Somebody literally needs to ask Governor Ron DeSantis this question: Can you give me an example of a specific standard, or maybe a few examples, that highlight the problem you’re trying to solve? My guess? He can’t. I’m not sure anyone can based on the rhetoric I hear about Common Core. DeSantis says he’s listening […]
What Andrew Gillum Really Thinks About School Choice
This post originally appeared on Sunshine State News If you care about school choice in Florida, watch out for Andrew Gillum. In the debate last week, Gillum told the moderator he is not looking to defund charter schools. “I’m not proposing any change to the current status quo,” he said before quickly pivoting to the […]
More Proof Florida Schools Are On The Right Track
Last night I was up way too late checking Twitter when I noticed a tweet from Florida’s education department. Great News, Florida! Quality Counts has ranked Florida 4th in the nation for K-12 student achievement! We are so proud of the work our educators and students are doing in the classroom. 😁📚 #FLedu Find out […]
If You Want Great Schools, Build Great School Climates
Seeds don’t grow in bad soil. It doesn’t matter how much water or sunlight you give them or how much you drown them in Miracle-Gro. If you plant a seed in rocky soil, don’t expect much to happen. School climate – characterized by high expectations, positive relationships, student engagement, and more – is the soil […]
The Best High-Poverty Public Schools in Florida – 2018
Florida’s department of education judges schools on an A-F scale. But not all As are created equal. I’m not trying to take anything away from higher-income areas, but it’s not as hard to help rich and middle class kids succeed in school as it is to help students from poor families. And historically, low-income students, […]
Mo Money, Mo Problems For Some States, But Better Schools in Florida
The other day I imagined myself rich enough to be looking out of the floor-to-ceiling windows of a plush mansion on the beach and shaking my head, solemnly, as I whisper to myself. “Biggie and P. Diddy were right, man. Mo money. Mo Problems.” I’m pretty sure I would love to be that rich and […]
School Choice Is a Great Thing. Now, Parents Need Better Choices — and More of Them
(This post originally appeared on The 74) When the call came in two weeks ago, I thought it might be another spammer. I didn’t recognize the number, but I answered anyway. “Hello, is this Mr. Wright?” “Yes, this is Lane.” “Hi. I’m calling from the School of Arts and Sciences at the Centre location. I’m […]
Florida Lawmakers Say Pretending to Evaluate Teachers Is Vital to Fixing Schools
(Disclaimer: This is satire. To all those who think the politicians mentioned and quoted in the article below would actually admit to these realities, thank you for your faith in humanity.) Florida has a long, proud history of pretending to evaluate teachers and two Republican lawmakers, Rep. Rene Plasencia and Sen. Debbie Mayfield, say they’re […]
Think Your School’s Preparing Your Child for College? Probably Not Like This
What’s your elementary or middle school doing to get your kid ready for college? If you said something like, “teaching them stuff,” or “I don’t know,” don’t feel bad, you’re in good company. If you said AP classes, IB programs, or dual enrollment, I’d just remind you I said, elementary and middle school, not high […]
No Parents, No Progress
Just as parents should be involved in classrooms, so should we be involved when those doors have to close. In a recent panel discussion on school choice in D.C., Robin Lake describes leaving parents out of the conversation of school choice as an “huge unnecessary liability.” I completely agree, but her comment still left me […]