State Board Will Get Update On Common Core And Teacher Raises Tuesday

Kyle Stokes / StateImpact Indiana

Education Commissioner Tony Bennett will update the State Board of Education on how much progress Florida districts have made toward meeting a 2014 deadline for new education standards.

Will Florida need a ‘Plan B’ test for new standards set to hit state schools in 2014? And if not, will school have the computers and bandwidth necessary for the online tests?

That’s just one item on tomorrow’s State Board of Education agenda.

Education Commissioner Tony Bennett has already said he’ll be updating progress on preparing for the new benchmarks, known as Common Core State Standards. Bennett has said Florida is on track for the fall 2014 deadline. Legislative leaders have said Florida should meet the deadline.

But Bennett has also said an accompanying test, known as the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, may not be ready to (mostly) replace the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test in the spring of 2015.

The test is still being designed. Bennett said some states may not agree with Florida on where to set passing scores on the exam. Finally, some Florida school districts may not have the Internet bandwidth or devices needed to administer the online exam.

State board member Kathleen Shanahan said last month that lawmakers’ proposed budgets did not allocate enough money for Internet infrastructure or computers.

The board will also discuss teacher pay increases. Both houses included money for raises, though both said at least part of the money should be awarded based on student performance.

The board will also decide whether to grant or deny the applications of five charter schools.

The meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Capitol. You can watch live on the Florida Channel.