John O'Connor is the Miami-based education reporter for StateImpact Florida. John previously covered politics, the budget and taxes for The (Columbia, S.C) State. He is a graduate of Allegheny College and the University of Maryland.
“The board is extremely grateful for Gerard’s leadership this past year,” said State Board of Education Chair Kathleen Shanahan. “He has worked with the board as we have raised standards for our students and our schools. He is a leader who embodies and understands the importance of education reform.”
Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson says Florida schools spend just 1 percent of "instruction time" on the FCAT. PolitiFact says 'false."
Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson has defended the state’s standardized testing regimen by arguing the state spends just 1 percent of “instructional time” on the exams.
Much of the ruling hinges on the phrase “instructional time.”
The state Department of Education analysis Robinson based his statement upon counted only time taking the test. But PoltiFact argues that time spent prepping students for the test should be considered “instructional time.”
Algebra is the foundation for most higher math, including trigonometry and calculus. And the application of advanced math helps explain physics, geometry, biology and how the world works in general.
Bob Sikes over at Scathing Purple Musings got his hands on an email from Florida’s StudentsFirst rep urging allies to get out and comment on blogs.
The email from StudentsFirst regional outreach manager Catherine Robinson says there’s a contest for the best “rapid response” and included links to some recent stories. The winner gets a “gift card to the restaurant or store of choice.”
A copy of the email was passed along to us, and a couple of StateImpact Florida posts with references to the parent trigger were on their recommended commenting list.
The parent trigger was narrowly defeated during the legislative session earlier this year and allies, such as former Gov. Jeb Bush, vow that the bill will be back. StudentsFirst spent a lot of time and effort urging lawmakers to approve the bill this year.
The Olympics kick off in London today (yes, soccer kicked off a couple days ago), and former D.C. schools chancellor Michelle Rhee’s StudentsFirst is out with an Olympics-themed ad criticizing the U.S. education system.
The ad shows a chubby man ineptly competing in rhythmic gymnastics while a commentator observes “the once-proud U.S. program has been relying too much on their reputation. I’d say they’re completely unprepared.”
The U.S. education system is that flabby OIympic athlete and needs reform, the ad concludes.
Mount Pleasant Standard Base Middle School principal Yolanda Capers. Mount Pleasant was the only state middle school to jump to an A from an F grade this year.
Principal Yolanda Capers says the grade stung because she saw her students improving.
“It’s devastating because…our students were still learning,” she says. “58 percent of our students made learning gains in reading. That’s a lot of learning gains. However we still received an F.”
This year, school leaders warned more Florida principals would know Capers’ feeling.
StateImpact seeks to inform and engage local communities with broadcast and online news focused on how state government decisions affect your lives. Learn More »
