If you dont want to listen to Pam spout the usual propaganda, here are some of her comments: We here from districts that everything is going well. Everyone is preparing getting ready for a new assessment. This is the best time to be in education Per pupil funding will be at the highest level ever *(Remember that earlier this week Senator Legg said if anyone said per pupil spending is at an all-time high, its a lie.) Our fourth graders are second in the WORLD in student achievement Now, as we put money back into the budget, we’re doing so that it provides them (districts) with flexibility The $100 for charter schools is for capital outlay and thinking about charter schools not being able to levy dollars, they do need that capital outlay in order to maintain their facilities and to grow as their enrollment grows I think the accountability system has really brought it to the forefront so that schools and administrators and teachers are able to focus on what’s important. And if we think about what’s most important in education, if we have the right standards in place, if they are rigorous enough and if we are assessing those higher more rigorous standards appropriately and then if we measure our schools’ performance, those are the things that go hand in hand to ensure that our students are getting what they need. Regarding the request of legislators for dollar figures: those questions came after we had done the survey so that will not be part of the survey unless by some chance districts include that information. But it isn’t something we specifically asked. I want to make it clear that we need to think about technology from a standpoint of the instructional enhancement, not from just computer based testing. If there are changes made in this legislature session, it would probably come after the assessment has already been given. Regarding what to expect from the new test: Well we know that the standards are more rigorous, and they are more the way we would want our teachers or be providing instruction. And so the assessment is coming along to assess in exactly that same way. I think that overall you’d find that teachers are excited about this type of instruction. (Regarding Pam’s concerns about parents opting out) Certainly of we had large numbers of students who didn’t take the test it might speak to the validity and reliability but that’s not he big reason we want all of our students to be testing. First of all, it is a state mandate that all students do take the state assessment. That’s an expectation. If you’re part of public school, you take the assessment. I think there are options provided to parents. They can choose not to be in public school…… And it is a state mandate so it is required of all of our students. )Regarding the Keep Florida Learning committee:) There are many things we want this committee to review and look at and we think we are going to be able to bring the right stakeholders to the table representing all aspects of education….. We will be choosing those individuals who are most dedicated to the educational system and finding the right balance for those areas where we need to go in the state of Florida. I think it will be important that we have representation from the legislature, that we have representation from the districts, that we have representation from parents and the business community, and then just the community at large. We will be looking at geographic and diversity…and those people who have the time to devote to this important topic. Her last words were her best, although I doubt she realizes what she said: “Support your children and talk to their teachers.”
Posted on: Mon, 26 Jan 2015 02:53:01 +0000
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