Florida News Straight From the Source
Tomorrow, July 17, First Lady Ann Scott will make her second stop on the 2018 Summer Literacy Adventure at Honeymoon Island State Park in Dunedin. During her visit, the First Lady will read to students from the Dunedin Public Library Summer Reading Program and encourage them to read throughout the summer. [Read more…] about First Lady Ann Scott to Continue Summer Literacy Adventure at Honeymoon Island State Park
This month, the Florida Department of Education, students and educators are celebrating Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month with the 2018 theme, “Celebrate Today and Own Tomorrow.”
“We are proud to offer Floridians a public education system that was designed to help students of all ages and backgrounds reach their academic and career goals,” said Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart. “Many students have gained the professional skills necessary to succeed through the Career and Technical Education programs available in all of our state’s school districts and colleges. Career and Technical Education Month is a great time to highlight the tremendous opportunities available to help students get a head-start on their careers.”
More than half a million Florida students are enrolled in secondary and postsecondary career and technical education. Programs around the state will hold activities during February to promote awareness about these educational opportunities.
“CTE programs have evolved from the ‘vocational’ programs of the past that prepared students for a single job with limited skills to today’s programs where students are prepared for a career,” said Career and Adult Education Chancellor Rod Duckworth. “Students who are enrolled in Florida’s CTE courses and programs are developing the skills to be successful in today’s workplace and those necessary for the jobs of the future.”
In honor of CTE Month, the department recognized two students who are benefiting greatly from CTE programs.
Kaitlyn Bowman is a high school junior in the engineering magnet program at Lyman High School in Seminole County. She has been studying engineering since middle school and plans to continue after graduation. Through this program, Kaitlyn has taken coursework in engineering, digital electronics and robotics and participated in SkillsUSA, which enables CTE students to strengthen their leadership skills and compete in their chosen field. Following graduation, Kaitlyn will work toward a degree in mechanical engineering.
Nicolas Velasco graduated in 2017 from Atlantic Technical High School in Broward County, where he studied machining to build the foundation he will need to pursue a degree in mechanical and aeronautical engineering. He was selected for the prestigious Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Vocational Scholarship Program, and he is currently representing Florida in Germany, where he has begun a series of CTE internships.
Students and educators continue to experience the positive impacts associated with Career and Technical Education and Industry Certifications, as evidenced by the data points below.
To learn more about Career and Technical Education in Florida, visithttp://fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/career-tech-edu.
Senator Travis Hutson (R-St. Augustine) has asked the Department of Education (DOE) to fix an unfair grading situation for students who have previously taken Algebra II. The issue stems from the controversial and now eliminated Algebra II end of course exam (EOC). After the enacting of HB 7069 this month, the Algebra II EOC is no longer offered not just for students who will take Algebra II next year, but also for those who took the course this year but were going to make-up the exam this month. Since the exam counts as 30% of the grades of students who took the exam this year, students who took the same course will have one-third of their final grades calculated differently depending on if they took the test or not.
Without action, this disparity will carry over not just between Algebra II students this year, but also between those who took it this year and future years. With the status quo, there will be students in the same graduating class who will be graded differently in the same course depending on if they took it before or after the EOC was eliminated. This coupled with the problems with the Algebra II EOC, which led ultimately to its elimination, leaves the students whose grades are built on the EOC at a distinct disadvantage.
As such, Senator Hutson is asking DOE to do whatever it can to not have the flawed Algebra II EOC negatively affect the GPAs of students who had to take it. “Since Algebra II is basically a prerequisite for colleges, the problems with the exam have real world negative effects on some students GPAs and college competitiveness,” Senator Hutson explained. “If there is anything we can do to make sure past and future Algebra II students are graded fairly and uniformly, we need to do it.”
SEE LETTER BELOW:
July 20, 2017
Dear Chair Johnson and Commissioner Stewart,
In recent weeks, both parents and teachers in my district have brought a troubling situation to my attention regarding the elimination of the Algebra II end of course exam. While the elimination of the exam is universally applauded, the timing has brought about an unintended consequence that does not treat all students fairly. Specifically, since the enacting of HB 7069 on July 1, students who took Algebra II last year are graded differently depending on whether they took the end of course exam or not. While the exam counted as 30% of the final grades for those who took it, those who were intending to take the make-up test this month can no longer do so and their grades will be calculated without the exam. This creates a scenario where some students who took the exam would see their grades improve if their grades were calculated the same way as students who did not take the exam.
This year’s disparity between grading students who took the exam and students who did not take the exam highlights the larger problem of unfairness in how the exam counts towards grades and GPAs going forward. The problems with the Algebra II end of course exam are well documented and the reasons for its elimination are well founded. However, there is a current cohort of students who took the exam and had their grades negatively affected by a flawed test that their peers who will take Algebra II next year will not have to worry about. While it is too late to help those who are starting college this year, there is still time to right this wrong for the rising sophomores, juniors and seniors who have had the Algebra II exam hurt their GPAs.
I am writing to ask you to look into this situation and if possible offer relief to ensure fairness in how the past Algebra II exams affect students’ grades. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Travis Hutson
Florida Senator, 7th District
Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart today hosted the agency’s annual pinwheel planting ceremony at the Turlington Building in Tallahassee. The pinwheels will remain on the lawn through the month of April to symbolize the promise of the happy childhoods all children deserve.
“We each have a role in preventing child abuse and neglect in our communities, and Pinwheels for Prevention is a wonderful way to raise awareness about this very important issue,” said Commissioner Stewart. “I was proud to be joined by fellow state leaders and child advocates who share my belief that every child has the right to grow up in a safe and loving environment. I hope that the pinwheels we planted today serve as an ongoing reminder to our staff and visitors that we all have a great responsibility to Florida’s children.”
“It only takes one person to be a hero for a child. Anyone can open their home, volunteer in their community or advocate on behalf of vulnerable children,” said Department of Children and Families Secretary Mike Carroll. “To end the cycle of abuse we see far too often in families in crisis, we must all work together to build supportive communities that provide opportunities for every child to succeed.”
“Ensuring the health and well-being of every child is essential to Florida’s future,” said Zackary Gibson, Chief Child Advocate and Director of the Governor’s Office of Adoption and Child Protection. “With the support from the Department of Education, we will continue to work to enable each child to get a great education and achieve their full potential.”
“Children whose needs are met in the first five years are more likely to thrive. Those who are abused or neglected face a lifetime of challenges. The Pinwheels for Prevention campaign reminds us that everyone can take action to help ensure children live happy, healthy childhoods,” said Douglas Sessions Jr., president and CEO of the Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida.
“As a teacher, I know how important it is to recognize the signs of child abuse,” said Jessica Solano. “Pinwheels for Prevention highlights the need for educators to be aware that their responsibilities extend beyond the classroom walls. As mandatory reporters, teachers need to be mindful of the children they interact with every day.”
Florida law requires everyone to report known or suspected child abuse to the Florida Department of Children and Families, online here, by phone at 1-800-96-ABUSE (1-800-962-2873) or via fax at 1-800-914-0004.
Pinwheels for Prevention is a national campaign that engages communities in a coordinated effort to prevent child abuse and neglect by promoting the awareness of healthy child development, positive parenting practices and the types of support families need within their communities. For more information, visit Pinwheels for Prevention.
In honor of National Braille Literacy Month, staff from the Florida Department of Education’s (FDOE) Division of Blind Services (DBS) read the braille version of “The Gingerbread Man” to 60 Pre-K students at J. Michael Conley Elementary School in Tallahassee.
Following the reading, students learned about the varying levels of blindness, as they participated in activities using vision simulators. The students were later presented with copies of their names written in braille and the braille alphabet.
Through FDOE, students with visual disabilities work with teachers who are trained specifically in visual impairments to learn important skills such as reading braille and how to navigate the classroom using a cane or a guide dog.
For more information about the Florida Department of Education, visit www.fldoe.org.
For more information about the Division of Blind Services, visit www.dbs.fldoe.org
The Florida Department of Education announced today the names of schools in the Palm Beach area that have earned the Five Star School Award for the 2015-16 school year. The award is bestowed upon schools that are committed to incorporating family and community members into the school environment to enhance student learning. Statewide, nearly 700 schools earned the recognition.
“Family and community involvement is essential to student success, and I am grateful for the parents, caregivers and community members who invest their time in our state’s schools.” said Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart. “When school leaders and educators engage the community, the result is higher academic achievement and more students prepared for future success.”
To earn Five Star School recognition, a school must show that it has achieved all of the benchmarks and criteria in five categories – Community/Business Partnerships, Family Involvement, Volunteerism, Student Community Service and School Advisory Council. Schools must also earn a grade of “C” or above or a school improvement rating of “Maintaining” or “Improving” for the year being recognized.
Below are the schools in the Palm Beach area that received the Five Star School Award for the 2015-16 school year.
To view the entire list of schools awarded, please visit Five Star School Award.
For more information about the Florida Department of Education, visit www.fldoe.org.
The Florida Department of Education announced today the names of schools in Southwest Florida that have earned the Five Star School Award for the 2015-16 school year. The award is bestowed upon schools that are committed to incorporating family and community members into the school environment to enhance student learning. Statewide, nearly 700 schools earned the recognition.
“Family and community involvement is essential to student success, and I am grateful for the parents, caregivers and community members who invest their time in our state’s schools.” said Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart. “When school leaders and educators engage the community, the result is higher academic achievement and more students prepared for future success.”
To earn Five Star School recognition, a school must show that it has achieved all of the benchmarks and criteria in five categories – Community/Business Partnerships, Family Involvement, Volunteerism, Student Community Service and School Advisory Council. Schools must also earn a grade of “C” or above or a school improvement rating of “Maintaining” or “Improving” for the year being recognized.
Below are the schools in Southwest Florida that received the Five Star School Award for the 2015-16 school year.
To view the entire list of schools awarded, please visit Five Star School Award.
For more information about the Florida Department of Education, visit www.fldoe.org.
The Florida Department of Education announced today the names of schools in the Tampa Bay area that have earned the Five Star School Award for the 2015-16 school year. The award is bestowed upon schools that are committed to incorporating family and community members into the school environment to enhance student learning. Statewide, nearly 700 schools earned the recognition.
“Family and community involvement is essential to student success, and I am grateful for the parents, caregivers and community members who invest their time in our state’s schools.” said Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart. “When school leaders and educators engage the community, the result is higher academic achievement and more students prepared for future success.”
To earn Five Star School recognition, a school must show that it has achieved all of the benchmarks and criteria in five categories – Community/Business Partnerships, Family Involvement, Volunteerism, Student Community Service and School Advisory Council. Schools must also earn a grade of “C” or above or a school improvement rating of “Maintaining” or “Improving” for the year being recognized.
Below are the schools in the Tampa Bay area that received the Five Star School Award for the 2015-16 school year.
To view the entire list of schools awarded, please visit Five Star School Award.
For more information about the Florida Department of Education, visit www.fldoe.org.
