Legislature’s Fix Is Not Enough

Teachers will still be accountable for this year’s FSA

Now that Governor Scott has signed HB7069 into law—school districts and the department of education have begun sifting through the language. As we review the changes what I can’t help but ask about the law is, “how did this positively reduce high-stakes testing?”

The bill does have some positive elements, but in the end it did very little to temporarily or more importantly permanently reduce state mandated high-stakes tests for our students.

HB7069 did reduce the percentage of students’ tests to count towards a teacher’s evaluation, from 50% down to 30%. While yes that is a reduction, it doesn’t stop the Florida Standard Assessment (FSA) or any other student test results from being required to be used in teacher evaluations. This means that while the bill implies that some state and local tests and results may not be used punitively against students’ grades or promotion, these tests are still required by law to be used for teacher evaluations. If they are wrong for students, and I feel they are, then they should be wrong for teachers too. Tying students’ test results to their teacher’s evaluation can be as harmful and stressful to students as if they we being used for their own promotion.

For now there is still a temporary opportunity to correct this— Governor Scott signing an executive order suspending the use of all high-stakes tests results to be used punitively against students and teachers.

I encourage you to respectfully email Gov. Scott to spare our students and teachers of the FSA consequences.

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