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New Law Makes It Harder To Graduate In Florida
April 21, 2010
High school students will find it more difficult to graduate under a bill signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Charlie Crist.
The governor signed SB 4, which creates additional science and math requirements for students to graduate, while phasing out some of the FCAT exams in favor of end-of-course exams.
The new law will eventually require students to take geometry, two years of algebra, biology, chemistry or physics and an additional “rigorous” science course in order to graduate.
Florida Department of Education officials will also create and eventually implement end-of-course exams.
The bill enjoyed relatively widespread support in the Legislature and from the education community, though some groups noted there were a few aspects of the measure that still need to be worked out. Some educators have worried that it could impact graduation rates because students now graduate without such high level courses and the Florida Education Association has cautioned that teachers may need additional assistance.
“Teachers are going to need some more training to handle the capacity of these courses and support these higher level teachers,” said Mark Pudlow, a spokesman for the FEA.
Specifically, the legislation that became law Tuesday –
Increases high school graduation requirements, beginning with students entering grade 9 in the following years, to include:
- Geometry (2010-2011 school year);
- Biology I ( 2011-2012);
- Algebra II ( 2012-2013);
- Chemistry or Physics (2013-2014);
Requires students to pass a statewide, standardized end-of-course (EOC) examination in the following courses for students entering grade 9 in specified school years:
- Algebra I (2011-2012);
- Biology I and Geometry (2012-2013);
- Algebra II and Chemistry or Physics (2014-2015);
The new law also requires students to pass district, standardized EOC assessments for other courses, when they are developed; and discontinues the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) for mathematics (Grades 9 and 10) and science (Grade 11), as EOC assessments are implemented.
Comments
27 Responses to “New Law Makes It Harder To Graduate In Florida”
I agree with “I can’t take it anymore” – a few others come to mind –
Such as,
I done did it…
Ain’t done did it…
I Aint’ got no….
You receive an education so you can act and sound like you are educated. I agree with you – I can’t take it anymoe either!
Do people think about ESE children how hard they work everyday..it doesnt matter for them anymore I wonder how much money the schools get for these children does anyone know? Just wondering why schools cant hire more teachers. I wonder how hard it is for teachers to teach nondelayed children with delayed children. being a parent of 2 delayed children i know how hard it is because my nondelayed child also needs help sometimes. We need more teachers!!! for everyone how many schools have been closed to save money? where is the money going? How much longer will malcolm thomas be in office we need change.
Additionally, phasing out FCAT is a wonderful idea. I can relate first hand to the obstacles it poses for students attending school in Florida. All year long, students are expected to learn and retain certain information and skills needed to successfully pass the FCAT. Also, teachers are pressured to teach this material in order for them to succeed. It takes the focus off of ordinary and necessary academics–the knowledge required for college and careers–and places it on a test that is shoved into the middle of the school year; then the process just repeats itself. No student wants to sit silently in a classroom for three days for hours on end in order to graduate because it’s “required.” If they pass the class during the year and pass their semester exams, I think that is sufficient enough. There are too many added pressures already at school without this being an additional hardship. I know I won’t be able to see this change, as I’m a part of the Class of 2010, but I hope that these new laws will benefit the children behind me.
I believe this an outstanding idea. The students of my generation have become extremely lazy and unmotivated to have a decent career in life. Their standards are too low, and they believe it’s “perfectly fine” to settle for working at a grocery store the rest of their life. The students who have the capacity and drive to enroll themselves in the more advance courses, currently, often get criticized for their decision. I think some students are ill-prepared for college, especially if you’re not from an inner-city school who can afford to allow higher level classes, and some changes need to be made. Students need to get out of the mind set that it’s too hard to take these courses, and just sit down and take the time to try. I would also like to see the school system, with the help of the state, offer more challenging courses and options other than the required minimum.
“Learn enough to pass the test, then forget it. You’ll never need to know it again.”
…..And here’s a wonderful example of parental support for education!
Just to point something else out, we already had to pass all of those classes/exams except for chemistry or physics to graduate.
It’s so wonderful that our state leaders are so brainwashed by academia that they think any of these subjects is important. Algebra? Physics? Chemistry? 99% of the population never uses any of this in their jobs. The only people who think these are valuable subjects are the academic snobs who teach this stuff.
As I told my HS age daughter, they have to teach you SOMETHING, and all they can come up with is advanced math and science. How insightful of them. Learn enough to pass the test, then forget it. You’ll never need to know it again. Like prepositions.
Sorry, can’t help myself–especially when one is complaining about what is being taught in our schools. Proof below that most students can’t, or don’t think it’s necessary to learn the simplest of English grammar. These are just a couple that are often misused. Misuse of a word can change the entire meaning of a sentence.
Throw, Threw, Thrown (Past Participle)
“Throwed” is not a word.
Your–Possessive, belonging to you
You’re–Contraction for you are
One may never “use” biology, chemistry, etc., but it is wise to learn basic
grammar–if only to post comments intelligently.
And that is “your” English lesson ( a regular high school course) for today.
I think this is a great step for our children. I am all for it. American children need the most education they can receive. If our kids were in another country they would be way behind – our current teachers are qualified as we took all these courses when we were growing up and did fine. Teach the kids – let the kids learn- that is what it is all about for me. I have two kids in middle school that have been educated in the North End of the county and I have never met such nice, honest, qualified teachers before. They can do it and so can our kids.
Well, in a perfect world, the district would have plenty of money to hire more teachers so that classes could be down-sized, because, yes, I agree that most students learn better in smaller classes. Unfortunately, there is NO money to do this! Teachers are being cut right and left, every year.
And I also agree that there are some students who try very hard and still just barely get by….but the over-whelming majority are lazy and don’t want to do any extra work. I AM a teacher, so I see this every day! Oh, AND as a high school student, I took AND passed Biology, Chemistry, Algebra 1 & 2, Geometry, Physics, and Trigonometry with flying colors….and I don’t even teach in these fields. I wouldn’t worry so much about teachers not being qualified to teach their subject matter….although there are *some* around who don’t do their jobs, the vast majority of us are very qualified and work 60+ hours a week to make sure our students are getting a quality education.
To JMHO, yes they do need more teachers and to actually downsize students per class; I feel they learn more when there isn’t so many in one class. Excuse me, but there are alot of students that work their butts off at school to get this education, and I agree that there are some that are lazy, but we can’t say they all are. I am in no way shifting the blame on any teachers at all. I just hope they know Geometry
Biology I
Algebra II
Chemistry or Physics
Algebra I
Biology I and Geometry
Algebra II and Chemistry or Physics
And how to teach these students so they can learn, so they will be able to graduate… Some students are slower learners than others and it’s not because they are lazy, it’s just that they really don’t understand what is being throwed at them.
Unless your pay depends on how lazy or not lazy the people under you are then its a COMPLETELY different story. Teachers can’t MAKE students learn. They can only do their jobs to the best of their ability. As everyone else has to do.
Algebra, Geometry, Biology, Chemistry, Physics
These subjects are the basis of nearly every technical field. If you don’t have at least a basic understanding of each, you don’t deserve a diploma. The future of American manufacturing is in danger now, because of a shortage of qualified operators, processors, mechanics and engineers. Most applicants, even with a diploma, lack the skills required to even be trainable.
I know, not everyone needs to know this. If your going to dig ditches or sell burgers, your wasting you time trying to get a diploma.
America will not remain a World power, if all we have to export is burgers and fries.
If students are not challenged to succeed in school, they will surely fail in the real world.
P.S. Shame on Charlie Crist. My salary and bonus is tied directly to my job performance. I see no reason a teacher should be any different.
if they take their education seriously there should be no problem taking an end of course exam.
It’s a sideways swipe and teacher performance pay. Wait and watch…
This is just changing one bad system for another. Teach the FCAT or teach the end of course exam. What’s the difference? There 2 problems to public education: 1) there are too many unqualified, lazy, tenured teachers, principles and superintendents and, 2) too many parents who do not care. It’s all perpetuating the welfare system while punishing those who take their education seriously, work hard and pay for those who don’t.
In general, I LOVE this idea. I wish it would have been in affect when I was still in school. Maybe I would still remember half the things I learned! (ha) And they aren’t “cramming more on the kids”, it clearly states their dropping some of the F-cat in lue of the harder courses. The students will just have to get over being lazy.
I had algebra 1&2 in high school and haven’t used it since i graduated 14 years ago. Some of this just doesn’t make any sense.
To all those people that don’t support this the world is there oyster and all you will be able to do is stir up the salt water.
Good Idea! I had all of my math credits done in the 10th grade and never took math again.
This is great news!
When a 3rd grader that can read is considered to be performing at 12th grade level, you know that the system has set expectations waaaaay too low.
JMHO ….. Bravo!
Now everyone has yet another excuse as to why the dropout rate is increasing. Let’s see how long it takes before politicians start using SB 4 against each other in political ads.
More qualified teachers, Angi? How about instead of shifting the blame to teachers (like so many seem to always do) let’s put the focus on making these kids work harder — so many are so lazy and only want to do the minimum required to get by (if they even care about getting by). Many high school students can’t even write a simple essay, which is pathetic! If you ask them to do more than a paragraph, they whine and complain about the assignment being “too hard” and most of them won’t even do it. Rather than dumbing down the curriculum to accomodate the laziness and apathy of today’s teenagers, we need to raise the bar and not just graduate any one willing to show up (half the time) and do the minimum. Our students need to be challenged and motivated to do their very best! Besides teachers, they need to be pushed and held to higher standards by PARENTS!
As much as our children are going to hate having to spend more time working their bumms off in the name of a better education and spend less time in front of the tv, computer and playing video games, this story I found below should enlighten us parents as to why it needs to be done.
————————————————————————————————————–
The State of Education in the United States: Why America is Behind Other Countries
http://educationalissues.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_state_of_education_in_the_united_states#ixzz0lkNUocOt
Where Does America Stand?
In 2002, UNICEF compared public education in twenty four nations around the world: the US ranked 18. Forty years ago America had the highest graduation rate: now America is ranked as the 19th. US 4th grade math grades have remained the same since 1995, while other countries have improved. Science has always been what has propelled the United States, economically, above other countries. The US even maintained a competition with Russia when it came to outer space; Russia launched Sputnik, America landed on the moon. Although it had to do with the enormous amount of talent the US had to offer, this is no longer the case, and this is what has lead to America losing the lead.
http://educationalissues.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_state_of_education_in_the_united_states#ixzz0lkNUocOt
stupid, stupid, stupid!!
They are taking this crap way out of control with these children, first they’re cramming FCAT into our children and now they just want to make it even harder for them. I understand that they need to know certain courses so they can graduate, but it seems like they are trying to get college courses into high school now for them to be able to graduate. Instead of the regular courses of high school… Looks like they better be hiring more qualified teachers in these schools so they can teach the students the right way.