By Dillon Burroughs September 14, 2021 at 1:38pm
Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a proposal on Tuesday to eliminate certain annual standardized tests in favor of shorter “progress monitoring” exams as part of an effort to drive the national Common Core standards from the state’s schools.
“Florida’s education focus should be students’ growth and how we restore the conversation between parents and teachers in support of students’ growth,” DeSantis said in a statement.
“In this final step to eradicate Common Core from our assessments, our administration is implementing the lessons learned from progress monitoring both during the state’s recovery and from our districts and schools that were already showing how we can better support students reaching their own unique growth goals,” the governor said.
The announcement took place with Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran alongside several teachers and students from High Point Elementary School in Clearwater.
Corcoran also spoke out about the important “next step” for the Sunshine State’s educational plans.
“Each year, Governor DeSantis’ administration has been committed to a data-driven approach to constantly improving how Florida provides supports to its teachers and turns the focus of education to how we impact our students, especially those representing achievement gaps,” he said in a statement.
“Florida is now taking the next great step — using what many districts and schools have already proven to be true — that progress monitoring is a school accountability system that puts great information in the hands of our teachers, early and meaningfully, so they can drive students’ growth,” Corcoran said.
Should more states move to eliminate Common Core from their schools?
DeSantis referred to Florida as the “Education State” in a Twitter post about the announcement on Tuesday.
“Today I announced our plan to make Florida the first state to fully transition to progress monitoring,” the governor said.
“No more FSA testing. No more Common Core,” he said.
Florida is the “Education State.” Today I announced our plan to make Florida the first state to fully transition to progress monitoring.
No more FSA testing. No more Common Core. https://t.co/hgFjKLfVig
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) September 14, 2021
Common Core, a legacy of former President Barack Obama and his administration, has proved very unpopular with many Americans as it failed to deliver the promised results.
The DeSantis announcement followed his plan in May to send $1,000 bonuses to the state’s teachers and principals.
The governor announced the bonuses during an event at Baker County Middle School in Macclenny, thanking teachers and administrators for their dedication during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re proud that we got the bonuses through,” DeSantis said, according to WFLX-TV. “We understand that it was a unique set of circumstances that many of our schools had to do.”
“Schools in Florida are open, and we’re saying thank you to our hard-working teachers in the classroom by giving them $1,000 bonuses and raises,” the governor tweeted.
Schools in Florida are open, and we’re saying thank you to our hard-working teachers in the classroom by giving them $1,000 bonuses and raises. #180Days #OpenSchools
Watch live: https://t.co/fXlYaNB77a
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) May 26, 2021
“The bonuses will go to more than 3,600 principals and nearly 180,000 full-time classroom teachers for grades pre-K through 12th,” WTVJ-TV reported.
Breaking News/Media Reporter
Dillon Burroughs reports on breaking news for The Western Journal and is the author or co-author of numerous books.
Dillon Burroughs reports on breaking news for The Western Journal and is the author or co-author of numerous books. He holds degrees in communications and religion, and serves as co-host of the nationally syndicated radio program “A View from the Wall.” An accomplished endurance athlete, Burroughs has also completed numerous ultramarathons. He lives in Tennessee with his wife and three children.