Are Florida's public schools being set up to fail

From the Orlando Sentinel, by Leslie Postal

The Florida PTA has joined the chorus of those clamoring for answers about what happened with this year’s FCAT writing scores.

“ This week’s fiasco over the FCAT Writing scores has left many shaking their heads in disbelief,” the parent group’s statement said.

The PTA asked if teachers and schools were well-prepared for the changes. And said, “Did our Governor, Legislators and Board of Education, think, or care, about the roller coaster of emotions our children are now experiencing? Who is to blame?”

The group also reiterated its opposition to using test scores “punitively.” It said standardized tests should be used to improve instruction and learning. “Yet, it is important to note that students are not data points and personalization is needed for success,” it said.

Finally, the PTA wondered whether tougher standards and lousy test scores are part of some bigger, perhaps devious, plan.

“Are our public schools being set up to fail, therefore creating the choice for parents to remove their children from our public school system and place them in private, for-profit institutions…using taxpayer dollars?

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_education_edblog/