Use caution in reading Florida test validity study, author says

by: Jeffery S. Solocheck|Tampa Bay Times September 2, 2015 Florida’s testing validity study, released Tuesday, seemed to have something for everybody within its 186 pages. “Independent review confirms Florida Standards Assessment is valid,” the Department of Education declared, saying the results would be used for school grades and teacher evaluations. “Superintendents stand firm behind their…

Don Gaetz promises more testing reform in 2016

by: Micheale Auslen Michael AuslenMichael Auslen| Tampa Bay Times September 2, 2015 After an effort in the 2015 session eliminated some tests students have to take that lawmakers said were duplicates, state Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, the education budget chairman and former Senate president, says he’s going after even more. It doesn’t make sense for…