Score at Half-time on Jeb’s final round of Education Reforms: FL GOP, 10 / FL Dems, 2

various - Sun Sentinel and Palm Beach Post | March 23, 2006 | summer, a FL certified teacher

[summer]

I have not written an editorial for awhile on FR, but since there is so much happening in education in Florida right now, in this, Gov Bush's final year in office, and as people here have asked me about vouchers, I thought I would do this wrap-up.

Also, while I am calling it "half time" remember the FL Legislature is overwhelmingly GOP -- so, what you are reading now about the passage of these bills in the FL House will likely be the end result in the FL Senate, too.

And, that means this will all become law at the end of this current legislative session.

IMO, this package of reforms contains some very good news for everyone in FL.

[summer]

FYI. :)

[summer]

FYI. :)

[summer]

FYI. :)

[summer]

BTW, before someone asks me why only "75%" and not 100% of the voucher students are being transferred into the existing corporate voucher program: this was not really made clear in the news articles I linked, but, I know the corporate voucher program specifically targets poor students.

So, if a student did not meet that economic requirement, perhaps that is the reason some students (25%) were not also eligible for the corporate voucher program.

[summer]

FYI. :)

[summer]

FYI. :)

[summer]

FYI. :)

[Hardastarboard]

Gov Bush's final year in office

WTF?!?!? NOOOOO!

[summer]

Yes. Term limits prevent him from seeking a 3rd term this year as FL gov. I'm sure FL will miss him! But you can visit his new foundation HERE.

[summer]

FYI. :)

[dawn53]

Thanks for the article.

What I'm a little concerned about is the talk of requiring 16 year olds to declare their major in order to steer them into a more "appropriate" high school study plan.

My son did dual enrollment, and even with three years of college and credits for his AA, it was a difficult decision to "declare his major"...which he had to do...since he was being admitted to the university as a Junior (he was 17).

I can't imagine having 16 year olds make that decision, even before they've taken their first college class.

Are you aware of how far this idea has progressed on the state level?

[summer]

Well, anyone can change a major at any time, even in college. I think there is a bigger picture here, involving the drop in student achievement that seems to happen in middle school. Gains have been made in elementary, but then in middle school, when kids become so focused on their peers, it seems like all the gains go up in smoke. So, this push to have kids THINK about SOMETHING like a MAJOR and express an interest in middle school is an attempt to address this. I don't think it's so bad, and it will probably help some students to stay focused.

[summer]

BTW, how old was your son when he started dual enrollment? It sounds like he started quite young. Also, did he take any AP classes?

[summer]

Thanks for the article.

You're welcome. :)

[summer]

Also, you might this helpful -- when I taught in higher ed at a community college as an adjunct, many of my students told me they still had no idea what to major in (and these students were 20 and older).

Here's what I told them: if you're not sure what you want to do, and if you like computers, then major in computer science. Because no matter what career route you choose down the road -- law, nursing, teaching, business, anything -- a background in computers will help you, and help you a lot.

Students told me they found this advice very helpful.

[summer]

FYI. :)

[dawn53]

He was homeschooled, so he was allowed to start in 10th grade...(I think there are different rules for public school kids.)

The dual credit program allowed him to take 15 credit hours per term, and there were three terms a year, so it wasn't hard to get the AA credits.

I don't think he ever took more than 12 credits a term, and he's leaving the program (this is his senior year) with 78 credits, enough for his AA, plus others that were pre-reqs for his major.

Here's a link to the program we used.

http://www.spcollege.edu/ac/dc/

[DustyMoment]

I can't imagine having 16 year olds make that decision, even before they've taken their first college class.

It sounds as though you did very well educating your son, but I'm with summer on this one. By having kids declare a "major", it provides them with a career focus that may start them on the path towards the real world and what they will be doing in only a few years. Currently, the majority of kids in school are clueless and most believe they will either be pro athletes or rock stars. I think that this is a great idea and may be a seminal change in the public education system that, IMO, is long overdue. If nothing else, let's give it a shot before we oppose it. It may be the best opportunity a lot of these kids have to reconcile the real world they will encounter in a few years, versus the world of academia.

[summer]

Very interesting. Thanks.

Did he want to also take AP credits? Those are available online, through Florida Virtual School, for free for him, since he is a Florida resident. I mention AP because that might have provided him with even more challenge and options.

I agree that 17 could be too early for some kids to be a junior in college. But, maybe not yours. He might well be ready.