FLORIDA EDUCATION NEWS
February 2006
IN THIS ISSUE:
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
 
The following letters were sent in response to the January 2006 newsletter articles. Back issues of this e-newsletter can be found here.

On Jan 27, 2006, at 9:11 AM (regarding "Commissioner John Winn Wants Fewer Students Held Back"):
 
We have done this thing with freshmen before.  I can't remember when because we keep rerunning the same lame ideas.  I think it would be a good idea if we had a crash-reading course for Republican politicians and political cronies.  Your problem is that you think teachers are brain dead.  We are not and the children are paying the price in Florida for your greed and stupidity.  Go back to playing golf—we don't want or need you.  Sell used cars if you need more money.   
 
T. Coppens
Teacher, 27 years


On Jan 30, 2006, at 8:33 AM:
 
You know what is amazing to me? You folks want it both ways. What a message to send to kids. DOE is as flippy-floppy as a fish out of water. I can't wait to retire.
 
We already have promotion for cause; now we have promotion because? I have taught at three high schools and two middle schools over my 21-year career and never have I seen so much flip-flopping. At what point do we hold students and parents accountable? No wonder we are a laughing stock in the world when we can't make up our minds on the standard of education. Raise the bar or water it down. Our society is the entertainment center of the world. Our kids need to know they have to work to succeed. We send a mixed message when we flip-flop around.
 
Mrs. Bobbi Wise
 

On Jan 30, 2006, at 10:15 AM:
 
Insurance and improved benefits would greatly assist teachers.  It is sad that Florida will not continue to pay for health insurance after a teacher who has worked 30 years or longer retires.  Florida is greatly lacking in this respect.
 
My son can retire from working as a lineman for an electric company after 20 years with 70% of his pay and health insurance for the remainder of his life.  I am very pleased for him.
 
I can retire after 33 years with 53% of my pay and no health insurance.  His retirement will be greater than mine and he will have his insurance premiums paid.  There is something wrong with this picture.
 
Susan Underwood

To submit letters to the editor for this e-newsletter, please reply to jdk@queueinc.com.  Please indicate whether or not we have permission to publish your comments in future newsletters.  The editor reserves the right to trim content for length purposes when necessary, but will not edit the tone of the letters.

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FLORIDA EDUCATION IN DIRE NEED OF FUNDS
by Evelyn Langlieb Greer
Special to The Miami Herald
 
The crisis in education in the United States is directly affecting the quality of life of every person in our country.
 
We are increasingly concerned that our workforce cannot compete internationally with better-educated and more ambitious foreign workers, and that we are not maintaining the quality of education that drove our country to prosperity. Where is Florida in the educational funding debate?
 
Florida educates more students than 46 other states, but our historical spending per pupil ranges from merely average to the lowest 25 percent of the country. We are behind 37 other states in funding per pupil; although, we are the fourth largest state.
 
Adjusted for inflation, Florida's education expenditures remain stagnant even as the rest of the nation invests more in its students, eroding the purchasing power of Florida's public school district as major land, health and insurance costs rise dramatically. Since 1990, Florida's per pupil spending actually declined by almost 15 percent, meaning a drop of $284 per student versus a national gain of $1,041.
 
For complete article, click here.
 
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FLORIDA RANKS SECOND IN NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHERS

Florida's total number of nationally certified teachers is 7,732. As a percentage of total teachers, Florida ranks fourth in NBCTs.

Certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards requires that teachers complete months of demanding performance assessment to meet rigorous standards set by the independent board. Candidates are also evaluated based on a portfolio of student work.

For more information about National Board Certification, visit the web site for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards at www.nbpts.org.

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FLORIDA GETS B MINUS ON NATIONAL EDUCATION REPORT CARD
 
Florida's public schools scored above the national average in two of four categories and received an overall grade of B minus on an annual report card issued Wednesday by Education Week magazine. The national average overall grade was C plus.
 
The state received an A for standards and accountability, the same as last year, and a B minus in resource equity, a new category that shows Florida has relatively little disparity in spending per student among school districts. National averages in those categories were B minus and C plus.
 
"Florida has a particularly strong showing for accountability indicators," according to the "Quality Counts 2006" report. "The state sanctions and provides assistance to all low performing schools . . . and provides rewards to high-performing or improving schools . . . "
 
The report also notes Florida's fourth- and eighth-grade pupils rank below the national average in National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NEAP, proficiency rankings. Florida is 33rd among the 50 states with a 29.4 percent proficiency rating. That compares to a national average of 30.6 percent.
 
However, Florida was cited as being one of only four states that significantly increased fourth-grade reading scores from 1992 through 2005. The report also recognized Florida for closing gaps between black and white fourth graders in reading and math and between impoverished and other fourth graders in reading.
 
Florida's high school graduation rate of 57 percent ranked 49th among the 50 states and District of Columbia as compiled by Education Week's parent organization, Editorial Projects in Education, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C.
 
Florida education officials have challenged the accuracy of the graduation rankings in the past, contending their own statistics show a much higher rate of 71.9 percent.
 
For complete article, click here.

For Florida data, click here and here.
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REACTION TO THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT'S DECISION TO STOP THE OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

The Florida Supreme Court declared that the state's school choice program violates the constitution's requirement of a uniform system of free public schools, a move being viewed by many as both political and divisive. The Opportunity Scholarship Program, part of a larger accountability program enacted in 2000, which gave children in failing schools the choice to attend private schools or better performing public schools, was struck down on party-lines in a 5–2 opinion.
 
Statement by Center for Education Reform President Jeanne Allen:
    
"The Florida Supreme Court's decision to stop the Opportunity Scholarship Program for needy students is enormously flawed. The court's ruling comes at a time when public bodies should be doing all they can to bolster student achievement. Instead, this decision has the potential to relegate needy students to failing schools in the name of 'uniformity,' the term for the provision in the constitution that the state's high court used as justification for striking down the Opportunity Scholarship Program.
 
"Educational choices in Florida have been documented to improve student and school achievement in communities that exercise those choices.
 
"Thankfully the ruling is an anomaly in Florida. The U.S. Supreme Court has held such choice programs constitutional and other states will continue to pursue choice efforts. Quality learning opportunities are a fundamental right of every child. Denying them that right based on a narrow interpretation of what it means to have a uniform system of public education is politically motivated, not judicially justified.
 
"Because the ruling may also impact any reforms that allow for choices outside of the conventional public school system—from scholarships for special needs children to charter schools—we will join the millions of parents and child advocates nationwide who are outraged by this decision in ensuring that a bad court decision does not force any more children to attend bad schools."
 
The Center for Education Reform (CER) creates opportunities for and challenges obstacles to better education for America's communities.  Founded in 1993 to translate ideas into action, CER combines education policy with grassroots advocacy to work deep within the nation's communities to foster positive and bold education reforms. Today, this premiere national group serves as a full-service education reform engine working in over 40 states.
 
CER advocates reforms that produce high standards, accountability, and freedom, such as strong charter school laws, school-choice programs for children most in need, common sense teacher initiatives, and proven instructional programs.
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FLORIDA'S VOLUNTARY PRE-KINDERGARTEN EDUCATION PROGRAMS (VPK) AND PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
 
The Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Education Programs (VPK) and Programs for Children with Disabilities are funded through both federal and state allocations. VPK programs are operated by early learning coalitions. All eligible four-year-olds, including children with disabilities, are entitled to participate in one of the VPK program options. Three Florida agencies work together to implement this program:
  1. Agency for Workforce Innovation (day-to-day management)
  2. Department of Children and Families (licensing and credentialing)
  3. Department of Education (creation of standards, curriculum, and accountability)
The Florida State Legislature allocated $2,500 per VPK student for approximately $387 million. Information is available here.
 
For additional information, contact the office of Workforce Innovation at: http://www.floridajobs.org/VPK/index.html

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INCREASE IN ADVANCED PLACEMENT STUDENT SUCCESS ACHIEVED IN ALL 50 STATES—FLORIDA IS ONE OF THE STATES LEADING THE WAY

The College Board, the not-for-profit membership association that administers the AP Program, has released the second annual Advanced Placement Report to the Nation, showing that all 50 states and the District of Columbia have achieved an increase in the percentage of high school students earning a grade of 3 or higher in college-level AP courses since 2000.
 
In the nation's public schools, 14.1 percent of students in the class of 2005 demonstrated mastery of an AP Exam by earning an exam grade of 3 or higher—the grade predictive of college success—on one or more AP Exams while in high school. This is up from 13.2 percent for the class of 2004 and 10.2 percent for the class of 2000.
 
Although 35 states and the District of Columbia have lower results than the nationwide average of 14.1 percent, every single state and the District of Columbia saw a greater proportion of its class of 2005 score a 3 or higher than occurred within its class of 2000. AP achievements for each state's class of 2000 and class of 2005 are detailed below:
 
Leading the Nation
The Most Improvement
Eliminating Equity Gaps Each AP exam is scored using a five-point scale: 5—Extremely well qualified; 4—Well qualified; 3—Qualified; 2—Possibly qualified; 1—No recommendation.
 
The full report is available here.

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FLORIDA RENAISSANCE FAIRES OFFER SCHOOL DAYS

Renaissance Faires are a great way to introduce students to Renaissance history and literature. Two Florida Renaissance Faires offer School Days especially for students.

The national award-winning Florida Renaissance Festival is held at Quiet Waters Park in Broward County. It offers two school days for students and educators.  This year, the festival was held on Wednesday, February 15, and Thursday, February 16, 2006. The school program brings to life 16th-century Europe. Hundreds of costumed performers, stage acts, and craftspeople offer students an informative view of Renaissance. For more information, click here. 

Bay Area Renaissance Faire is being held on April 7, 2006. Discover an enchanted realm of wizards and warriors amongst gourmet treats and unforgettable entertainment. Wander past ten lively stages and street theater featuring jugglers, magicians, fire eaters, and specialty acts. Check out live armored contact jousting three times daily, human chess matches, minstrels, maidens faire, peasants, fools, and royalty. For more information, click here. 

Are you interested in Renaissance faires and Renaissance history? To receive Renaissance Magazine News, a free e-newsletter, click here.

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FREE STUDENT WORKBOOKS AVAILABLE FOR PREVIEW (Advertisement)
 
Queue, Inc. offers previews of its Florida test preparation workbooks to public schools.  Queue publishes test prep books in Mathematics, Reading Comprehension, and Composition for Grades 3-high school, as well as Practice Tests in Math.
 
Queue also offers Math and Reading workbooks for grades 1 and 2, and publishes a wide variety of other workbooks in Literature, Science, History, Government, Health, and ESL.  Samples of student workbooks are available for preview.
 
For further information and to order free previews, click here to visit our Florida Workbooks webpage.

or call: 800-232-2224
 
or fax: 800-775-2729
 
or e-mail: jdk@queueinc.com
 
or write: Queue, Inc., 1 Controls Dr., Shelton, CT 06484
 
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