Friday, June 16, 2006
75 % DE LAS ESCUELAS EN LA FLORIDA CLASIFICADAS A Y B
UN MARAVILLOSO DIA PARA TODOS
JOSE RAUL MARRERO
MARRERO REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE LLC
REAL ESTATE BROKER LIC
LA EDUCACION EN EL ESTADO DE FLORIDA REFLEJA UNA MUY SALUDABLE ESTADISTICA. EL 75% DE TODAS LAS ESCUELAS SE CALIFICARON A Y B.
A CONTINUACION EL TEXTO ORIGINAL....
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- June 15, 2006 -- Florida schools haven't quite matched Garrison Keillor's fictional Lake Wobegon where all the children are above average, but grades released Wednesday by Gov. Jeb Bush show three out of four do meet that criteria.
Bush, father of the grading system, announced 75 percent of Florida's public schools received an A or B, the most since the program began in 1999. The Republican governor, who cannot seek re-election this year due to term limits, trumpeted the results as a vindication of his education policies.
''Of all the things that I've been involved in, this is where my passions lie,'' Bush said.
The 1,466 schools, or 53 percent, that got an A are eligible for a $100 per student reward under Bush's ''A-Plus'' school accountability plan. Twenty-two percent of the state's schools graded B, 20 percent C, five percent D and only 1 percent F. That comes to 101 percent due to rounding, state education officials said.
The grading is based on scores from the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, or FCAT.
Bush said he believes parents should put more stock in the state grades than a much less rosy appraisal under the federal No Child Left Behind program, which was simultaneously released.
''Of course I do, absolutely, with no disrespect to anybody in Washington, D.C.,'' Bush said. ''It's a fair system, it's balanced and it's working.''
The governor's brother, President Bush, has made No Child Left Behind the centerpiece of his domestic agenda. Florida education officials have urged that the federal program be modified to be more like the state's system.
The federal assessment shows only 28 percent of Florida schools made adequate yearly progress, down from 36 percent last year. Florida schools failing to meet the standard dropped slightly from 37 percent to 33 percent. Thirty-nine percent provisionally met the adequate yearly requirement compared to 27 percent in 2005.
Schools are granted provisional status if they get an A or B from the state yet fail to meet one or more of 39 national standards including one that requires an increase of at least 7 percent in the number of proficient students.
The 1,047 Florida schools failing to make adequate progress may be required to add remedial and tutoring programs or overhaul staff and curriculum.
The 24 F schools include 11 that qualify for state sanctions because they have had failing grades two years out of the past four. Students attending sanctioned schools can transfer to other public schools graded C or better.
For the first time since 1999, though, the students at twice-failing schools will be unable to get vouchers to attend parochial and other private schools at public expense. The Florida Supreme Court declared that program, another key element of Bush's ''A-Plus'' school accountability plan, unconstitutional in January.
The school grading system has been attacked by Democrats since it began. They say it puts too much emphasis on high-stakes testing while the state's schools have remained underfunded.
''I will forgo the champagne because I believe that the school grading system is ultimately destructive to my child's education,'' said Rep. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, after Bush urged Floridians to celebrate the high grades.
Gelber, whose children attend an A-rated elementary school, is slated to be the House Democratic leader in November. He said grading has caused the state's schools to slight civics, history and science, as well as gifted and enrichment programs. School grades are based on FCAT reading, writing and math scores. Science will be added next year.
Bush anticipated the criticism during a news conference.
''In politics there are a lot of carpers, chirpers, nippers,'' Bush said. ''Sometimes it's important to ... pause and celebrate success.''
The governor was surrounded by state and local school officials including Education Commissioner John Winn and two principals Bush praised for taking bold steps.
Manuel Duran enlisted community support and recruited veteran teachers including some brought out of retirement at Tampa's Alexander Elementary School, which has a high percentage of Hispanic students. Alexander has improved over the years and received its first A.
''We're in it together,'' Duran said. ''We do what it takes and sometimes people say I'm unorthodox.''
The 2,074 schools that received an A or B compares to 1,843 last year. Middle schools did the best, with 87 percent graded A or B. Just under 80 percent of elementary schools and 41 percent of high schools received the top two grades.
GRACIAS POR VISITAR MI BLOGS
WWW.JOSERAULMARRERO.COM
PUEDE LLAMAR DIRECTAMENTE
AL 407-436-5140/787-486-7906
TODOS SOMOS GUERREROS DE LUZ!
JOSE RAUL MARRERO
MARRERO REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE LLC
REAL ESTATE BROKER LIC
LA EDUCACION EN EL ESTADO DE FLORIDA REFLEJA UNA MUY SALUDABLE ESTADISTICA. EL 75% DE TODAS LAS ESCUELAS SE CALIFICARON A Y B.
A CONTINUACION EL TEXTO ORIGINAL....
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- June 15, 2006 -- Florida schools haven't quite matched Garrison Keillor's fictional Lake Wobegon where all the children are above average, but grades released Wednesday by Gov. Jeb Bush show three out of four do meet that criteria.
Bush, father of the grading system, announced 75 percent of Florida's public schools received an A or B, the most since the program began in 1999. The Republican governor, who cannot seek re-election this year due to term limits, trumpeted the results as a vindication of his education policies.
''Of all the things that I've been involved in, this is where my passions lie,'' Bush said.
The 1,466 schools, or 53 percent, that got an A are eligible for a $100 per student reward under Bush's ''A-Plus'' school accountability plan. Twenty-two percent of the state's schools graded B, 20 percent C, five percent D and only 1 percent F. That comes to 101 percent due to rounding, state education officials said.
The grading is based on scores from the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, or FCAT.
Bush said he believes parents should put more stock in the state grades than a much less rosy appraisal under the federal No Child Left Behind program, which was simultaneously released.
''Of course I do, absolutely, with no disrespect to anybody in Washington, D.C.,'' Bush said. ''It's a fair system, it's balanced and it's working.''
The governor's brother, President Bush, has made No Child Left Behind the centerpiece of his domestic agenda. Florida education officials have urged that the federal program be modified to be more like the state's system.
The federal assessment shows only 28 percent of Florida schools made adequate yearly progress, down from 36 percent last year. Florida schools failing to meet the standard dropped slightly from 37 percent to 33 percent. Thirty-nine percent provisionally met the adequate yearly requirement compared to 27 percent in 2005.
Schools are granted provisional status if they get an A or B from the state yet fail to meet one or more of 39 national standards including one that requires an increase of at least 7 percent in the number of proficient students.
The 1,047 Florida schools failing to make adequate progress may be required to add remedial and tutoring programs or overhaul staff and curriculum.
The 24 F schools include 11 that qualify for state sanctions because they have had failing grades two years out of the past four. Students attending sanctioned schools can transfer to other public schools graded C or better.
For the first time since 1999, though, the students at twice-failing schools will be unable to get vouchers to attend parochial and other private schools at public expense. The Florida Supreme Court declared that program, another key element of Bush's ''A-Plus'' school accountability plan, unconstitutional in January.
The school grading system has been attacked by Democrats since it began. They say it puts too much emphasis on high-stakes testing while the state's schools have remained underfunded.
''I will forgo the champagne because I believe that the school grading system is ultimately destructive to my child's education,'' said Rep. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, after Bush urged Floridians to celebrate the high grades.
Gelber, whose children attend an A-rated elementary school, is slated to be the House Democratic leader in November. He said grading has caused the state's schools to slight civics, history and science, as well as gifted and enrichment programs. School grades are based on FCAT reading, writing and math scores. Science will be added next year.
Bush anticipated the criticism during a news conference.
''In politics there are a lot of carpers, chirpers, nippers,'' Bush said. ''Sometimes it's important to ... pause and celebrate success.''
The governor was surrounded by state and local school officials including Education Commissioner John Winn and two principals Bush praised for taking bold steps.
Manuel Duran enlisted community support and recruited veteran teachers including some brought out of retirement at Tampa's Alexander Elementary School, which has a high percentage of Hispanic students. Alexander has improved over the years and received its first A.
''We're in it together,'' Duran said. ''We do what it takes and sometimes people say I'm unorthodox.''
The 2,074 schools that received an A or B compares to 1,843 last year. Middle schools did the best, with 87 percent graded A or B. Just under 80 percent of elementary schools and 41 percent of high schools received the top two grades.
GRACIAS POR VISITAR MI BLOGS
WWW.JOSERAULMARRERO.COM
PUEDE LLAMAR DIRECTAMENTE
AL 407-436-5140/787-486-7906
TODOS SOMOS GUERREROS DE LUZ!
