Guest AuthorFlorida’s educational ship of state hit an iceberg last week. By the end of the week, Education Commissioner Pam Stewart was insisting that it was just a “small gash” and that the problem had been fixed. Legislators are rushing in to change the route and even suggesting that the ship return to port.
The voyage was conceived in 2011 when the Florida Legislature passed the “Student Success Act,” which was quickly signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott. The blueprints had been approved when the state signed onto the Common Core. The ship was launched on its maiden voyage in 2014 over protests of expert educators, but the legislators felt that the destination was more important than delays. Teachers warned of the dangers of excessive speed with no trial runs, but our state representative felt that the company hired to design the test knew how to plan and execute such a complex project.
So the ship left port with no plan “B,” trusting in the superiority and unsinkable design of modern technology. The owners were so sure of their future success that they did not provide sufficient lifeboats for the passengers and crew. The crew knew about the iceberg ahead but were unable to turn the ship in time. Urgent messages were sent out but help was too far away and too slow to save the majority of the passengers.
Forgive the extended analogy to the Titanic, but there are numerous, ominous parallels. Even the designers of that “unsinkable” ship had reservations about how it might behave in a crisis. They warned the captain of the dangers of excessive speed, but he was under pressure from the owners to break speed records and help their bottom line. One of the owners was actually on the ship encouraging the captain to go faster and faster. Ironically, he escaped in a lifeboat while the captain and designer went down with the ship.
The governor, Legislature and education commissioner all enthusiastically supported Florida’s testing journey. Educators at all levels, both conservative and liberal, who objected were ignored and accused of being afraid of accountability. So who now will hold all these accountability enthusiasts accountable? I may be psychic but I expect many of them will be the first in the lifeboats.
We need to remember that the educational ship of state does not make quick changes. Teachers have been drilling and preparing students for these tests since the plan was approved in the spring of 2014. When the Legislature ties teacher evaluations to how their students do, it is almost impossible for career educators not to take this into consideration. Perhaps even more important for teachers: students must pass these exams to advance to the next grade level and get their diplomas at the end.
The sinking of the Titanic altered lives forever. Florida’s testing Titanic can do the same.
The Legislature seems to feel it deserves a pat on the back for eliminating the eleventh-grade Florida Standards Assessment, an obviously extraneous exam cancelled at the last minute. Why was this not done long ago? The course content for English III and preparation for the FSA are not the same thing. Teachers have been taking time away from teaching the course in order to prepare students for the test. Now all that time has come to nothing.
What about the students who struggled to log on and complete the FSA computerized test last week and whose work was delayed or made impossible by computer glitches? If the legislature decides to “hold harmless” these students, what does that mean? If a high school student is unable to do a test due to computer snafus, can they still get their diplomas or will they be held in limbo and forced to do a retake on a later date?
Computer issues have destroyed the “standardized” aspect of the FSA. Some students tested normally in the designated time. Others almost finished but were booted off. Others logged on, saw the prompt and the readings, and then were knocked off. If they were able to get back on and finish later in the day or the next day, they had more time to think about the task and formulate their answers. Testing under a variety of conditions means that the results of each group cannot be fairly compared to others. If students in the same grade level have the same prompt but are testing at different times, who is to say that the early testers will not communicate with the later ones, which would give the latter an advantage over the former?
Student schedules are based on the results of the test. Even honor roll students have to take intensive reading if their scores are not high enough on the state tests. If test results are non-existent or incorrect, how are guidance counselors going to set student schedules for next year? The state end of course exams are either a graduation requirement or part of their final course grade. What happens to these students if they are unable to take or complete the exams?
In addition to looking at the number of tests, the state legislature has to consider the wisdom of tying diplomas and pupil progress plus teacher evaluations to the results of an imperfect system. The Palm Beach County School Board already asked for a one-year suspension of the punitive application of the 2011 law and the new FSA tests for at least one year, a step in the right direction. The problems with the new test prove that one year is too short. Repealing the law would demonstrate that our current legislators and governor have the best interests of our students, teachers, and schools at heart, but that might be too much to expect.
Thinking about it leaves me with that sinking feeling.
Catherine Shore Martinez is a National Board Certified teacher at Pahokee Middle Senior High School in Palm Beach County. Column courtesy of Context Florida.
