Q&A: Common Questions About Florida School Grades
July 26, 2013
Here are some questions and answers about school grades from the Florida Department of Education as schools transition to Common Core State Standards.
For local school grades released Friday, click here.
Q – Why maintain higher standards during the transition to Common Core State Standards?
A – Softening standards in pursuit of higher letter grades would be a disservice to students in schools that need the most assistance in preparing for the higher goals in Common Core State Standards. Keeping the bar raised is the best way to ensure a smooth transition to Common Core.
Q – Why keep the continuation of the provision that no individual school’s grade will drop more than one letter grade in one year (i.e. the transition safety net)?
A – Districts and schools have successfully incorporated a number of changes in recent years and are diligently preparing for the implementation of Common Core State Standards. This provision provides a transitional tool that will maintain high standards while keeping the focus on the 2014-15 school year when CCSS will take effect.
Q – What other changes in school grades are taking effect this year?
A – These changes were approved by the Board in 2012 but were scheduled for implementation in 2013:
– The FCAT 2.0 Writing standard used in the school grade calculation was changed to 3.5, up from 3.0 last year. A temporary one-year reduction to a 3.0 in the school grade calculation allowed students more time to adjust to higher writing standards.
– Schools must show that the lowest performing students are making progress in both reading and math.
– Schools that have fewer than 25 percent of their students scoring at grade level or higher in reading will see a one letter grade reduction in their school grade.
– New achievement levels were set for FCAT 2.0 Science and End-of-Course exams in Biology 1 and Geometry. These will be used to calculate school grades for middle and high schools.
– Middle schools that have students who take Biology 1 or Geometry exams or earn industry certification will have those results included in their school grade.
– Students who attend alternative schools that choose to get a school improvement rating will have their test performance and learning gains included in the grade of their home school.
– Assessment scores of some students attending Exceptional Student Education (ESE) center schools will not be applied to the student’s “home” school for the purpose of school grade calculations. This provision applies to students who have never previously enrolled in a non-ESE center school within the district and who score at the emergent level on the Florida Alternative Assessment.
– The high school five-year graduation rate will not include special diploma recipients as graduates.
Q – Does the drop in scores mean the overall education quality of Florida schools has decreased?
A – Florida remains a national leader in dozens of educational studies including graduation rates, teacher quality, top public high schools and many other areas. These scores reflect higher standards for schools that were arrived at with the support and input from district school superintendents.
Q – How is it possible education quality has improved, but school grades are down?
A – Higher standards and expectations yield higher results and outcomes with an overall result of students better prepared for success in careers and college. By focusing now on schools most in need of assistance, students and teachers will be in a better position to succeed when more rigorous Common Core State Standards are implemented in 2014-15.
Q – Will the drop in scores impact schools and school districts in any manner?
A – Schools that have consistently scored D’s or F’s will receive assistance from the state to help them serve students.
Q – Do the decreases mean that schools that decreased will get less state funding?
A – Beyond school recognition funds, funding is not affected by school grades. However, the 100 elementary schools that are the lowest performing in reading results will receive assistance to implement additional help for students.
Q – What is the history of school grades in Florida?
A – Since 1999, Florida has issued letter grades to more clearly communicate the quality of schools to parents and the public. As performance improved, changes were made to the way grades were calculated to ensure students continued making academic progress.
The State Board of Education approved a number of changes in 2012 that were not scheduled for implementation until 2013. Responding to concerns from school superintendents and others, last month the Board asked Florida Commissioner of Education Tony Bennett to convene a task force consisting of superintendents and other education leaders to review the school grading system with the goal of maintaining high standards during the transition to Common Core State Standards in 2014-15.
Q – Do lower school grades mean student performance has dropped?
A – Not necessarily. Recently released FCAT scores showed performance in reading and math were generally flat while, there were increases in student writing scores and in End-of-Course exam scores. With the implementation of Common Core State Standards in 2014-15, students will be receiving deeper teaching that promotes critical thinking and better prepares them for college and careers.
Q – Do lower school grades mean teacher performance has dropped?
A –Teachers have led recent increases in Florida’s student scores and in national rankings. Gov. Rick Scott’s success in funding pay raises for teachers this year reflects the quality of teaching now and will help retain and attract the best teachers in the future. Tens of thousands of teachers have received training in Common Core State Standards and will have increased flexibility in designing their curriculum in meeting those standards.
Q – Will lower school grades in the short term affect the state’s success in attracting high-paying jobs and businesses to Florida?
A – The impact of higher expectations for students and schools will be positive for Florida’s future. Businesses seeking to relocate often cite education as their top priority. It is critical to maintain high standards and help schools now that need assistance with the arrival of more rigorous Common Core State Standards. The state’s education leaders – from teachers to superintendents to lawmakers – are sending a clear signal that they are committed to preparing a world-class workforce and a clear signal that Florida is the best state in the nation to learn and to work and to live.
ECUA Seeks Water, Sewer And Sanitation Rate Increases
July 26, 2013
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority is looking for a rate hike for the next fiscal year.
ECUA wants a 1.93 percent increase for both water and sewer service. That would amount to about $1.08 per month for the average residential customer, or about 50 cents per month for a customer with water but no sewer service. For a large commercial customer, the increase would be about $8.16 per month.
The increased water and sewer revenues would go toward infrastructure improvements.
ECUA is also looking for a sanitation fee increase of 14 cents per month for residential customers. The increase is a direct reflection of a 3.5 percent increase in the tipping fee at the Perdido Landfill that will take effect on October 1.
A public hearing to discuss the increases will be held August 29.
Photos: Fire Destroys Pickup
July 26, 2013
Fire destroyed an Isuzu pickup truck Thursday evening in Walnut Hill. The truck caught fire alongside Gobbler Road east of Highway 97 about 7:20 p.m.
There were no injuries, and the cause the fire was not known. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the blaze.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Beulahfest Moving To New Home
July 26, 2013
The 28th Annual Beulahfest will have a new home next year.
The event has been held for the past few years at the Escambia County Equestrian Center, but the next festival will be held at the Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds.
“Our patrons have spoken and we are answering,” Beulahfest Chairman Yancy McNair said. “People seemed to like the open spaces our event provided for so many years in the field across from the fire department. We can’t go back to that field so we found the next best place. The fairgrounds can provide us with wide open spaces and plenty of secure parking. Except for a handful of vendors, the entire event will be outdoors. Also, with recent changes to the Equestrian Center the time is now.”
McNair said the move to the fairgrounds will bring some exciting changes.
“I am very excited about the move to the fairgrounds. We have a lot of exciting changes coming in 2014,” he said.
The 28th Annual BeulahFest will be held on March 21 and 22, 2014.
Pictured top: Country star Randy Houser performs at the 2012 Beulahfest. Pictured inset: The Cat from Cat Country 98.7 poses with members of the Beulah VFD. Pictured below: The midway at Beulahfest 2012. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge
Alabama Executes Halloween 2005 Killer
July 26, 2013
Alabama carried out its first execution in two years Thursday evening at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore. Officials say 29-year-old Andrew Lackey was pronounced dead at 6:25 p.m. after receiving a lethal injection.
Lackey was convicted of the beating and shooting of an elderly World War II veteran on Halloween night in 2005. He had dropped all appeals and asked for his execution to be scheduled.
“I do understand that executions are on hold in Alabama pending a ruling by the Supreme Court of the method used,” Lackey said in a handwritten letter dated January 9, 2013. “I want to know that when and if executions resume, I will not be unnecessarily delayed.”
Lackey was after money when he shot, beat and stabbed 80-year-old Charles Newman at his home in Limestone County, officials said. Lackey had been friends with the victim’s grandson.
Minor Injuries In Cantonment Crash
July 26, 2013
Only minor injuries were reported in a two vehicle accident about 8:50 p.m. Thursday on Muscogee Road near Highway 97. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Highway 97A Traffic To Shift To Temp Bridge Delayed
July 26, 2013
Due to inclement weather conditions, the traffic shift on County Road 97A over Boggy Creek scheduled for Friday was postponed. Traffic will be transitioned to a temporary roadway and bridge next Tuesday, July 30, around 10 a.m.
This will allow for demolition of the existing bridge and construction of the new structure and approaches. The $1.5 million project is scheduled for completion winter 2014. Motorists may encounter minor delays as crews move traffic to the temporary bridge.
The speed limit will be reduced to 30 mph through the work zone and drivers are advised to use caution while traveling through the area and to be aware that speeding violations will be doubled when workers are present. Construction work could be delayed or rescheduled due to inclement weather.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge
Democrats Target Scott With Web Ads, Social Media
July 26, 2013
In some of its first paid ads of the 2014 campaign cycle, the Florida Democratic Party announced Thursday that it would take to social media and online news sites to whack away at Gov. Rick Scott.
The ads, which will be on Facebook and Twitter along with newspaper sites, will direct readers to a website about “The Real Rick Scott.” Democrats say they are responding, in part, to Scott’s efforts to recalibrate his message as he prepares to make a bid for re-election.
“It hasn’t worked all year, and we are going to make sure that it doesn’t,” Democratic Chairwoman Allison Tant told reporters on a conference call.
The latest survey from the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, taken last month, still showed Scott losing by double digits to former Gov. Charlie Crist — a Republican-turned-independent-turned Democrat — or U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, two of the potential candidates most frequently cited as front-runners.
But that poll also showed Scott with a 43 percent job approval rating compared to a 44 percent disapproval rating, some of the best marks of his tenure, and some observers predict that the Scott campaign and related groups will spend as much as $100 million on the re-election effort.
by The News Service of Florida
Northview NJROTC Members Take Part In Teen CERT Training
July 26, 2013
Eight members of the Northview High School NJROTC unit participated in Teen Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training this week, sponsored by the federal Emergency Management Agency. Teen CERT is a national program of volunteers trained in disaster preparedness and emergency response. Teen CERT training teaches teens about the potential disasters that could affect their area and how to safely and responsibly respond to them.
Pictured top: Northview Teen CERT members Elijah Harbison, Sean Allister, Donald Baity, Lane Carnley, Zacarra Davis, Dylan Cartwright, Kira Cartwright, and Shauna Walker. Pictured below: Teen CERT members learned basic firefighting techniques Thursday afternoon from the crew of Escambia County Fire Rescue Engine 519 from Century. Pictured inset: The teens practice moving an “injured” person using a chair. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Braves Beat Pensacola 1-0
July 26, 2013
Christian Marrero smoked a single just out of the reach of first baseman Mike Costanzo, scoring Mycal Jones to give the Mississippi Braves a 1-0, 10-inning win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Thursday night at Trustmark Park.
Jones set up the inning with a leadoff single before stealing second and advancing to third on a wild pitch by Jamie Walczak. Edward Salcedo and Braeden Schlehuber were then walked intentionally to load the bases with nobody out. Walczak struck out Barrett Kleinknecht for the first out but Marrero snuck the liner past Costanzo to win it for Mississippi. Walczak took his first loss of the season by allowing a run on two hits in just 0.1 innings.
The walk-off dampened one of the best starts in franchise history turned in by Tim Crabbe. The right-hander shutout Mississippi over nine frames, limiting the Braves to just five hits with three strikeouts and a walk. Crabbe needed just 98 pitches to get through nine innings, not allowing a single Brave past second base. It was the first time in franchise history that a Wahoos hurler had completed nine innings.
Mitch Atkins was equally as dominant for Mississippi, firing seven shutout innings for the Braves. Atkins struck out nine Wahoos against just one walk while allowing five hits. Pensacola’s biggest threat against him came in the fifth with Yorman Rodriguez on third base and one out. Tucker Barnhart chopped a ball to first where Barrett Kleinknecht fielded and fired home to nab Rodriguez, keeping the game scoreless.
Pensacola faced a similar fate in the eighth inning against reliever Pat Egan. Devin Lohman led off the frame with a double, moved to third on a groundout, but was stranded after Egan induced a pop out and groundout, the latter of which was a bang-bang play in which Donald Lutz was called out at first base.
Egan improved to 6-1 on the season with three scoreless innings out of the bullpen, striking out one and allowing two hits.
The Braves have now taken two of the first three games in the series and look for the series victory on Friday night at 7 p.m. Josh Smith (7-8, 3.87) takes the ball for Pensacola against Mississippi’s Michael Lee (5-6, 3.96).
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