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State Law – Florida’s A+
Plan, School Grades:
School Grades are based on
how well students have
mastered the Sunshine State
Standards – the skills
Florida teachers determined
our children must learn at
each grade level – which are
measured by the Florida
Comprehensive Assessment
Test (FCAT). Student scores
are classified into five
achievement levels, with 1
being the lowest and 5 being
the highest. Schools earn
points based on three
things: how well students
are doing, how much progress
they are making (learning
gains), and how much
progress struggling students
are making in reading and
mathematics.
Federal Law – No Child Left
Behind Act:
requires each subgroup (all
ethnic groups, students with
disabilities, students
learning English, and
economically disadvantaged
students) in schools,
districts, and the state as
a whole to make adequate
yearly progress (AYP) in
reading, mathematics,
writing, and graduation
rate. Schools that do not
make enough progress for two
years in a row are in need
of improvement, and must
provide alternatives to
parents – such as
transferring to another
school or participating in a
different program within the
school. Schools that need
improvement two years in a
row (do not make AYP for 3
consecutive years) must
provide tutoring.
Staying informed as a
parent:
For additional information
on school grades, adequate
yearly progress, and school
choice options, please visit
the Department of
Education’s website at
www.fldoe.org or call
1-800-447-1636.
Information on all
schools – including which
groups of students need to
make more progress under
federal guidelines – is also
available at
www.schoolresults.org.
Some questions and resources
for parents:
Is your child being
challenged at his or her
school?
Has your child’s school
given and explained your
child’s grades and test
results?
Have you asked your child’s
teacher if your child is on
grade level in math and
reading?
Have you asked for a
specific list of skills your
child needs to learn?
Information on
the Sunshine State Standards
is available at
www.fldoe.org.
Have you talked with your
child’s teacher about his or
her progress?
Have you asked specific
questions about your child’s
reading ability and needs?
How can you help your child
become a better reader?
Helpful
information is available at
www.justreadflorida.com
or
www.justreadfamilies.org.
Is your child on track
for graduation?
Is your child on track for
being prepared for college?
If not, what needs to be
done?
Speak to his/her guidance
counselor and register
on-line to track his/her
progress at
www.facts.org. |
