Here are two related blogs on Florida's efforts in the Race to the Top grant competition. Follow the links to leave a comment on orlandosentinel.com.
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Florida to judge "effectiveness" of teacher preparation programs, report results, Chancellor says
Florida already grades its public schools and rates in pre-K programs. Now it's looking to judge the performance of its teacher preparation programs and publicly report that "effectiveness data," said Chancellor Frances Haithcock, speaking at this afternoon's State Board of Education meeting.
This would apply to university programs and alternative-certification programs, she said.
Haithcock, chancellor of K-12 education at the Florida Department of Education, mentioned the plan in a review of what the state is doing to ready itself for the federal Race to the Top grant competition. The $4.35 billion program is a competitive grant that will go to states "ready to do what works." More details about the program are due out tomorrow.
A draft overview of the state's plans says it will tie teacher and principals' "student achievement data" back to their preparation programs. It sounds like FCAT scores -- already the linchpin in so many reform efforts -- might now play a role in how some university programs are rated.
The state will also "raise the bar" on teacher certification, making it tougher to enter the profession, Haithcock said.
As we reported last month, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan called many teacher prep programs "mediocre" and said they need "revolutionary" change. And, as we noted then, Florida is already in the process of reviewing its programs.
It is not a surprise that in applying for a grant that aims to push innovation and reform, Florida would focus on how to improve the quality of brand-new teachers. But we'd guess this plan will definitely generate some, um, shall we say discussion?
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_educ...ellor-says.html
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More of Florida's Race to the Top ideas: teacher raises tied to student performance, end-of-course exams, longer school days, more Pre-K
As we reported yesterday, Florida is looking at ways to increase standards for those who want to enter the teaching profession and to judge state teacher preparation programs.
These efforts are detailed in a draft report that highlights some of the ideas the state is considering as readies itself to compete for the federal government's $4.35 billion, Race to the Top grant program. The grant program is being offered as part of the massive economic recovery program Congress passed earlier this year.
Florida won't put together its actual application until U.S. DOE releases its full instructions, which are expected today. But the presentation discussed at the State Board of Education meeting yesterday gives some indication of the types of ideas under consideration.
Among them:
-- require districts that want grant money to assess teachers mostly on student performance on "assessments of state standards" (read: FCAT).
-- require a "salary schedule" that gives the "most significant increases" based on "demonstrated effectiveness," not years on the job.
-- use the money to expand end-of-course options. As we've written before, the state is working to start an end-of-course test program for high schools and will start by field testing a biology exam this spring. There are plans to expand, but budget constraints ay make that difficult. The draft document says the grant money, if won, could be used to develop end-of-course tests in algebra II, chemistry, civics, English/language arts II, earth/space science, physics and world history.
-- for struggling schools, expand full-day pre-K programs, extend school day and school year, extend "teacher time" to allow for after-school and weekend parent-teacher meetings and expand career academies in high schools
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_educ...+School+Zone%29