|
Blog: FCAR
Speakout
|
Support open, broad-based assessment of learning --
contribute to FCAR.
|
| |
FCAT in the Legislature 2005
Updated May 15, 2005
In an extraordinary Legislative session that saw major education initiatives
from our lame-duck governor go down in flames, not a single FCAT-related bill
was approved by both houses. SB 2480, a massive bill that would have greatly
expanded the voucher program, was defeated when several Republican senators
voted against it. The House made a last-minute attempt to fold a number of FCAT
issues into one bill (HCB 6007), but it also died.
At http://tinyurl.com/clu9x you can
access lists of all bills that were passed by both houses of the Legislature as
well as those that have been signed into law by the governor.
House Bills
HB 91 CS: by Rep. John Quinones, who represents parts of Orange and
Osceola; text of committee substitute bill at
http://tinyurl.com/b4nrv. Student Assessment: Requires the Department of
Education to conduct a concordance study to identify alternative examinations
for the grade 10 FCAT for certain students with limited English proficiency;
requires approval of such examinations by the Commissioner of Education;
provides student eligibility requirements; provides for satisfaction of the
assessment requirement for high school graduation. [The Committee Substitute
bill would allow SAT and ACT scores to be substituted for FCAT scores on an
ongoing basis and would NOT require the legislature to reauthorize this
provision every year, as has been the case. -- EDs] - Last Action: Tuesday,
April 26, 2005 - Laid on Table under Rule 7.9(c); Refer to HCB 6007
HB 379 CS: GENERAL BILL by Rep. Frank Peterman, who represents parts of
Hillsborough, Manatee, Pinellas, Sarasota [The PreK-12 Education Committee
gutted an unacceptable version of FCAR's Truth in Testing bill that would grant
parental access to graded FCAT materials and replaced it with language
authorizing DOE to study the feasibility and costs. See text of the Committee
Substitute at http://tinyurl.com/8bkpx.
-- EDs] Last Action: Wednesday, April 13, 2005 - Now in Civil Justice
Committee
HB 421: Public School Student Progression [This bill would move mandatory
retention of students not reading on grade level from Grade 3 to grade 4. Read
text of bill at http://tinyurl.com/6h3p2
--EDs] GENERAL BILL by Rep. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall of Miami-Dade; Revises
provisions relating to mandatory retention; provides for mandatory retention at
the end of grade 4 based on reading deficiency demonstrated by statewide
assessment testing and teacher observation; conforms provisions relating to
intensive interventions in reading for retained students. Last Action:
Tuesday, March 08, 2005 - 1st Reading
HB 799: Public School Student Progression: by Rep. Priscilla Taylor of
Palm Beach. Amends provisions relating to public school student progression,
remedial instruction, and reporting requirements; eliminates certain mandatory
retention requirements; eliminates midyear promotion; provides for rulemaking by
the State Board of Education. Text of bill:
http://tinyurl.com/4foss. Last Action: Tuesday, March 08, 2005 - 1st
Reading
HB 879: CS Public School Educational Instruction: GENERAL BILL by Hukill
(CO-SPONSORS) Antone; Baxley; Bendross-Mindingall; Brandenburg; Culp; Davis, D.;
Detert; Farkas; Flores; Gannon; Gibson, A.; Gibson, H.; Goldstein; Hasner;
Holloway; Kendrick; Patterson; Ross; Stargel; Taylor; Zapata; RECOMMENDED by
PreK-12 Committee Public School Educational Instruction: Requires the Department
of Education to evaluate the extent to which the Sunshine State Standards in the
arts are being taught in kindergarten through grade 12; requires a report to the
Governor and the Legislature. Last Action: Friday, April 29, 2005 - 04/29/05
S Passed as amended; YEAS 38 NAYS 0
HB 907: Public School Accountability by Rep. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall
of Miami-Dade. Revises school performance grade categories [eliminates letter
grades]; revises requirements for obtaining increased budget authority by
schools; revises the method for determining school performance grades [broadens
methods to include attendance, class size, graduation rate, school safety, and
more]; provides for public hearings relating to the adoption of school
performance grade requirements; renames the Florida School Recognition Program
as the Students First Program and revises provisions thereof; provides program
components; provides for the use of Students First Program funds. Text of bill:
http://tinyurl.com/58qby. Last Action:
Tuesday, March 08, 2005 - 1st Reading
HB 1021 CS: Educational Choice: by Rep. Trey Traviesa of Hillsborough.
[First-term rep. curries favor by introducing governor's bill to allow students
who score at level 1 in FCAT reading for two years in a row to use public money
to attend private school; attempts to provide for oversight that would prevent
some of the scandals involving vouchers. -- EDs. Text of Committee Substitute
bill at http://tinyurl.com/7ugbw] The
Reading Compact Scholarship Program to provide students with reading
deficiencies the option to attend a public or private school of choice; provides
eligibility requirements of parents, students, and private schools to
participate in the scholarship program; provides obligations of school
districts, the Department of Education, the Commissioner of Education, private
schools, parents and students, and the Department of Financial Services;
provides obligations of private schools participating in state school choice
scholarship programs. Last Action: Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - Laid on Table
under Rule 7.9(c); Refer to HCB 6007
HB 1737 CS: Education; GENERAL BILL by PreK-12 Committee and Rep. Raphael
Arza (R) of Miami-Dade (CO-SPONSORS) Bogdanoff; Pickens Education: Requires the
State Board of Education to review the Sunshine State Standards and evaluate the
teaching of such standards; creates the Just Read, Florida! Office in the
Department of Education; requires district school boards to provide a complete
education program; revises the Middle Grades Reform Act; specifies the grading
scale for grades 6 through 8 and general requirements for middle school
promotion; creates the Florida Center for Reading Research; requires the
department to establish a uniform format for reporting information relating to
student progression; provides funding for supplemental services; establishes a
research-based reading instruction allocation and includes the allocation in the
total amount distributed to each school district for current operation;
establishes a statewide professional development program for school leaders.
Text of bill at http://tinyurl.com/4twqc.
Last Action: Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - Laid on Table under Rule 7.9(c); Refer
to HCB 6007
HB 1791: EDUCATION GENERAL BILL by Choice & Innovation Committee and Rep.
Stargel (R) of Polk County Education: Establishes the Division of
Accountability, Research, and Measurement in the Department of Education;
specifies grade level and subject area FCAT requirements; deletes a limitation
on use of alternative assessments; deletes provisions relating to
performance-based funding; revises goals, measures, and data quality for the
K-20 accountability system; authorizes district school boards to transfer
teachers, faculty, and staff as needed; revises terminology and provisions
relating to school grades and requires an annual school report card; provides
for grading of alternative schools; modifies procedures for distribution and use
of school recognition program awards; creates an operating categorical fund to
fund minimum pay requirements for certain instructional personnel contingent
upon constitutional amendment; requires each district school board to adopt a
differentiated-pay policy and annually provide its negotiated collective
bargaining contract to the department; provides requirements for the assignment
of teachers and authorizes incentives; repeals the Council for Education Policy
Research and Improvement. Last Action: Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - Laid on
Table under Rule 7.9(c); Refer to HCB 6007
HB 1847: GENERAL BILL by PreK-12 Committee and Trey Traviesa (R) of
Hillsborough; High School Reform: Requires each school district to establish
policies to assist high school students to remain in school, graduate on time,
and be prepared for postsecondary education and the workplace; authorizes
supplemental educational services and provides funding therefor; provides
criteria for calculation of school grades; creates the High School Reform Task
Force [which will include two members from private schools -- EDs] and provides
for appointment of members; requires recommendation of a long-term plan relating
to high school reform; provides for termination of the task force. [Bill also
would authorize placement of struggling high school students in alternative
programs that provide "increased discipline" -- EDs] Text of bill:
http://tinyurl.com/46ruc. Last Action:
Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - Laid on Table under Rule 7.9(c); Refer to HCB 6007
Senate Bills
Senate 0222: Relating to Schools/Student Assessment Program [Text of bill
at http://tinyurl.com/6fx5r] GENERAL BILL
by Sen. Frederica Wilson of Miami-Dade (Compare H 0379) Schools/Student
Assessment Program; requires Education Commissioner to approve continuing use of
scores on specified tests as alternatives to scores on grade-10 FCAT for
students who have failed FCAT as specified; requires State Board of Education to
annually determine scores on SAT & ACT tests which are equivalent to FCAT
scores; repeals provision re concordance study of FCAT equivalency, etc. Last
Action: 03/08/05 SENATE Introduced, referred to Education; Education
Appropriations
Senate 0224: Relating to School Grading System [Text of bill at
http://tinyurl.com/4p55e.] GENERAL BILL
by Sen. Frederica Wilson of Miami-Dade School Grading System; removes letter
grades from performance grade categories by which schools must be identified in
Commissioner of Education's annual report of results of statewide assessment
program; corrects references to letter grades, to conform. Last Action:
Tuesday, March 08, 2005 - 03/08/05 S Introduced, referred to Education;
Education Appropriations -SJ 00020
Senate 0568: High School Graduation/FCAT (by Sen. Frederica Wilson of
Miami-Dade): provides that student who is unable to earn passing scores on
Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test or its equivalent must be allowed to
participate in graduation ceremonies. Last Action: 02/08/05 S Unfavorable by
Education, laid on Table; YEAS 3 NAYS 4 on Tuesday, February 08, 2005 12:00 AM
Senate 1076: Relating to High School Graduation Requirements [This bill
would base graduation on grades in coursework as well as scores on FCAT and
other standardized test. Read text at
http://tinyurl.com/6pno7.] GENERAL BILL by Sen. Les Miller, who represents
parts of Hillsborough, Manatee, and Pinellas counties; High School Graduation
Requirements; prescribes formula for computing each student's graduation grade
point average, which formula includes results from student's grade-10 FCAT &
grade-10 norm-referenced test, as well as coursework grades. Last Action:
Tuesday, March 08, 2005 - 03/08/05 S Introduced, referred to Education;
Education Appropriations -SJ 00068
Senate 1214: Public School Student Progression GENERAL BILL by Sen.
Frederica Wilson of Miami-Dade [See text of bill at
http://tinyurl.com/6334j]: revises
components of school district student progression programs; eliminates
guidelines for allocating school district remedial & supplemental instruction
resources; eliminates midyear promotion; provides procedures for parental
requests for retention; revises guidelines for remedial reading instruction &
intervention strategies; revises purpose of Reading Enhancement & Acceleration
Development Initiative, etc. Last Action: Tuesday, March 08, 2005 - 03/08/05
S Introduced, referred to Education; Education Appropriations -SJ 00075
Senate 1560: FCAT/Students/Limited English GENERAL BILL by Sen. Lee
Constantine: requires DOE to conduct concordance study to identify alternative
examinations for grade 10 FCAT for certain students with limited English
proficiency; requires approval of such examinations by Commissioner of
Education; provides student eligibility requirements; provides for satisfaction
of assessment requirement for high school graduation. Amends 1008.22. Last
Action: Wednesday, March 09, 2005 - 03/09/05 S Introduced, referred to
Education; Education Appropriations -SJ 00138
SB 1892: Fla. Comprehensive Assessment Test GENERAL BILL by Sen. Evelyn
Lynn of Ormond Beach: expresses legislative intent to revise laws re: Fla.
Comprehensive Assessment Test [This is the shell into which the governor's
latest devious schemes for FCAT will be poured. -- EDs] Last Action:
Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 03/16/05 S Introduced, referred to Education;
Education Appropriations; Ways and Means; Rules and Calendar -SJ 00191
SB 2114: Grades K-12/Pupil Progression GENERAL BILL by Sen. Carey Baker
(R) of Eustis. [One interesting feature of this bill is that it sets a limit of
15% on retention at each grade level; many other prescriptive, restrictive
requirements. -- EDs] Grades K-12/Pupil Progression: requires State Board of
Education periodically to review student performance data; prescribes purposes
of such reviews; prescribes focus for state board's review of student
performance standards; provides requirements for each school district's system
of school improvement & student progression; prescribes limits on & conditions
for increases in standards for student promotion; provides for rulemaking. See
text of bill at http://tinyurl.com/6uaru.
Last Action: 03/16/05 S Introduced, referred to Education; Education
Appropriations -SJ 00206 on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 12:00 AM
SB 2274: Students First Act GENERAL BILL by Sen. Larcenia Bullard of
Miami-Dade; Students First Act: revises school performance grade categories;
revises requirements for obtaining increased budget authority by schools;
revises method for determining school performance grades; provides for public
hearings re adoption of said grade requirements; renames Fla. School Recognition
Program as Students First Program & revises provisions thereof; provides for use
of Students First Program funds, etc. Amends 1008.34,.36. Last Action:
03/16/05 S Introduced, referred to Education; Education Appropriations -SJ 00217
on Wednesday, March 16, 2005
SB 2280: Student Assessment Instruments GENERAL BILL by Sen. Gary Siplin
(D) of Orlando; Student Assessment Instruments: authorizes student's parent &
student to review questions & student's answers to questions on
criterion-referenced portion of Fla. Comprehensive Assessment Test; requires DOE
to honor requests within certain time period; requires that district school
boards notify eligible parents; revises requirements for receipt of standard
high school diploma for certain transfer students, etc. [Same restrictive
language as companion House bill; see text at
http://tinyurl.com/5a57c -- EDs] Amends 1008.23, 1003.433. Last Action:
Tuesday, March 22, 2005 - S Introduced, referred to Education; Judiciary;
Education Appropriations -SJ 00247
SB 2328: Private Schools GENERAL BILL by Sen. Gary Siplin (D) of Orlando;
Private Schools: provides that earning passing scores on Fla. Comprehensive
Assessment Test (FCAT) or, in specified circumstances, on equivalent
standardized test is prerequisite to receiving high school diploma from private
school in this state. Amends 1002.42.
Last Action: Tuesday, March 22, 2005 - 03/22/05 S Introduced, referred to
Education; Judiciary; Education Appropriations -SJ 00251
SB 2366: Students with Disabilities/FCAT GENERAL BILL by Sen. Nancy
Argenziano (R) of Citrus County; Students with Disabilities/FCAT: provides
additional options through which student with disabilities may receive waiver
from passing grade 10 FCAT for purposes of high school graduation; conforms
provisions re statewide student assessment; provides additional good cause
exemption from mandatory third grade retention. Amends 1003.43, 1008.22,.25.
Last Action: Tuesday, March 22, 2005 - 03/22/05 S Introduced, referred to
Education -SJ 00256
SB 2480 C1: Education GENERAL BILL by Sen. Evelyn Lynn (R) of Ormond
Beach; Education: creates Accountability, Research, & Measurement Div. of DOE;
revises guiding principles of Better Educated Students & Teachers Fla. Teaching
program; requires State Board of Education to periodically review Sunshine State
Standards; creates Just Read, Florida! Office within DOE; establishes general
requirements for graduation from middle school; requires use of certain funds
for class size reduction, etc. Amends FS. [An omnibus bill that runs 103 pages
-- see full text at http://tinyurl.com/7fb3s
-- EDs] LAST ACTION: 04/29/05 SENATE CS/CS by- Education Appropriations; YEAS
4 NAYS 3
SB 2580: Standardized Test Academic Grade GENERAL BILL by Sen. Gary
Siplin (D) of Orlando; Standardized Test Academic Grade: provides for
Standardized Test Academic Grade, or STAG, to be used in lieu of Fla.
Comprehensive Assessment Test to assess high school students for purposes of
promotion & graduation; requires that Education Commissioner develop & implement
STAG program by specified date; provides eligibility requirements for student
use of STAG; provides formula for computing student's STAG score, etc. Creates
1008.225; amends 1003.42, 1008.22. Last Action: Wednesday, March 30, 2005 -
03/30/05 S Introduced, referred to Education; Education Appropriations -SJ 00303
|
