Early release days may be coming to an end in Manatee County schools. The school board discussed the idea during a workshop Tuesday but made no decision
For the last five years, the school district has ended the day almost two hours early on what has become known as “Wacky Wednesdays.” The move was designed to give teachers more time to plan coursework and take advantage of training opportunities. The results have been mixed.
The state board of education lowered FCAT writing requirements and now school leaders are suggesting reasons why, in Wednesday’s education headlines.
Low FCAT writing scores tied to prep time – Lee County school leaders believe FCAT writing scores plunged because schools did not prepare students for the new requirements in time.The Fort Myers News-Pres
As the general public now gets a chance to weigh in on a first draft of common standards in science, the question arises: Who is writing these voluntary standards, anyway? The short answer? It’s complicated. Organizers have billed the development of the so-called Next Generation Science Standards as a “state-led” process.
Preliminary writing scores on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) have plunged, and state education leaders are taking emergency action. Standards were raised a year ago, making the test more rigorous. The passing grade is 4. The highest possible score is 6.
So how bad are the results? 81 percent of 4th graders scored at least a 4 last year. On the latest test, just 27 percent scored that high. Only 33 percent of 8th graders passed, down from 82 percent. 10th graders passing the writing test dropped from 75 to 38 percent.
Florida’s board of education is meeting today to debate changing scoring requirements on the state writing test.
The Florida Board of Education is holding an emergency meeting this morning to debate whether to lower the passing score on the writing portion of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.
Parents sign petition against use of FCAT – A growing number of parents and school boards are signing up in opposition to so-called high-stakes testing.The Miami Herald
Manatee approves all-girls charter school – Manatee County’s school board has approved the district’s first single-sex charter school, an elementary school for girls. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune
New Advocacy Groups Shaking Up Education Field – Education Week takes a look at the policies, people and politics of an emerging cadre of education advocacy groups this week.Education Week
Florida International University senior Courtney Johnson works 20 hours a week as a secretary on campus. This summer she’s taken out $2,700 in loans to pay for summer tuition. She only took out $600 in loans for the full 2011–2012 fall and spring semesters.
College students who need to go to summer school have few choices for grants and scholarships.
And their options just shrank.
The federal government is no longer giving out a need-based Pell Grant to help students pay for summer tuition.
And the replacement is more loans.
Senior Courtney Johnson has taken summer courses at Florida International University for the past two years.
She received the federal summer Pell Grant each time.
It’s covered most of her summer tuition.
But this summer she’s taking out $2,700 in student loans. That just happens to be about the amount of a full summer Pell Grant.
“And then I still have to buy my own textbooks and I still had to pay $350 out of my own pocket because they didn’t offer enough loans,” she said.
A lot of students max out their student loan options during the fall and spring semesters. Continue Reading →
Scott has appointed a panel, but Goldstein says the recommendations are already written: Sell out state universities and turn them into glorified vocational institutions.
Florida A&M University’s Marching 100 band will stay sidelined indefinitely. FAMU President Dr. James Ammons told the FAMU Board of Trustees this morning that the band’s suspension will continue through the 2012–2013 school year.
The trustees met via teleconference. Their focus was last November’s hazing death of drum major Robert Champion and whether the suspension of band activities should be lifted.
Ammons said he was heavily influenced by the need to be respectful of Robert Champion’s family and other victims.
The Florida Department of Education is recommending lowering the passing score on the FCAT writing test to 3.5 from 4.
Florida’s Board of Education has called an emergency meeting tomorrow to talk about state writing test standards.
According to materials the board has posted online, the state Department of Education is recommending lowering the required score needed to pass the test to 3.5 from 4 (out of six).
That might be because the percentage of students passing the test has nose-dived this year after the state board increased grading standards this year.
The change would dramatically increase the percentage of students who would earn a passing grade score this year, according to the report.
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