Staff Reports
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Tuesday replacing the Florida Standards Assessment with progress monitoring, a priority of the Republican Governor as he seeks re-election.
The proposal (SB 1048) replaces the annual standardized testing with computer-based progress monitoring screening in English language arts and mathematics three times a year starting next school year.
On Tuesday, outgoing Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran said the movement to eliminate the FSA began at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic when the standardized test was canceled. The bill also places a cap on class time dedicated to state testing at 5%.
“What we saw was that the progress monitoring data that did not cease for those students was just as enlightening to us on where those students were and what they needed to do as this very elaborate, laborious FSA,” he said.
Hialeah Republican Sen. Manny Díaz Jr. sponsored the bill, with Orlando Republican Rep. Rene Plasencia serving as the House sponsor. Ahead of the 2022 Session, Plasencia said he expected the opposition would mainly come from people who wanted to see the reform go further.
His prediction has appeared to come true.
Democrats in the House mostly aligned themselves against the bill during the committee process, arguing it still creates high-stakes testing. However, teachers’ unions, including the Florida Education Association, support the change.
Evening Reads
“Gov. Ron DeSantis signs bill eliminating standardized testing, expanding progress monitoring” via Renzo Downey of Florida Politics
“Florida Legislature leaves without addressing property insurance crisis” via Lawrence Mower of the Tampa Bay Times
“Florida to ax hourly rate motels as anti-human trafficking measure is added to Miya’s Law” via Daniel Figueroa IV of Florida Politics
“Gov. DeSantis takes aim at Fair Districts amendments” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics
“Nikki Fried laments GOP-driven culture war in Legislative Session” via Jason Delgado of Florida Politics
“‘Hamilton hated that’: Gov. DeSantis vents about Florida Constitution” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
“What China’s COVID-19 uptick means for cars, iPhones and other things you buy“ via Keith Bradsher of The New York Times
“Miami judge orders Proud Boys’ leader Enrique Tarrio to remain behind bars as he faces Jan. 6 charges” via Jay Weaver of the Miami Herald
“Half of Americans doubt Joe Biden will run in 2024, WSJ poll shows” via Ken Thomas and Catherine Lucey of The Washington Post
“How Ukrainian children understand the war” via Zoeann Murphy and Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff of The Washington Post
“Thinking about getting rooftop solar? You’d better hurry” via Ron Hurtibise of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel
“Vladimir Putin’s nuclear threats are a wake-up call for the world” via Uri Friedman of The Atlantic
“Remembering what the ‘Dutton Island Five’ accomplished in Atlantic Beach” via Mark Woods of The Florida Times-Union
Quote of the Day
“Let’s put it this way. In the 1960s, when they did our state constitution, they were absolutely departing from some of Hamilton and Madison’s insights.”
— Gov. Ron DeSantis, responding to whether the Commissioner of Education should be appointed or elected.
Bill Day’s Latest
Breakthrough Insights
