived the issue with a stroke of the pen.
Bush signed an executive order creating a task force to make recommendations for expanding accommodations. One example might be allowing a blind student to use a "talking" calculator for the test.
The governor left no doubt that he wants more accommodations and he wants them in place before students take the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test next year. The recommendations are expected by October.
The issue is important to disabled students because if they can't pass the FCAT, they can't get a standard diploma, which is a barrier to getting into many colleges.
"That's great news," said Karen Clay of Tampa, a member of the State Advisory Committee for Exceptional Student Education. "The task force at least keeps the issue alive."
The governor's action Wednesday falls short of what advocates had hoped for: immediate legislative action. But given the recent history of the effort, advocates were pleased with Bush's order.
A bill by Rep. Loranne Ausley, D-Tallahassee, failed in the House. And though the issue has been revived during this week's special legislative session, success is uncertain at best, as it could easily get lost in the myriad education issues on the table.
"These students deserve every opportunity to earn a standard high school diploma through reasonable accommodations," the governor's press office quoted Bush as saying. "This executive order will ensure that additional accommodations will be in place before the next administration of the FCAT."
Many disabled students are granted technical accommodations when taking the FCAT. Some are given additional time. Some are assisted by proctors.
But Department of Education rules disallow some other accommodations, even though they are accommodations the students rely on in the classroom and while taking other tests. For instance, if a blind student uses a talking calculator in class, that student can rely on it while taking classroom tests and even while taking the SAT for college admission. But not when taking the FCAT.
Some advocates argued that some public school teachers advised disabled children to transfer to private schools where they wouldn't have to take the FCAT.
When the Ausley bill was heard during the regular legislative session, the DOE opposed it arguing that is was too broad. A spokeswoman for the DOE said Wednesday that the department supports the governor's call for a task force.
"The language earlier in the session did not include the study and the task force," said DOE spokeswoman JoAnn Carrin. "This is an excellent way to explore all the issues."
The governor has called for the 11-member task force to be appointed by April 15.
Wanna bet the "falls short" part is all we'll be hearing about from Jeb's opposition from now on?
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