Hillsborough County School Board members are grappling with disappointing school grades that show a significant number of D and F schools in the district. The report revealed that many students are not demonstrating proficiency in English and math. While the state's change in standards and testing systems makes year-to-year comparisons impossible, the statistics were particularly bleak for Hillsborough's elementary schools, which saw a significant increase in D and F schools compared to the previous year. Superintendent Van Ayres acknowledged the significance of the report and expressed optimism for improvement in the future. Board members highlighted concerns about the readiness of younger students and the opportunity gap in marginalized communities.
The Florida Department of Education has released school grades for the 2022-23 school year, with St. Johns, Clay, and Nassau counties receiving an "A" and Alachua, Baker, Columbia, Duval, Flagler, and Union receiving a "B". Bradford and Putnam county school districts received a "C". The grades will serve as a baseline and carry no negative consequences, allowing schools and districts to make changes in instructional practices for better student outcomes.
The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) has released school grades for the 2022-23 school year, which serve as a baseline and carry no negative consequences. Florida transitioned to using progress monitoring instead of traditional high stakes testing, with the new Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) standards and the Florida's Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) test. These grades will help schools and districts make changes in instructional practices for better student outcomes, and there will be no penalties or sanctions for schools or districts based on these grades.
