by: Heide Janshon Dear parents, I’m sure you’ve been terrified by all sorts of claims that the Third Grade ELA FSA (English Language Arts Florida Standards Assessment) determines whether your child is retained or promoted. Please read on and stand firmly on the fact that you are informed, empowered and can rest in the knowledge … More What exactly determines Third Grade retention?
A tale of a rural school Public schools are pillars of the community in which they serve – and rightfully so, given that they are funded by the community itself. That has never been more true than in Hawthorne, FL. With a city-wide population of just over 1,400, Hawthorne is the very definition of “small … More The downside to school closures
Following is a summary of the special Senate session held on March 3, 2018 to discuss the school safety bill (aka 7026). The information was tweeted by @lmower3, Times Tallahassee Bureau and compiled/edited by Anne Hartley. More information can be found here. Update on HB7026: the final vote is Monday. The marshal plan to deputize … More School Safety Bill Update
United for Florida Children was founded four years ago with the goal of uniting parents, grandparents, school staff, students and the community to advocate for a high quality education for all students across the state. At the very foundation of a high quality education lies basic safety. We are deeply saddened by the shootings that … More Not. One. More.
An open letter to Representative Richard Corcoran, Speaker of the House… I’ve been hearing a lot about “hope” in education circles lately – “Schools of Hope”, “Hope Scholarships”, providing hope for students in “failing” schools. The term seems to be used by you and other legislative leaders as a way to garner public support for … More Dear Mr. Speaker: What is Your Definition of “Hope?”
At the end of the 2017 legislative session, Florida’s “schools of hope” plan was approved, tucked inside House Bill 7069. This 274-page education bill was assembled at the last minute behind closed doors with little to no opportunity for public input, discussion and debate. 1 HB 7069 allows the Florida Department of Education to approve … More Questions that State Legislators Should Have Answered Before Approving HB 7069
Florida’s public schools have been under attack in the last 10 years, with a strong focus on accountability. The primary measurement used to ensure this accountability is student scores on standardized tests, with the assumption that these tests are accurate measures of student learning, teacher effectiveness and overall school quality. Scores on the Florida Standards … More The Florida Standards Assessment and Accountabiity
The first week of the 2018 legislative session in Tallahassee begins January 9. Do your representatives know what your priorities are for education? As elected officials, they have a civic duty to represent their constituents, so it’s important that we communicate with them about what’s important to us. It can be difficult and time consuming … More 2018 Legislative Session – What do we want from Public Education?
Let’s make a “School Choice” Vouchers, charters and private schools – they’re all the buzz right now, as politicians work to expand school “choice” and privatization programs. But, how much do we really know about them unless we try them? My family did! And, they weren’t the right “choice” for us. In no way would … More No one will ever know what this flower means to me
The following was shared recently by a Florida teacher (published with permission): “After 22 years, I don’t know if I have it in me anymore. I am a teacher. I will always be a teacher. I love teaching, but this isn’t teaching. Everything I am required to do is about preparing my students for “the … More Teaching in a high stakes accountability system
