Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersNovember 17, 2017

Florida Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart is working with her counterpart in Puerto Rico on a plan that would allow Puerto Rican high school students who evacuated to Florida because of Hurricane Maria study for and receive Puerto Rico diplomas in Florida, rather than Florida diplomas. The issue is more than just choice and pride […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 9, 2015

Let’s review some of the factors influencing the non-news of a teacher shortage. On Sept. 1, Alpine Testing Solutions, the company hired to assess the validity of the Florida Standards Assessment (FSA), found that the test could be used at the “group level” to evaluate teachers, establish cut scores to measure student achievement and give […]

Gary FineoutSeptember 1, 2015

Florida’s new high-stakes test, which came under fire after a chaotic rollout this past spring, is valid according to a new outside study released Tuesday. Education Commissioner Pam Stewart called the results “welcome news” and said the study showed the test “accurately measures Florida student’s mastery of the standards” in math and reading. “Now all […]

Shannon NickinsonMarch 30, 2015

This is no way to run a railroad — or a state education system. In recent weeks, problems with the Florida Standards Assessment writing test made headlines. Schools in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties reported problems and testing was suspended for a time. After nearly three days of complaints from districts across the state about […]

Guest AuthorMarch 15, 2015

Breaking news: thousands of students took the FSA writing test last week with no glitches or slowdowns. Oh, wait, shouldn’t this be a non-news story? This is only news because of the slowdowns and cyberhacks of the previous week. The Florida Department of Education is not yet ready to release the final number of students […]

James CallMarch 10, 2015

The House Education Committee spent about an hour Monday discussing and approving an overhaul of Florida’s testing-focused school accountability program. The measure was approved on a unanimous vote. Read a staff analysis here. Chairwoman Marlene O’Toole said this past week she wanted to get the measure to the floor as quickly as possible, and Monday […]

Gary FineoutFebruary 26, 2015

For nearly 2 million Florida public school students, the next few weeks could be a crucial moment in their education. The state is undertaking one of the biggest changes in its classrooms since former Gov. Jeb Bush pushed through his signature A+ school grading system nearly 16 years ago. Students will switch this spring to […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 15, 2015

The ironically named Student Success Act of 2011 mandated something called the Valued Added Model, which attempts to quantify each teacher’s influence on each student. The complicated formula purports to predict what a student’s normal gain scores on a standardized test will be from one year to another. If a student gains more or loses […]

Tag: Florida Standards Assessment
Mike Johnson. Image via AP.

Pam Stewart working on plan to let high schoolers get Puerto Rico diplomas in Florida

Catherine Martinez: If policies stand, teacher shortage will worsen

New study finds Florida’s high-stakes school tests valid

Shannon Nickinson: Educational testing in Florida: This is not good business

Catherine Martinez: Kids share test info on social media? That's non-news

House Education panel talks school accountability reform

Florida legislators under pressure to alter school testing

Catherine Martinez: 'Value Added Model' of no value to teaching