Florida Passes Plan For Racially-Based Academic Goals

CBS TAMPA ^ | Oct. 12th, 2012 | CBS Tampa

[Olog-hai]

“GOP-dominated” can mean RINO-dominated, which is the same as Democrat-dominated. The true battle here remains conservative versus liberal/Marxist.

[rusty schucklefurd]

re: “If the disparity between white and black student groups in Florida really is that great (69% reaching a level of satisfactory achievement versus only 38%), it’s going to take long-term efforts. Meaning the numbers for success in the short-term might not be the same for every group.”

Yes!! You got it. I must admit when I first read the story that I was also outraged at what appeared to be dumbing down standards by race.

But, when I re-read the article I realized that I was completely misunderstanding what Florida is doing. They have set four year goals for each group of kids in their state to reach. They want to take them from where they are NOW and move them further toward up the “reading at grade level or math level” ladder.

Look, if only 38% of black kids are currently at reading level, to actually move that entire group, state-wide, to 74% in four years - that would be fantastic.

These are NOT permanent goals. Assuming Florida reaches the goals they have set by 2018, then they will move the benchmarks higher for the next four years. So, if in four years 74% of black kids are at grade level in reading and math, then presumably Florida will move that percentage goal higher so that by the end of the next four years 88% of black kids will be at reading level.

They are trying to move all kids into the 90 to 100% range, but you have to start where they are now.

Also, that lady who is the chairman of the school board in some district is playing politics. She knows full well that this goal setting has been part of the No Child Left Behind program since it’s incepting back in the early 2000’s.

I’m not advocating NCLB, I’m just trying to explain what the goal setting is - these are NOT PERMANENT goals, just goals for over the next four years, then presumably they will be reset higher for everyone for the next four years after that.