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Stories about students and the initiatives designed to improve performance. Are the many education reforms Florida has adopted having an impact?

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April 9, 2014

Mining Student Data To Keep Kids From Dropping Out

It’s report card day at Miami Carol City Senior High, and sophomore Mack Godbee is reviewing his grades with his mentor, Natasha Santana-Viera. The first quarter on Godbee’s report card is littered with Ds and Fs. This quarter, there are more Cs and Bs. He’s got an A in English. “Congratulations on that,” says Santana-Viera. “When you need help, do you know where […]

April 4, 2014

New York Parents Organize Movement Against Common Core Tests

The civil disobedience taking place during New York’s statewide testing season may offer a preview of what’s to come when Florida unveils new Common Core-tied tests next year. This is the second year New York has used a home-grown test to assess its Common Core standards. The protests started last year and seem to be […]

April 3, 2014

Why Police Support Common Core Standards In Florida

Florida’s Common Core standards have a new group of supporters: law enforcement. The national anti-crime group Fight Crime: Invest in Kids released a position paper in favor of Florida’s new standards for English language arts and math. The group argues that assessments and higher standards can prevent crime. Here’s the paper’s summary of the connection: “Florida’s law […]

March 25, 2014

Why Computer-Scored Essays Could Eliminate The Need For Writing Tests

Florida’s plans to add computerized grading of its new statewide writing test could eventually eliminate the need for a writing test, advocates for the technology said. Essays on Florida’s new writing test will be scored by a human and a computer, but the computer score will only matter if the score is significantly different from […]

March 21, 2014

New Florida Writing Test Will Use Computers To Grade Student Essays

A computer program will grade student essays on the writing portion of the standardized test set to replace the FCAT, according to bid documents released by the Florida Department of Education. The essays will be scored by a human and a computer, but the computer score will only matter if the score is significantly different […]

March 17, 2014

Florida Schools Chief Picks AIR For Next Statewide Test

Education Commissioner Pam Stewart has recommended the American Institutes for Research produce Florida’s next statewide exam. The new, as-yet-unnamed test is required because Florida is finishing the switch to new math, language arts and literacy standards largely based on the Common Core State Standards adopted by Florida and 44 other states. The current Florida Comprehensive […]

March 14, 2014

FSU Will Examine Florida Colleges’ Remedial Course Changes

Florida State University researchers have won a grant to study the effects of a new state law making remedial math, reading and writing courses optional for many students at Florida’s two- and four-year state colleges. Students who entered high school in the past decade and earned Florida’s standard high school diploma no longer have to […]

March 11, 2014

Florida Matters: Choosing The Next FCAT

Florida Education Commissioner Pam Stewart is expected to recommend a test to (mostly) replace the FCAT this month. A new test is needed because Florida is finishing the switch to new K-12 math, language arts and literacy standards this fall. The standards are largely based on Common Core standards fully adopted by 44 other states […]

Follow-Up: State Rejects Miami Jackson High School’s Grade Appeal

Miami Jackson Senior High School has lost its appeal to become an A-rated school after disputing test scores , the Miami Herald reports. The Florida Department of Education said the scores from students learning English would not have changed the school’s grade: The state’s ruling was expected, even though Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said […]

March 3, 2014

New College Scholarship Fund Raises $25 Million For Undocumented Immigrants

Former Washington Post owner Donald Graham and Miami education activist Gaby Pacheco sat down with NPR to talk about a new scholarship program for undocumented immigrants. Allowing undocumented students access to in-state tuition rates will be a big issue in the legislative session set to begin tomorrow. A court has ruled Florida can not force […]

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