Florida’s “padded” school grades show “unprecedented declines”

According to USGovernmentSpending.com Florida has historically spent about half of its budget on education. The chart below shows actual expenditures on education from 2001 – 2011 and projected expenditures from 2012 – 2018. Spending on education is projected to increase in 2014 to $42.86 billion, up $1.69 billion from 2013.

With spending on education is expected to increase, does that result in higher student performance? If school grades are an indicator the answer is – NO.

Jeffrey S. Solochek, Tampa Bay Times staff writer, reports:

Florida’s elementary and middle schools saw unprecedented — yet unsurprising — declines in their state-issued grades released Friday.

About 53 percent of schools earned lower grades than a year ago, state education commissioner Tony Bennett announced. Data show that 548 schools were protected from even bigger drops by a “safety net” rule preventing schools from sliding more than one letter grade.

Amid growing controversy over Florida’s ever-changing quality measures, the state Board of Education imposed the safety net to help schools cope with shifting rules, tougher new tests and a transition to the rigorous Common Core State Standards.

Even with the safety net Solochek notes school grades show “unprecedented declines”. The 2013 school grades down as follows:

• 760 A’s, compared to 1,242 in 2012
• 677 B’s, compared to 609 in 2012
• 721 C’s, compared to 494 in 2012
• 353 D’s, compared to 212 in 2012
• 107 F’s, compared to 40 in 2012

NOTE: Approximately 550 schools were protected from even bigger drops by a “safety net” rule preventing schools from sliding more than one letter grade. Elementary and middle school grades are based on the FCAT tests. High school grades, which include more factors, are not expected until late fall.

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