DOE response to ACLU grad rates lawsuit: We're working on it

Late last week, the ACLU joined with some Palm Beach parents to sue the Florida Department of Education and several other state government leaders over the Palm Beach school district's poor graduation rates.

The claim: The district graduated too few students, and its achievement gap was too broad.

It's not like the state hasn't been trying to fix that, FLDOE spokesman Tom Butler told the Gradebook.

"Improving the state’s graduation rate is a major focus of the Department and we are pleased that some success has occurred in this area over the last several years," Butler said in an e-mail. "However, we still have much more work to do, which is why we have implemented new initiatives such as our Differentiated Accountability program and the newly adopted changes to our high school accountability system. Initiatives like these will allow us to build on our successes and ensure that our graduation rate continues to rise."

Florida isn't the only state padding its graduation rates

With Florida's latest graduation rates coming out soon, this new report from the Center on Education Policy should make you wonder how many grains of salt to take with any state's grad rates, let alone Florida's.

Lakeland makes list of "drop-out capitals"

The Lakeland metro area is No. 6 on a list of national "drop-out capitals" released this week by The Daily Beast. The analysis is based on cities with the lowest percentage of high school graduates.

Bakersfield, Calif. is No. 1. No other Florida cities made the list.

Pinellas wants to overhaul dropout prevention

The Pinellas school district is gearing up to radically revamp its dropout prevention programs, with top district officials acknowledging today that current efforts are not working.

There are no details yet, but a committee that began meeting this week has been given wide latitude to "dream big" -- and told to keep student interest in mind.

"We need to be asking students, 'What would you like? What do you need to learn? And how can we keep you in school?' " Cathy Fleeger, the district's chief academic officer, told School Board members at a workshop today. "We need to think about the Burger King. Have it my way."

The committee, which includes school officials and representatives from community groups and other public agencies, is scheduled to issue detailed recommendations in January. In the meantime, it will survey at-risk students and recent dropouts.

Tennessee graduation rates climbing the fastest

Okay you snobby Gators who want to make fun of "Rocky Top." Get this: A new report out this morning puts the spotlight on Tennessee for its fast-climbing graduation rate. Between 2002 and 2006, Tennessee’s graduation rate jumped from 60 percent to 71 percent, the biggest jump in the nation, while Florida’s rose to 64 percent, according to one analysis.

Pinellas approves three charter school applications

The Pinellas County School Board approved three new charter school applications today, but not without some discussion about the need for all three. One application is for a second Mavericks high school. The other two are for new K-8 Plato Academy schools.

The board must still approve charters for all three before they can become reality. If they do, Mavericks will join a growing number of Pinellas charters that cater to at-risk high school students, including two Life Skills charter schools (one each in St. Petersburg and Clearwater) and the Florida High School for Accelerated Learning - Pinellas County Campus Inc.

"My concern is taxpayer dollars are going to these schools ... and I have yet to see the efficacy or any data that tells me how many students are graduating with diplomas," said board member Janet Clark. "I'm hesitant to keep approving these charters if we don't know that they're doing what they say they're doign."

Florida dropouts lose $27 billion in lifetime earnings

And that's just for the (estimated) 104,000 students who did not graduate from Florida high schools in 2009, according to the Alliance for Excellent Education. The alliance, which puts out a brief like this one for each state every year, also calculates that a 5 percent increase in Florida's male graduation rate would yield $507 million each year from a combination of crime-related savings and additional revenue.

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DOE clarifies shift in diploma policy, but not completely

The Florida Department of Education issued a new memo this week to “clarify” its abrupt call to districts to stop granting standard diplomas for students following the “GED exit option.” But the clarification still leaves a key question muddled: Will several thousand students currently in the program be grandfathered in?

District officials in Hillsborough and some parents believe from their interpretation of the memo that they will be. But it’s hard to tell if they’re right.

DOE officials say the department doesn’t have the authority to grandfather those kids. But they don’t seem to be in a hurry to stop districts that plan on doing just that.

“If that’s their interpretation of the memo, that’s their interpretation,” DOE spokesman Tom Butler told The Gradebook. But will standard diplomas granted to grandfathered students be valid? “That’s probably a question for a lawyer. At this point, we’re just trying to move forward.”

Education commissioner: Policy change makes diplomas more valuable

The state had no choice but to abruptly change its graduation policies last week, Florida Education Commissioner Eric J. Smith told the Gradebook today. But the change makes a Florida diploma more valuable and its graduation rate more credible, he said.

“It’s a fairness issue. It’s a truth in advertising issue,” Smith said. “Your mom and dad, employers, the students have a right to know” what it takes to earn a standard diploma.

“This is good public policy,” he continued. “To be able to have a clear definition as to what is required to graduate in Florida (and) very clearly defined standards of achievement.”

At issue is the “GED exit option,” which the state threw on the dust heap Friday night. Most Florida high school students earn standard diplomas by earning 24 credits, maintaining a 2.0 GPA and passing the 10th grade Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. But under the GED exit option, students who fell short on credits or GPAs could still earn a standard diploma if: 1) they passed the GED and the FCAT; or 2) they passed the GED and earned a high enough score on college entrance exams.

Florida districts upset about sudden change in graduation policy

School district officials around Tampa Bay are among others statewide who are voicing concerns about a sudden shift in Florida graduation policy that could put some students at greater risk of dropping out.

The change, announced by the Department of Education in a late Friday memo, will doom hundreds of Tampa Bay students who were in alternative programs that promised them a shot at a standard diploma, the officials said.

“They’ve ripped the hope out of these kids,” Dee Burns, who oversees dropout prevention in Pinellas, told the Gradebook. “They deserve to have adults keeping our word to them.”

At issue is the “GED exit option,” which has allowed several thousand high school students to graduate with standard diplomas each year even though they do not have enough credits or a high enough grade point average. Under the option, they could still earn a standard diploma if: 1) they passed the GED and the FCAT exit exam; or 2) they passed the GED and earned a high enough score on either the SAT or ACT college entrance exams.

Even if the DOE had good reasons to kill the option – critics have long accused the state of using it to pad graduation rates - it should have offered a future shut-down date so students currently working towards the option could finish, Burns said. About 300 Pinellas students will be affected in the coming year, she said.

GED change in Florida could affect thousands of students

Several thousand high school students -- and hundreds around Tampa Bay -- may be in a bind because of last week’s Department of Education decision to kill the “GED exit option.” Last year, 3,060 students statewide earned a standard diploma through that route, according to DOE figures.

Until last week, students who didn’t have enough credits or a high enough GPA to graduate could still earn a standard diploma if they 1) passed the GED test and the FCAT exit exam or 2) passed the GED test and scored high enough on the ACT or SAT.

Now those students can still earn GED diplomas but they won’t be considered standard diplomas.

Here’s how many students around Tampa Bay got diplomas through the GED exit option last year:

Pinellas: 172
Hillsborough: 301
Pasco: 79
Hernando: 35

Ron Matus, state education reporter

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Want to solve Florida's graduation rate? Kick out the troublemakers

Over many years covering graduation, we've heard teachers say that the best form of class-size reduction would be to let them choose who goes. They could reach a class of 29, many have affirmed, if they could just get rid of the 30th kid in the back row who causes so many problems.

Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Thomas suggests they might be on to something, especially if Florida is serious about improving its low high school graduation rate:

For a teacher, having one of these kids in a class is like trying to teach with a string of firecrackers going off. He becomes a huge distraction and soaks up class time. Other students get caught up in the mayhem. Followers get led astray.

Put three or four of these kids in a class and the teacher's job becomes less about teaching and more about managing the situation. ...

For lack of a better plan, we let them sit in class and ruin school for the good kids.

Your thoughts?

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A weekend interview about graduation rates with Florida deputy education commissioner Jeff Sellers

Every year Education Week puts out its report on high school graduation rates that differs greatly from the rates that Florida releases. And every year Florida officials decry the Ed Week report saying it's an imprecise measure that does a disservice to Florida's more accurate data system. Jeff Sellers, Florida deputy education commissioner for accountability, spoke with reporter Jeff Solochek about the pros and cons of the different ways to look at graduation rates.

I'm curious about what Education Week does provide. Is there any value you see in their report?

Well, yes, there is value in their report. It provides a methodology that can help us estimate future graduation rates before all of our data have actually been submitted by the districts. Although we prefer our cohort-based grad rate, which actually takes into account individual students and tracks them over time to see how many graduate.

So the state does something completely different. Have you ever talked to Education Week about why they don't do it your way?

I don't know that we have ever talked to them directly about it. Overall this has been an issue from the perspective that when you're trying to calculate, or if you try to have a national measure of any kind, this one being a graduation rate, you have to accommodate the lowest common denominator. So based on states' capabilities, you have to find ways to calculate any type of measure. And so for something like Ed Week's graduation rate, that approach is probably one of the best to accommodate a common measure for all states.

But in Education Week, they actually point to Florida's method as a very strong method. And I know the president and his education team have also talked about Florida's data system as being the best. Is there a disconnect here? ... Why would people want to take the Education Week numbers over your own?

Last day to share your graduation photos for our contest

Hey grads - you still may be celebrating your graduation or busy job hunting, but don't forget to enter tampabay.com's Grads Photo Contest before the deadline (midnight today).

Share your creative graduation photos and you could win one of two $200 gift cards for IKEA (think stylish decor for your dorm room or new apartment).

Here's what you need to do: Fill out our contest form, then e-mail your photos to gradpicture@gmail.com with photo details and your contact info in the body of the message.

One winner will be chosen by readers' votes, so make sure to spread the word to your friends and family if you've entered. The other winner will be chosen by several St. Petersburg Times editors, based on a photo's creativity, style and technical quality.

If you're not a recent graduate, you can help one out: Vote for your favorite picture!

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Hillsborough graduating a lot more than Pinellas

Besides highlighting Florida’s sad graduation rate, again, the latest “Diplomas Count” report also revived an enduring local mystery: Why, despite more challenging demographics, do Hillsborough schools seem to outperform Pinellas schools?

According to Education Week’s calculations, Hillsborough graduated 62.6 percent of its students in 2006, putting it No. 19 among the 50 biggest districts nationwide and No. 2 among the 10 biggest in Florida. Hillsborough, which has a greater percentage of poor and minority students than Pinellas, even made the newspaper’s “overachievers” list – a list of 33 school districts around the country that are performing far better than their demographics would lead many to expect. (See Page 10 of the overachievers list.)

Pinellas, on the other hand, graduated 50.3 percent in 2006, according to Education Week, good enough for No. 36 among the big boys nationally and next to last (ahead of Duval) among the Big 10 in Florida.

The most recent state data shows Pinellas narrowing the graduation gap with Hillsborough, but still 5.6 percentage points behind.

Ron Matus, state education reporter

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Tampabay.com launches special high school graduation page

Caps and gowns. Diplomas. Tassels and cords. All that good high school graduation stuff is going down as we speak.

The Times has created a special page on our Web site where you can find all our coverage, photos and more. There's even a picture contest with an IKEA gift card as a prize.

Check it out. Share your thoughts and images. And enjoy your high school graduations!

(Times photo, Brendan Fitterer)

Celebrate your graduation: Share your photos, win Ikea gift card!

Sarah Castle of Clearwater shared her graduation photo from St. Petersburg College's ceremony. Share yours, and you could win a $200 IKEA gift card!

Whether you or your loved one is graduating from college, high school or kindergarten, we want to see the photos. 

How it works:

• E-mail pictures to gradpicture@gmail.com with photo details, the grad's name and contact info (phone number & e-mail, not for publication) in the body of the message. Files must be JPEGs and less than 700K in size.
• You also can join tampabay.com's Community Photo Gallery and upload your photos.
• Become a tampabay.com Facebook fan and share your photo on our wall, clearly labeling it as a "Grad Photo Contest" entry. We will then publish the photo in our Grads Photo Gallery.

Where you'll see the photos: View your photos in tampabay.com's Grads Photo Gallery and vote for your favorites. Select photos also will be highlighted on tampabay.com's homepage, here in Let's Talk and on The Gradebook.

The prizes: Two prizes will be awarded: one for the photo that gets the most votes by readers -- see voting tab below the photo -- and the other will be selected by St. Petersburg Times editors. Each winner will get a $200 gift card for IKEA (think dorm room decor).

Read the official rules, enter now!

Group seeks your graduation horror stories

High school graduation time is fast upon us, and it should be a time for seniors across Florida to celebrate.

That's all seniors, the Americans United for the Separation of Church and State stresses in its latest missive:

"All students should feel welcome at their graduation. It is a time to celebrate each student's accomplishments, regardless of their religious beliefs. Unfortunately, there are always some school districts that violate church-state separation in their graduation ceremonies."

Know of any "improper" public school graduation ceremonies coming up? AU wants to hear about them. Be sure to send all the details about the school so they can follow up. And enjoy commencement.

FAMU lands Bill Clinton as graduation speaker

Former President Bill Clinton is one of three headline speakers for Florida A&M's commencement ceremonies May 3.

Clinton, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Miami, and CNN anchor Soledad O’Brien will each address one of three graduation sessions.

A FAMU release said Clinton "will share his life lessons with graduates and challenge them to 'transform ideas into action.' " He is to address the 9 a.m. graduation, which includes the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Law, the School of Architecture and the Environmental Sciences Institute. 
 
FAMU alum Meek gets the 2 p.m. slot, and O'Brien addresses graduates at 6 p.m. that Sunday.

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Bid to raise standards turns partisan

In a nearly three-hour meeting today of the House Full Appropriations Council on Education & Economic Development, nothing took up more time than amendments, questions and debate surrounding HB 1293 sponsored by Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami.

Still, the measure advanced on a 10-7 party line vote.

A reminder, this bill would raise the high school graduation standards in two steps. First, starting with the freshman class of 2014, students would be required to: take algebra I and geometry for two of the four required math courses; and take biology I as one of three required courses. Next, starting with the freshman class of 2016: take algebra I, geometry and algebra II for three of the four required math courses; and take biology I and chemistry for two of the three required courses.In addition, the legislation would increase the required graduation score on the 10th grade FCAT from a 2 to a 3.

It's this last provision that had everyone talking, principally Rep. Marty Kiar, D-Davie. He sponsored an amendment that would have removed that provision and eliminate the 10th grade FCAT as a requirement for graduation.

Poll: Make graduation harder?

Should Florida increase its graduation standards?
Yes, our kids aren't ready to compete
No, that would lead more kids to drop out
Not an option until there's more money

Florida graduation standards: Are they tough enough?

Just last year, the Legislature approved the "Next Generation Sunshine State Standards," aimed at making the state's curriculum more competitive internationally.

Some members remain dissatisfied.

"We're going to do it again," House Education Pre-K-12 policy chairman John Legg told the Gradebook. "The reality is, our standards are not high enough in Florida."

Look for a bill that would set Algebra II as a new graduation requirement, among other changes.

"We are working on the list to make sure when students go into college, they're ready," Legg said.

And for those who aren't college bound, the bill is likely to provide additional career-oriented academic options, he added. "But I believe most of them will rise up" to the more stringent guidelines.

Visit the Gradebook on Saturday for a full interview about the upcoming legislative session with John Legg.

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FCAT failures, high school grads

Just in case you were too busy mopping up gravy late last week, we wanted to make sure you saw this Thanksgiving Day St. Petersburg Times story about Florida’s rising graduation rates. A big reason for last year's strong increase, the story notes, are kids who failed the FCAT exit exam (which is the 10th-grade FCAT) but still managed to earn what the state says is a comparable (but really, really low) score on the ACT or SAT. Those students accounted for 43 percent of last year’s diploma growth.

Gradebook readers, is this a good thing or a bad thing? Is it fair to have the FCAT be one of the main hurdles for graduating? Does it make sense to offer students another route if they can't pass it (on three or more tries, we should add)? Is the "alternate assessment" option a loophole, intended to pad one of the nation’s worst graduation rates? Is it a reasonable exemption that fairly brings Florida's rate more in line with other states? Does it undermines accountability?

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Flunk the FCAT, still pass go?

Florida's rising graduation rate generated some nice headlines last week, but one of the reasons for it may deserve a closer look: The skyrocketing number of kids who graduated even though they failed to pass the tenth grade FCAT.

Those kids still managed to get a standard diploma because they earned what the state considers a comparable score on the ACT or SAT. (The comparable ACT scores are 15 in reading and math. For the SAT, it's 410 in reading and 370 in math.)

Last year, 6,546 graduating seniors fit into this category – a 64 percent increase from two years ago, according to figures obtained by the Gradebook from the Florida Department of Education. Meanwhile, the total number of graduates increased by 5,995 over that time – enough for a 3-percent spike.

The "alternate assessment" kids are clearly a big reason why Pinellas's grad rate improved so much. But how big a factor are they in the feel-good state story? Could they be THE reason why our grad rates are up so much?

"We've asked staff to look," DOE spokesman Tom Butler told The Gradebook. "It certainly could be a large contributor, but we really need some analysis to say for sure."

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

GEDs and grad rates

It's becoming a fall ritual: The state announces the latest graduation rates. The critics say the numbers are padded by GED diplomas. The Gradebook posts the GED numbers.

Here is a district-by-district breakdown of the most recent grad rates, with and without GEDs. And here is where you can find last year's numbers.

The current state rate is 75.4 percent with GEDs, 72.9 percent without. And we should probably get used to the "without" rate. The feds are pushing a uniform national grad rate that does not include GEDs, and state Education Commissioner Eric J. Smith has recommended likewise to the Florida Board of Education.

One added note: In Pinellas, which boasted a huge spike in grad rates this year, GEDs accounted for 3 percentage points. Last year, they accounted for 1.1 percentage points.

Ron Matus, state education reporter

(Times file photo)

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Florida's grad rate at record high

Florida's high school graduation rate jumped to a record 75.4 percent last year, up a full 3 percentage points from the year before, according to data released by Gov. Charlie Crist's office a few minutes ago.

The overall numbers showed big increases for black and Hispanic students, up 3.8 and 3.1 percentage points, respectively. And the district-by-district tallies show a whopping jump for Pinellas, from 67.3 to 74.4 percent.

"I am so proud of our schools, teachers, and students for this tremendous achievement," Crist said in a written statement. Added Education Commissioner Eric J. Smith: "These results reinforce the tremendous academic progress our students have made over the last decade and prove that Florida is home to some of the best teachers in the nation."

Around Tampa Bay, Hillsborough's rate moved from 79.1 to 80 percent. Pasco's climbed from 73.7 to 79.5 percent. And Hernando's went from 75.1 to 76.9 percent.

According to the DOE, Florida's grad rate is up 15.2 percentage points since the 1998-99 school year.

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State dropout rate improves

Even as Florida's overall enrollment dropped last year, the number of high school students earning regular diplomas rose by 4.42 percent while the number of dropouts declined by 24.4 percent, according to newly released statistics.

In raw numbers, that's 11,508 fewer students who dropped out in 2007-08 than the year before, and 6,019 more students who graduated from high school. Also, the state had 26,947 fewer students who were retained in 2007-08 than in 2006-07.

Locally, the numbers looked like this (change in graduates, dropouts and retentions):

• Pinellas: 4.92 percent; -40.77 percent; -20.5 percent
• Hernando: 7.41 percent, -11.79 percent; 3.92 percent
• Hillsborough: 3.01 percent, -6.28 percent; -9.66 percent
• Pasco: 10.65 percent; -38.56 percent; 8.12 percent

To see the complete spreadsheets, click on the links: dropout data, graduates data and non-promotions data.

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Hernando schools chief: "We screwed up."

Parents had a chance to voice their anger and hear school district officials explain what happened at last week's Hernando High graduation, when many parents were kept out of the ceremony due to overcrowding. Superintendent Wayne Alexander and school officials met with them Monday evening in the school's performing arts center. [Ron Thompson, Times]

BROOKSVILLE -- Sometimes an apology just doesn't cut it.

That's what some parents said Monday, nearly a week after graduation ceremonies at Hernando High School descended into a chaotic mess of shouting mothers, crying graduates and tight-lipped police.

Speaking to around a dozen parents, superintendent Wayne Alexander said the school had failed to assign sufficient staff last Tuesday to make sure 1,519 ticket holders could find seats in a gymnasium with at least 1,550 seats and a rated capacity of 1,928 people. And administrators failed to respond quickly when the situation at the door began to fall apart.

"There was no one to coordinate the efforts to pack people in," Alexander said. "I'm sorry. We simply screwed up, we didn't do our jobs."

Editor's pick: Grad photo of the day

These two look ready to celebrate their graduation from Seminole High.

Share your favorite grad photos.

Here's how it works: E-mail your photos to submit@tampabay.com; make sure to include your name and a photo description in the body of the e-mail.

Editor's pick: Grad photo of the day

Cindy Eldredge of Spring Hill shares a photo from her graduation from St. Leo. "A long awaited day for a senior citizen of Hernando county.," she says.

Share your favorite grad photos.

Here's how it works: E-mail your photos to submit@tampabay.com; make sure to include your name and a photo description in the body of the e-mail.

Editor's pick: Grad photo of the day

Proud grandmother Barbara Burke shares this photo of Largo High graduate Tony Lanzilotta taking one last slide home, ending his 4-year career playing for the Largo Packers.

Share your favorite grad photos.

Here's how it works: E-mail your photos to submit@tampabay.com; make sure to include your name and a photo description in the body of the e-mail.

Editor's pick: Grad photo of the day

These two are ready to celebrate after the Countryside High School Graduation.

Share your favorite grad photos.

Here's how it works: E-mail your photos to submit@tampabay.com; make sure to include your name and a photo description in the body of the e-mail.

Grad photo of the day

Deidra Navarro tries out her cap and gown.

Share your favorite grad photos.

Here's how it works: E-mail your photos to submit@tampabay.com; make sure to include your name and a photo description in the body of the e-mail.

The price of graduation? Not that much

Yesterday's post on the high price of graduation got proud mom (and USF communication prof) Elizabeth Bell to thinking. Sure, commencement costs could get out of hand, but they don't have to, Bell wrote to the Gradebook:

Let's see. How much for my son's graduation last Wednesday from Freedom High School? No senior picture; I do much better with our digital camera. No year book; his MySpace page serves many more purposes. Yes to cap, gown, and tassel, but all were borrowed from a friend who graduated last year. No class ring; he didn’t want one. (Smart kid to realize that no college student wears a high school ring.) No graduation announcement; he made his own [see above] with his Wacom tablet, Photoshop, and card stock I had on hand.

I'll admit that the twelve stamps did cost $5.04, the Latin honors cord $5, and $9 for the diploma cover. A picture shaking hands with the principal? No way. But I will treasure the image of him making the Welcome speech to the assembly at the Sun Dome. I took it with my digital camera. Total for the evening? $19.04. My son's off to do more important things? Priceless.

Happy graduation week, everyone.

So long, kindergarten

Scott Stewart shares a photo of  his  6-year-old grandson Nicholas tossing his cap after graduating from kindergarten. Nicholas and his classmates celebrated at  Fossil swimming pool in St. Petersburg.

Share your favorite grad photos.

Here's how it works: E-mail your photos to submit@tampabay.com; make sure to include your name and a photo description in the body of the e-mail.

Show off your grad pics

[A reader shares a photo of her grandson Brendan]

Proud parents and grads: Share your your graduation photos with tampabay.com. We'll highlight them on the Web site, in our community photo gallery.

Here's how it works: E-mail your photos to submit@tampabay.com; make sure to include your name and a photo description in the body of the e-mail.