School grades coming Friday

The Department of Education will hand out its annual report cards Friday morning, The Gradebook has learned. But "better late than never" might not be the first thing Florida educators say when they see the results. Administrators fear a slew of lower grades this year because of two major changes to the school grading formula: the addition of science scores; and the addition of a penalty provision that results in the loss of a letter grade for schools where the majority of the lowest-performing students don't make gains in math. Previously, that penalty only came into play with reading scores.

The changes are expected to hit high schools especially hard. Some district officials say parents and teachers shouldn't be surprised if there's a whole mess of D high schools tomorrow. Pinellas officials even say they're expecting their first F high school. In recent weeks, district concerns about all this grew so intense that the Department of Education even floated recommendations to nix the reading penalty and revert to last year's grading formula. But last week in Miami, the Board of Education said no: Schools "knew this was the expectation," said board member Donna Callaway, a former high school teacher and middle school principal. "To say now, 'This doesn't count" - I don't support that."

Comments

[????]

WHy do they change the formula every year? Doesn't that make it impossible to compare the data accurately? I mean if I wanted to measure how much weight I gained by drinking a large coke with every meal, and the size of the large coke varied from day to day- it is impossible to have accurate data.
In other news- Gibbs high will be the F
bet on it

[Martavius]

What you talking bout Willis??

[tj]

It's a numbers game. If fewer schools get A's then there is less bonus money to give out. Less money to bonuses, means more money to put back into the education fund that the new property tax proposal will remove. The "bait and switch" just like the lottery money debacle....welcome to Florida.
It's going to be from the same pot of money, just like the politicians usually do, the old "switcheroooo"!

[David]

If school grades are to come out today;
What time?
Who will receive them first?
How can a teacher find out ASAP?

[manny j klimis]

You need to read my book, Who Will Win This Game:Politics or Education?
ISBN:1425949975.
I wonder who wins this time?

[Kim]

Oh my Goodness, they teach the state test in Pinellas. Once the county eyes the test, the county will teach that test and the scores will jump way up and everyone will cheer. The only kids that will not do well are the disciplinary kind or sleep in the class and who don't have it anyway.

[sue]

Any parent with experience in Pinellas public schools knows these grades are worthless. For parents who do not know, do not choose a school based only on the grade the state assigns. The education of your child should be based on more than a random letter grade. Visit the schools you are interested in, no matter what the "grades". Ask lots of quality questions and most importantly, be a part of your child's education!

[Rob]

Well whomever it was who said Gibbs would get an "F" was wrong. Gibbs got a "D". I'm laughing out loud at some of the high schools who dropped!

Boca Ciega:D
Clearwater:B
Countryside:C
Dunedin:C
Gibbs:D
Lakewood:D
Largo:C
Northeast:D
Osceola:C
Pinellas Park:C
St. Pete (with its IB program and Gov. Charlie Crist as an alum): Just a measly C
Seminole:A
Tarpon Springs:C
Palm Harbor U: (also with an IB program): Just a stinkin' B
East Lake: A

[Philip K. Dropkoff]

These grades did not magically drop, they were overinflated by the Jeb Bush administration. Each year in Jeb's reign the numbers dramatically increased, why? So when he left office it will be great statistical data for his run at the presidency in 2012. He will be called the education guru. Even though we know he has created an educational nightmare.

[robert j dingleberry!]

hey robby
so where is the f?

Hey Robert, you are a D with a capital D.
This is your brother Andrew Dingleberry