Florida's State Board of Education recently approved its strategic plan, which seeks to increase grade level achievement in K-12 students.
Sounds like a good goal.
Spokesperson for the Florida Department of Education said the plan makes "realistic and attainable" expectations and does not lower them. "There is an achievement gap and we're working really hard to close that. Of course we want every student to be successful. But we do have to take into account their starting point."
Translation: the Board created different goals for different races.
By 2018, the board seeks to dramatically improve math and reading scores.
Reading goals are 82% proficiency for American Indians, 90% for Asians, 74% for Blacks, 81% for Latinos, 88% for whites, 72% for economically disadvantaged students, 72% for English language learners, and 78% for students with disabilities.
Math goals are 81% for American Indians, 92% for Asians, 74% for Blacks, 80% for Latinos, 86% for white students, 78% for economically disadvantaged students, and 72% for students with disabilities.
And, as expected, there have been many objections to the plan.
Patrick Franklin, president of the Urban League of Palm Beach County, said, "All children should be held to high standards and for them to say that for African-Americans the goal is below other students is unacceptable."
Donna Korn, a member of the Broward School Board, said "All of our students face the same careers and if we allow them to have different levels of success, then they will falter."
Former Governor Jeb Bush rejected this type of plan, arguing it would send the wrong message to Black and Latino students and instill that they were not as capable as other students.
Incoming Florida House Democratic leader Perry Thurston said, "An appropriate vision should focus on improving student performances across the board instead of based on race and ethnicity. It is inappropriate to suggest, as the Board of Education has implied, that one race is academically inferior to another."
SBW agrees. This is a shame.
Will employers take these new standards into consideration? Under these standards, the Board of Education is perfectly fine with few Black and Latino students being able to pass tests, graduate high school and go on to college or trade school. And what about the Asian and American Indian students who need help but the group overall meets these goals? Will they get extra assistance? Probably not.
Maybe the Board seeks to funnel these kids into low paying jobs right away.
We know it might be harder to create a system that seeks to make improvements across the board but it's possible. Why not seek to have all students reading and doing math at or above grade level? Sure it's difficult but what's the point of having a Board of Education if it does not seek to educate students? All students.
More here.
