Reconsider the rating system

Florida's prekindergarten advocates have repeatedly called for the state to revise the way it rates the state's Voluntary Pre-K providers, suggesting the existing method doesn't take into account student gains and could penalize schools that serve low-income and minority students who improve vastly but started with no appreciable skills at all.

They might have found an unlikely ally in the Legislature's own auditing wing, the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, or OPPAGA. In a recently released analysis, OPPAGA recommends that the state change its pre-k accountability process to be more fair to the schools that serve at-risk children.

"The (rating) methodology has shortcomings and can penalize providers that have overall results that exceed those of providers who are not identified as low performing," the report states. "The methodology also does not assess many providers who serve relatively few children, and could result in sanctions against providers who primarily serve at-risk and minority children."

It notes, for instance, that under the current system, one school that was considered low-performing had 58 percent of students deemed "fully ready" for kindergarten, while another that was received an acceptable rating had just 20 percent of its students deemed "fully ready."

Overall, though, OPPAGA reported that the students who complete the VPK program are generally better prepared for kindergarten than those children who do not.

In its response (attached to the end of the report), the Department of Education acknowledged some of the shortcomings in the system and said it would work to improve them. For instance, it is seeking to create a "good cause exemption" for schools that do not meet the minimum readiness rate for three consecutive years.

(Photo of 2007 VPK graduation from Li'l Camper's Academy in Wesley Chapel)

Comments

[Diane Hanfmann]

The unfairness to students of poverty is also found in the A+ plan. Look at the data of Palm Beach County's 11/14
Board Workshop titled "Bias Against Students of Poverty in School Grades and AYP". OPPAGA, can you help there as well????? Why doesn't Florida use a fair accountability system via change in MDSS scores? Could it be the A+ plan is truly politically motivated?

Why doesn't the schools get rid of all the illegal aliens and then maybe the A+ plan would work. Its time that Governor Crist says NO to letting in all of these illegal aliens children that are attending our schools here in Florida. Its time to round up all of these children and turn them over to Immigration. Our school system is being over run in this state because of these illegal aliens. The subject of no child left behind does not include illegal aliens. It is suppose to include the American Children. We need to start acting to get rid of these illegal aliens children from attending our schools here in the State of Florida, buy contacting there Reps and telling them NO MORE.

Maybe we should get rid on the illiterate aliens, too.

[Timmy!]

Not sure how you meant that 4:13 but it made me think if an alien is illiterate in the native language how the hell can we be expected to teach them English enough for any kind of rating?!

[Gina]

I was just told when I went to try to sign my son up that I couldn't do so until a week before school starts because I only want him to do the half a day. I thought no matter what our children were suppose to be given this option but if you want the half day (which is all that they cover) you may not get a spot. Can someone explain how this seems fair. Maybe I am not getting all the info but that is what I was told at the school I tried to sign him up at.