common core

Teachers May Receive Raises Sooner Than June 2014

Gina Jordan — Wed, 01 May 2013 19:40:28 +0000

Teachers might not have to wait another year for a raise after all.

Leaders in the Florida Legislature are working on a fix to the education budget that provides $480 million in raises for teachers and other school personnel.

But according to the budget, that money won’t be in paychecks until June 2014.

Lawmakers say a technical fix should get teachers their raises before next year.

“We need to give the school districts a little more flexibility to spend that money so

Lawmakers, Gov. Scott Compromise On Teacher Raises

Gina Jordan — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:43:12 +0000

Lawmakers and Gov.

New Yorkers Sound Off On New Common Core Tests

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 02:52:43 +0000

A professor at Teacher’s College, Columbia University has set up a website to allow New York students, parents and educators to post comments about the new state English language arts test.

The tests are now tied to Common Core education standards adopted by 45 states — including Florida.

How Florida High School Graduation Requirements Will Change

John O'Connor — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:29:23 +0000

Gov. Rick Scott is scheduled to sign an education bill which changes high school graduation requirements, expands career education options and creates new elementary and middle school computer training programs.

The most significant change is to high school graduation requirements.

Q&A: Teacher's Union Chief Questions Pace Of Transition To New Standards

Gina Jordan — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:02:47 +0000

Florida is working toward full implementation of Common Core State Standards by the 2014-15 school year.

The standards set benchmarks for each grade level.

Florida Board Of Education To Meet; Common Core, Teacher Pay Top Agenda

John O'Connor and John O"Connor — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 21:06:24 +0000

Will Florida need a ‘Plan B’ test for new standards set to hit state schools in 2014?

Teacher Resignation Letter Becomes A Rallying Cry For Critics Of Common Core

Sammy Mack — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 20:04:35 +0000

As the spring semester winds down around the country, one teacher, Gerald Conti, is not going quietly.

Conti is retiring from Westhill High School in Syracuse, NY at the end of this school year and his resignation letter has become a manifesto for critics of the Common Core.

In his letter — which he posted in full on Facebook — Conti laments that the push towards standardized testing and the

Website Tracks School Progress On Implementing New Education Standards

Gina Jordan — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 20:28:44 +0000

The State Board of Education will get an update next week on Florida’s next education standards, the Common Core State Standards.

The meeting will include information about the technology needed to implement the new assessments that are scheduled to begin in early 2015.

Florida is among a group of states developing the PARCC assessments, or Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and

Plans For Implementing Common Core Standards In Florida Coming Next Week

Gina Jordan — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 19:10:05 +0000

Education Commissioner Tony Bennett says he will have more information next week about plans for implementing new education standards known as Common Core.

The State Board of Education is meeting next week.

“We have rolled out a very aggressive implementation plan,” Bennett said.

New CPALMS Website For Teachers Makes Common Core Lesson Plans A Snap

Gina Jordan — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 12:01:49 +0000

As states start phasing in Common Core standards in public school classrooms, no Common Core textbooks have been written yet, and new assessments are still being developed.

So, teachers are creating their own lesson plans as they begin to implement the standards.

They’re not doing it alone.

Why States Are Designing Two Tests For Common Core Standards

Gina Jordan — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 16:30:00 +0000

Forty-five states and the District of Columbia are working toward full implementation of Common Core standards.

But there's a split in the way states will measure what students have learned. Two different testing systems are on the table.

One test will average a series of test results to determine a student’s score. The other is a single, adaptive test which tailors questions based on a student’s past answers.

The tests are being designed now for use by 2014-15.

Three Questions For An Elementary Principal About Common Core

Gina Jordan — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 11:38:55 +0000

Florida is in the process of transitioning to common core standards in public schools.

The first full year of implementation is scheduled for 2014-15.

45 states and Washington, D.C. have agreed to adopt common core standards.

The standards will measure whether students across the country are reaching certain benchmarks in English, Math and Language Arts.