Heres a list of talking points to focus on and a link to the printable version. paulrevereradio/fliers/tp.pdf Q: What exactly does the Florida State Constitution say about education? Our Constitution mandates provision of a “uniform, efficient, safe, secure, and high quality system of free public education.” Q: Can we meet the requirement for “uniform” education without standardized tests? Yes. The Constitution calls for uniform education not uniform testing. We have state standards (whether you like them or not) and we have state certification of our teachers. Historically, teachers have prepared their own tests and finals to evaluate students. Q: Will Lee County seniors fail to graduate or receive a Standard Diploma if we opt out of testing? Those who have completed the FCAT and End of Course Exams (EOC) and have met the GPA requirements will receive a Standard Diploma. There are also substitute tests available including the ACT, SAT and PERT that will qualify the students for a Standard Diploma. fcat.fldoe.org/pdf/fcatpass.pdf .Students on a General Diploma track do not need to pass these tests. Q: Can a student get into a college or university without a Standard Diploma? Yes. There are many ways to qualify for college. SAT, ACT or PERT are needed for most along with a transcript and either a General or Standard Diploma or GED. The classes taken and reflected on the transcript are of primary importance along with appropriate admissions scores on admission tests. Q: Is there a real risk that the schools will be defunded? No. This claim is not supported by fact. The State Constitution mandates in Article IX Section 1 that the education of children is a fundamental value of the people of the State of Florida and it is a paramount duty of the state to make adequate provision (emphasis added) for the education of all children residing within its borders. Defunding the Lee County schools would be in direct opposition of this Constitutional mandate. Q: Are there financial and personal costs attributed to Standardized Tests? Yes. Our schools spend between $5 million to $11 million per year just on outside testing. Forty percent (40%) of class time is spent on testing, retesting and test preparation. Students who pass sit idle while retesting takes place multiple times each year. Teachers’ pay and students’ advancement are determined by test results leading to high stress and “teaching to the test” rather than unlocking their potential. These tests are punitive in nature as they can hold back a student and negatively impact their GPA while offering no feedback to the student on where they are in error. Nor do they afford teachers information which could help them improve their teaching. Many times these test inaccurately assess the skills and abilities of students leading to a false report requiring unnecessary remediation or retention. Q: Are there gains by opting out? Yes. Some of the main ones include more time for learning, more money for the classroom, more joy in learning and teaching, less lining the pockets of giant testing monopolies who benefit from failing our kids, and a return of educational control to parents, teachers and schools.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 03:41:39 +0000
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