Florida school assessment tests could be on the way out

| 1/13/2022

Florida school assessment tests could be on the way out

The end may be nearing for Florida's standardized school tests. A bill that would carry out Gov. Ron DeSantis’ plan to end the Florida Standards Assessments received unanimous approval Tuesday in its first Senate committee. The Senate Education Committee approved the bill (SB 1048), sponsored by Sen. Manny Diaz Jr., R-Hialeah. The measure seeks to replace the current standardized testing system with what Diaz described as a “computer-based coordinated screening and progress monitoring program” starting in the 2022-2023 school year. More from the News Service of Florida and the Tampa Bay Times.

The federal government approves Florida's plan for how to spend education money

The U.S. Department of Education has approved Florida’s plan for how the state intends to spend billions of dollars in federal aid for schools, after money was withheld because of a delay in the state submitting the proposal. Federal officials had been withholding a third of the more than $7 billion dollars that was allocated for Florida schools under the American Rescue Plan Act, a stimulus law that passed last year. About $2.35 billion was released to the state last week. [Source: News Service of Florida]

UF is bringing a scientist to every Florida school

Students and teachers throughout Florida are learning more about scientists and their work through UF’s Scientist in Every Florida School program. Bruce MacFadden, director of the Thompson Earth Systems Institute, oversees the program and shares how the program got started and why it matters. [Source: UF News]

State University System of Florida launches MyFloridaFuture

MyFloridaFuture is an exciting new interactive tool designed to assist students and families in making better-informed decisions about postsecondary educational options in the State University System of Florida. MyFloridaFuture allows users to explore data both at the system-level and by individual institution that provides useful information about the employment, salaries, and debt of graduates from Florida’s 12 public universities. [Source: Florida Trend]

Florida officials tried to steer education contract to former lawmaker’s company

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Education Department is under fire for trying to steer a multimillion-dollar contract to a company whose CEO has ties to the state’s education commissioner. Records and interviews show that, before the Florida Department of Education asked for bids, it was already in advanced talks with the company to do the work, subverting a process designed to eliminate favoritism. The company is MGT Consulting, led by former Republican lawmaker Trey Traviesa of Tampa, a longtime colleague of the state’s education commissioner, Richard Corcoran. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› UCF hospitality graduates find work as their profession recovers from pandemic [Orlando Sentinel]
As the COVID pandemic took hold in March 2020, Valerie Contreras lost her jobs as a Disney hotel concierge and server at a Kissimmee restaurant, both within five days. Like her fellow students at UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management, 25-year-old Contreras from Mesa, Ariz., worried about the future of the hospitality industry and her career prospects within it.

› ‘Back-room deal’: Rush to fill Miami-Dade superintendent’s job angers constituents [Miami Herald]
The effort to find the next superintendent of Miami-Dade Public Schools has been underway for about one week, but the process already has sparked rumors that the board has a top candidate in mind and has prompted sharp criticism about the district’s tight timeline.

› Northwest Florida feeling effects of teacher shortage [WEAR]
Nationwide, the teaching profession is fading fast. Overwhelming workloads have multiplied for teachers since the start of the pandemic -- leaving more than 1/3 of teaching vacancies nationwide. Northwest Florida is no exception to this issue. Since the beginning of 2020-21 school year, 405 teachers have resigned or retired in the Santa Rosa County School District. Escambia County doesn't calculate vacancies, but board meeting agendas show at least 120 teachers have resigned since August, while there's at least 40 job openings listed for teachers.

› Calls for investigation into Hillsborough schools’ handling of sexual harassment continue [Tampa Bay Times]
For two Hillsborough school board meetings in a row, members of the public have begged district leaders to take action in response to a December Tampa Bay Times investigation that detailed how students felt belittled and punished when they sought help to stop sexual harassment.

Tags: Education eNews

Previous Education Updates:

A Florida health provider says better building design can help patients heal

College crime surging back to pre-COVID levels. Here's the crime at Florida colleges, universities

Florida home values have more than doubled in the past decade

Sunshine State manufacturing is a powerhouse, rivals tourism