| Political Advertisement Paid for and Approved by Darren Soto, Democrat, for Florida House of Representatives District 49 |
Positive changes to public school accountability make it through the
session.
I have been an advocate for overhauling the state’s K-12 public
education system but have been met with resistance. Under current law,
all public schools and school districts are graded solely on how well
students perform on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, or
FCAT.
However, the calls for reform were heard in Tallahassee this year. In
a unanimous vote, the Florida House and Senate passed SB 1908,
which expands the way high schools are graded under the state’s
education accountability system. SB 1908 establishes end-of-course
exams in high school to complement the FCAT and introduces civics/
session.
I have been an advocate for overhauling the state’s K-12 public
education system but have been met with resistance. Under current law,
all public schools and school districts are graded solely on how well
students perform on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, or
FCAT.
However, the calls for reform were heard in Tallahassee this year. In
a unanimous vote, the Florida House and Senate passed SB 1908,
which expands the way high schools are graded under the state’s
education accountability system. SB 1908 establishes end-of-course
exams in high school to complement the FCAT and introduces civics/
government as a required measure of student performance. The bill also reduces the emphasis of FCAT results in high school
grades, changes the FCAT writing exam and pushes FCAT exam dates later in school year. The bill expands that assessment for high
schools by basing half of the schools’ grades on FCAT scores and half on other important measures such as the schools’ graduation
rates and advance placement course offerings.
Our children must prepare to compete in the global job market. Students graduating today are not competing with children from
Georgia, New York or California. Rather, competition is from their peers in France, England, Switzerland and Japan. This is why it is
critical for students to leave with a well-balanced, cultured education that exposes them to world history, foreign affairs, competitive
science standards and new technologies.
My colleagues and I have challenged the status quo accountability system that aims to achieve minimal competence and pays no
attention to other areas of student performance. By supporting reforms to the current accountability system, this legislature will be
taking steps to improve our public schools. I was proud to be a supporter of SB 1908 because it will introduce new priorities in our
public schools. We must build on this year’s passage of SB 1908 so our children are better prepared to compete in the global job
market.
grades, changes the FCAT writing exam and pushes FCAT exam dates later in school year. The bill expands that assessment for high
schools by basing half of the schools’ grades on FCAT scores and half on other important measures such as the schools’ graduation
rates and advance placement course offerings.
Our children must prepare to compete in the global job market. Students graduating today are not competing with children from
Georgia, New York or California. Rather, competition is from their peers in France, England, Switzerland and Japan. This is why it is
critical for students to leave with a well-balanced, cultured education that exposes them to world history, foreign affairs, competitive
science standards and new technologies.
My colleagues and I have challenged the status quo accountability system that aims to achieve minimal competence and pays no
attention to other areas of student performance. By supporting reforms to the current accountability system, this legislature will be
taking steps to improve our public schools. I was proud to be a supporter of SB 1908 because it will introduce new priorities in our
public schools. We must build on this year’s passage of SB 1908 so our children are better prepared to compete in the global job
market.