Accountability and School Grading
The Opinion-Editorial was written by President Andy Ford on accountability/school grading in response to a piece by former Governor Jeb Bush on the same topic. Below is the introduction and the text from both editorials:
As the state prepares to release its 10th school report card today, the A-to F grades- part of a far-reaching educational package championed by former Gov. Jeb Bush- remaining a lightning rod of debate. In his own words, Bush tells why the school-grading system has benefited all students in Florida while Andy Ford of the state's largest teachers union laments the system's failings.
By President Andy Ford
Special To The Sentinel
July 8, 2008
If you feel the movement toward greater school accountability in Florida has been a success, then you have to give credit to the people that made it happen -- the classroom teachers and education-support professionals in our public schools.
However, their efforts are too often reduced to a school grade based solely on the results of a single test administered during a few days of each school year.
That A-F letter grade assigned to the schools in your community has little to do with whether learning actually takes place, though it is a fair measure of a student's ability to fill in bubbles on a standardized test.
There is a big difference in these two things.
In some cases, based on the demographics or economics of a community, a grade of C might be a tremendous accomplishment. But it's an accomplishment that goes unrecognized in this era of one test, one grade and one size fits all.
Perhaps even worse, this grading system becomes a stigma on entire communities as Realtors steer people away from homes in these areas and business fails to invest in them because of a false perception that the community is somehow failing.
Yet that C might represent a bigger accomplishment in terms of actual learning than the combined efforts of the other schools in a local community.
It's worth noting the unfair pressure placed on students and teachers as their success or failure is dictated by a single test.
Is it really fair that the responsibility for a local Realtor's yearly income, a multinational corporation's relocation plans, or a community's economic well-being is placed on the shoulders of a third-grader?
If political leaders were tested based on their commitment to public education and their willingness to invest in the futures of our children, Gov. Charlie Crist and the Legislature would receive a failing grade.
Copyright © 2008, Orlando Sentinel
Jeb Bush
Special To The Sentinel
July 8, 2008
As the state prepares to release its 10th school report card today, the A-to F grades- part of a far-reaching educational package championed by former Gov. Jeb Bush- remaining a lightning rod of debate. Today, in his own words, Bush tells why the school-grading system has benefited all students in Florida while Andy Ford of the state's largest teachers union laments the system's failings.
Nearly a decade ago, Florida adopted the A-Plus Plan for Education, a bold initiative to return a culture of achievement and accountability to public schools.
In 1999, Florida started grading schools just like we do students -- on a scale of A to F. The letter grades are based on FCAT scores and measure both performance and progress. Half of the school grade is based on student performance -- the percentage of students performing at or above grade level in reading, writing, math and science. This is important to ensure students are mastering the necessary skills and achieving at a high level.
The other half of the school grade is based on the percent of students who show progress in reading and math from one year to the next. Giving credit for improvement -- even if students aren't on grade level -- ensures schools focus on struggling students.
Lots of people thought grading schools would hurt public education. Instead, students, parents, teachers and principals rose to the challenge and exceeded expectations. School grades reflect whether students are learning a year's worth of knowledge in a year's time, which is the leading indicator of a quality education.
Parents use school grades to understand the quality of education their child is receiving so they can make informed decisions for their family. The public uses school grades to understand the quality of education being provided by their public schools. School districts use school grades to identify strengths and weaknesses and target improvements.
Since we started grading schools, the number of A and B schools in Florida has nearly quadrupled. During the same period, the bar for achievement was raised four times, making good grades even harder to achieve.
Accountability changes behavior for the better. Accountability makes it possible to reward success and reverse failure before it is too late. Accountability is raising the bar, raising expectations and raising the quality of our education in Florida.
Copyright © 2008, Orlando Sentinel
