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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. |
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