| School quality is always a concern for | | | | performance of students on the Science |
| relocating parents. In a world where a good | | | | portion of the FCAT was taken into account in |
| education is increasingly important, many | | | | grading schools. Predictably, as has happened |
| parents even base their final decision about | | | | both other times that students had to meet |
| home choice on the reported quality of the | | | | higher standards, there are more schools than |
| schools in various neighborhoods. | | | | last year with F ratings, and a number of |
| | | | schools received lower grades than they did |
| Here in Florida, the state's A+ school | | | | last year. If you take the comparative |
| reporting plan is supposed to give parents an | | | | numbers against last year's figures without |
| easy way to compare schools with one another | | | | adjusting for changes to the grading system, |
| at a glance, but many question whether the | | | | it certainly appears that the schools are |
| system really reflects the situation | | | | losing ground in the fight to educate our |
| accurately. When the Florida Department of | | | | children. |
| Education released the school grades for 2007 | | | | |
| a couple of weeks ago, there seemed to be | | | | If you take a longer view, though, the |
| more confusion and controversy than | | | | picture is far different. In 1999, only 13% |
| information in the published reports. | | | | of all Florida schools received an A rating. |
| | | | In 2007, that figure increased to 52% - |
| If you were a parent trying to decide where | | | | despite the fact that the standards are much |
| to relocate, you'd be understandably confused | | | | higher than they were just eight years ago. |
| by the newspaper reports announcing the gains | | | | In 1999, nearly 50% of all Florida schools |
| and losses over the preceding year. In | | | | received a C rating. This year, that figure |
| Orlando, the papers announced that school | | | | is 17%. The percentage of D rated schools |
| grades had taken a nose dive. In Palm Beach, | | | | went from 24.5% to 8%. The only figure that |
| they reported that there were dramatic | | | | has remained unchanged is the F rating - with |
| improvements - and crushing drops. In Tampa, | | | | approximately 3% of Florida schools receiving |
| the papers admitted to confusion over exactly | | | | an F rating. |
| what the school grades were measuring, but | | | | |
| reported a general dissatisfaction with the | | | | Even so, both parents and educators - and in |
| entire system. When the professionals are | | | | many cases students - have serious concerns |
| confused about what school grades mean, how | | | | about the way that schools are graded, |
| can parents be expected to make an informed | | | | especially in light of the consequences of |
| choice? | | | | lower grades for schools. Many parents who |
| | | | have children in the lower graded schools are |
| How School Grades are Determined | | | | bewildered - they see that their children are |
| | | | being taught by teachers who care enough to |
| Under the Florida education system, school | | | | work with them after school and push them to |
| grades are based on three major areas: | | | | learn more. Teachers express concerns that |
| | | | they are forced to "teach the test instead of |
| - the performance of the school as a whole on | | | | the children" - and in many cases to do so |
| the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test in | | | | without the equipment and supplies necessary |
| Reading, Math and Science at specific grade | | | | to teach effectively. These concerns aren't |
| levels | | | | unique to Florida. They mirror controversies |
| | | | and conversations that are being held in |
| - the improvement in grades of students in | | | | nearly every state across the nation. |
| the school in Reading, Math and Science on | | | | |
| the FCAT over the previous year | | | | Through all of this, though, two facts stand |
| | | | out. The first is that accountability is a |
| - the improvement of the lowest performing | | | | vital part of the public education process. |
| 25% of students in Reading, Math and Science | | | | There must be some method of measuring |
| in the FCAT over the previous year | | | | whether the schools are doing their jobs of |
| | | | educating children. The system that we're |
| In addition, in order to receive any grade | | | | using now may be flawed, but it does provide |
| above an F, 90% of the school's students must | | | | an overview of a school's progress toward |
| take the FCAT. In order to receive an A, 95% | | | | improvement, and it allows for adjustment and |
| of the students must take the FCAT. Schools | | | | improvement of the system itself to measure |
| receive points on a scale of 0-800 based on | | | | more accurately. It allows the state to |
| those factors, and are assigned a letter | | | | pinpoint schools and regions that need |
| grade based on those points. | | | | assistance in meeting standards so that |
| | | | resources can be focused there. |
| The system was originally instituted in 1999. | | | | |
| In that year, 78 schools received a failing | | | | The second fact is also undeniable. Since |
| grade and another 600 received a D. Only 13% | | | | 1999, Florida schools have shown marked |
| of the schools received an A rating. The | | | | overall progress toward meeting the standards |
| state's school grades overall have trended | | | | of education set forth by the state. Here in |
| upward each year, with a couple of | | | | New Tampa, every one of the elementary |
| exceptions. | | | | schools received an A rating this year, |
| | | | despite the higher standards, and not a |
| In the intervening years, the standards for | | | | single school was rated an F. |
| receiving a passing grade have been changed | | | | |
| three times, each time tightening the | | | | While the current system may be flawed, it |
| requirements to "raise the bar". Each time | | | | does provide a starting point for parents |
| that the standards have been tightened, the | | | | looking for school information. Parents who |
| results were predictable - more schools | | | | want a deeper look can access the school's |
| failed than in the previous year and a | | | | full report card at the FDOE's web site, and |
| percentage of schools found that their school | | | | use the time-honored methods that parents |
| grade had dropped from the year before. In | | | | have always used to decide on a school for |
| nearly every case, those grades were | | | | their children. Schedule an interview with |
| recovered over the next year as teachers and | | | | the school principal. Talk with neighbors in |
| students adjusted to the new material they | | | | the neighborhoods you're considering. Learn |
| were required to know. | | | | about the schools on a personal level. The |
| | | | more involved you are in the process, the |
| The most recent adjustment to the grading | | | | easier it becomes to make an informed choice |
| system took place this year. For the first | | | | about your children's education. |
| time in the 2006-2007 school year, the | | | | |