Lee County School Board Reverses Testing Boycott

Ashley Lopez / WGCU

Testing opponents quietly show support for speakers at Tuesday's Lee County school board meeting. The board voted 3-2 to reverse its state testing boycott.

The Lee County school board has reversed its decision to reject state tests, after board member Mary Fischer changed her mind.

Last week the board became the first in Florida to refuse to offer state tests to its students on a 3-2 vote. The test are required by state law, and the results help determine everything from who can graduate high school or move on to the next grade, to state grades for public schools and teacher evaluations and pay.

Several news outlets reported that the crowd mostly opposed the use of state tests, but several speakers urged the district to reverse the decision and come up with another plan first. District superintendent Nancy Graham said she was concerned the decision could put the district’s $280 million in state funding at risk.

We’ve gathered a Storify from this morning’s meeting: