Delay online testing, consider national tests, Florida school boards say

by: Leslie Postal|Orlando Sentinel September 24, 2015 Florida should use paper-and-pencil tests until its public schools have more technology in place and consider national tests in place of much-criticized state ones, the Florida School Boards Association says in its proposed 2016 legislative platform. The association also said Florida should find new ways to assess students…

Gates partnership leaves Hillsborough schools shouldering millions more than expected

by: Marlene Sokol|Tampa Bay Times September 21, 2015 A seven-year effort to put better teachers in Hillsborough County schools is costing the system millions of dollars more than officials projected. And the district’s partner in the project, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is spending $20 million less than expected. The numbers, found in recent…

Don’t issue A-to-F school grades this year, Miami superintendent says

by: Leslie Postal|Orlando Sentinel September 21, 2015 Echoing the fears of his colleagues around the state, the Miami-Dade superintendent said the A-to-F school grades to be announced in several months will be misleading and unfair and the state should stop their release. Alberto Carvalho, superintendent of Florida’s largest school district, told the State Board of…

Florida accountability laws need ‘total rewrite,’ Pasco superintendent says

by: Jeffrey S. Solochek|Tampa Bay Times September 18, 2015 Florida’s education accountability system has lost credibility among too many Floridians to remain effective as-is, Pasco County schools superintendent Kurt Browning said Friday. Without changes, “I think it’s just going to get worse,” said Browning, the only superintendent to attend the state Senate Education Committee’s Thursday…

Doubts grow over Florida’s school testing system as senators question new ‘validity’ study

by: Jeffry Solocheck|Tampa Bay Times September 17, 2015 Wariness over a recent study of Florida’s school testing system reached a new level Thursday as state senators learned that Department of Education officials had input on at least two drafts of the document. Already doubtful about the study’s recommendations, senators suggested its impartiality had been compromised.…