Nearly 98 percent of Florida teachers earned a top rating, according to initial statewide teacher evaluation data released Tuesday, a slight increase over last year’s results. About one-third of teachers earned the top rating of “highly effective,” up from 23 percent of teachers last year. About 66 percent were rated “effective,” the largest category this […]

The latest U.S. results on an international math, science and reading test are ‘sobering,’ experts said, and show the average U.S. student continues to lose ground against those around the globe. Overall, the U.S. finished 17th in reading, 21st in science and 26th in math. That’s largely because U.S. scores were flat while other countries […]

Tomorrow marks the latest round of international education testing results, this time for the Program for International Student Assessment, or PISA. PISA is a test given every three years to a sample of about 500,000 15-year-old students in 60 countries. Those students represents about 90 percent of the world’s economy, according to the Organization for […]

States granted exemptions from the federal No Child Left Behind law are asking for more time to get ready for new teacher evaluation rules and to not have to test students twice on both new standards and outgoing standards, according to Education Week. A dozen states have asked for more time to prepare for new […]

More than four dozen contemporary young adult and children’s authors were in Florida over the weekend for Miami Book Fair International. As Common Core State Standards for English and language arts are putting a national spotlight on what kids read in class, many of those authors are thinking about the way literature is taught in […]

The Great Recession — and disappearing middle-class jobs — may be encouraging more people to go into teaching. Bloomberg View’s Megan McArdle and American Enterprise Institute writer Neerav Kingsland argue it’s happening, and that it will mean better quality candidates entering the teaching field. Good students looking for stability might seek it with a classroom […]

Education and the economy will be the most important issues in Florida’s governor race. That’s what Democratic candidate — and former Republican governor — Charlie Crist told MSNBC’s Ed Schultz on Monday. Crist, Democratic former state Sen. Nan Rich and Republican Gov. Rick Scott have all talked about education early in the race to try […]

Florida school superintendents are asking for three additional years to fully switch to math, English and literacy standards known as Common Core. Florida is one of 45 states to adopt the standards, which outline what students should know at the end of each grade. Kindergarten, first and second grade classrooms are using the standards now. […]

Shortly after becoming Agriculture Commissioner, Adam Putnam asked lawmakers to move the state’s school lunch program to his agency. Lawmakers approved the change in 2011. Putnam stopped by WUSF’s studios this week for an interview with Florida Matters. Host Carson Cooper asked Putnam what has changed since his agency took over school food programs. Q: […]

Marshall Criser III is the finalist to lead the Florida university system. He’s also an AT&T Florida executive and an open advocate for the Common Core State Standards. Florida is one of 45 states which have adopted the math, English and literacy standards, which outline what students should know at the end of each grade. […]