A shout of joy echoes through Idylwild Elementary School’s media center every Thursday afternoon, as anywhere from 15 to 20 kids run into the room. Fifteen minutes before the double doors burst open, Alexa Tierney, Holly Buss and the rest of Eastside High School’s ReadSquad are setting up shop. The …
Read More »Florida Standards Assessments’ replacement increases testing time
Alachua County Public Schools began taking standardized tests with the new Florida Assessment of Student Thinking less than a month into the school year. Students in voluntary prekindergarten through 10th grade will participate in this assessment three times a year. Florida Assessment of Student Thinking replaces the end-of-the-year Florida Standards Assessments and monitors student progress in the fall, winter and spring. Each cycle tests students’ knowledge of the entire year’s material in English Language Arts and mathematics, according to the Florida Department of Education. But critics of the new assessment say more time spent testing means less instructional time.
Read More »The Point, July 1, 2022: Everything You Need To Know Ahead Of This Weekend’s Fanfares And Fireworks At Flavet Field
Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. The stories near you The Point will return to your inbox on Tuesday, July 5, following the Independence Day holiday on Monday. • WUFT: Everything you need to know to enjoy Fanfares & Fireworks. “Enjoy an evening of …
Read More »Alachua County Public Schools Show Slight Increase in State Math Test Scores
Alachua County Public School officials were eager to report the initial results of state test scores which show increases in local math passing rates, especially in Algebra. The results which the Florida Department of Education released on Tuesday show a slight decrease in English Language Arts rates. Results for the …
Read More »The Point, May 31, 2022: Following a national decline, Santa Fe College admissions are now on the rise
Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. The stories near you • The Alligator: Santa Fe college admissions on the rise. “The college’s reputation for successful transfers makes it an attractive option for students who wish to attend UF. According to UF, the university’s acceptance …
Read More »‘The Rigor Gap’ Study Suggests Florida Students May Be Falling Behind
A study examining student’s end-of-course exams and corresponding grades was formed by the Florida Council of 100, a non-profit and nonpartisan organization of business leaders that work towards promoting the economic growth of Florida’s citizens.
Read More »How Many Standardized Tests Should Florida Students Be Taking Each Year?
Jim from Ocala asked us why schools add on extra testing beyond the statewide Florida Standards Assessment test.
Read More »Close, Convert To Charter, Or Outside Operator: Options For Terwilliger Elementary To Be Discussed At Meeting
Myra Terwilliger Elementary School will face the possibility of closure if it doesn’t receive a C or higher letter grade for the 2018-19 school year, after receiving a D for the past three years.
Read More »Florida Supreme Court Won’t Consider ‘Opt Out’ Lawsuit
The Florida Supreme Court won't take up a case that challenged the right of school districts to hold third-graders back when they score badly on a mandated standardized reading test.
Read More »Court Questions Student ‘Opt Out’ Arguments
An appeals court sounded skeptical Tuesday of a Leon County judge's ruling that the state and the Hernando County School Board erred in their approach to students who "opted out" of a state standardized test.
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