Guest AuthorThere are reforms occurring in Florida’s education system, and we have the opportunity to improve our education system and further advance Florida students’ progress.
Florida’s State Board of Education will soon determine our state’s “cut scores” on state-administered tests, and set the new standard for proficiency, the mastery and in-depth knowledge of core subject areas.
At the Associated Industries of Florida (AIF), our mission is to encourage and support businesses and industrial growth in Florida, and to encourage good measures that will lead to economic growth and prosperity in Florida. That’s why AIF encourages Florida to dedicate itself to our students by raising the academic bar to a level that aligns with readiness for students’ success in the workforce or post-secondary education.
As Florida’s representative of the National Association of Manufacturers and the voice of Florida business, our continued job creation and economic development advancements relies on Florida’s graduating students who are prepared and aspire to succeed at their jobs.
Florida’s students are our state’s next generation of economic drivers: our employees, our business owners, our inventors and our investors. The mastery of core subjects is vital if we want to continue to grow and strengthen our economy.
Every year, employers nationwide spend billions of dollars to catch-up new employees on skills taught, but not mastered, in K-12 schools. Such wasted time and money results in slow job growth and loss in income. Florida has the chance to change that and ensure our students are well-prepared, reducing the wasted time and energy that could be spent in a much more productive way.
Florida students must be held to higher standards, and raising the academic bar will do just that. No matter how great our percentage of “proficient” students in Florida looks nationwide, it will not matter if our students are taking exams and tests with point-cushioned scores. And, although they may look good on paper, cushioned scores are not beneficial to our students in any form.
Additionally, if students choose to attend post-secondary schools outside of Florida, we must guarantee they are well-prepared in comparison to their peers who may have had tougher standards in their respective states. Taking remedial courses on skills students should have mastered in K-12 schools can cause these ill-prepared students to fall behind, leading to additional years of schooling, and keeping them out of the workforce as productive members of our society.
If Florida students are ill-prepared, we all lose. We must ensure that they have the skills, knowledge and ability to lead successful, productive lives. To do this, we must raise the academic bar and our cut scores in Florida, and expect more from our students. They must be prepared when they graduate high school, whether they choose to enter our workforce or continue their education.
Tom Feeney is the president and CEO of Associated Industries of Florida. Column courtesy of Context Florida.
