Three-Day Education Accountability Summit Kicks Off on Monday

Monday, August 26, 2013

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Three-Day Education Accountability Summit Kicks Off on Monday

~Florida's top education leaders to discuss state standards for students, school grades, student assessments and teacher evaluations~

Tallahassee, Fla. - As the school year is beginning for Florida's students across the state, Governor Rick Scott has asked a panel of Florida education leaders to discuss the sustainability and transparency of the state's accountability system to ensure each student has the opportunity to succeed.

Governor Scott asked Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart to convene the summit to provide the opportunity to openly discuss ideas and options to continue improving Florida's public school system.

"Florida's education accountability system has become a national model, but we are at a critical point in our history," said Governor Scott. "Our students need and deserve a quality education that emphasizes critical thinking and analysis. Our teachers and schools need our support as we continue to compete nationally and globally in preparing students for success in college, career and in life."

Governor Scott asked Stewart to lead the summit with a focus on four strategic priorities:

1. State Standards. Continuing to raise the bar on education standards, by including an emphasis on critical and analytical thinking, to drive continued improvement by Florida students;
2. State Standard Assessments. Ensuring the assessment that replaces the FCAT will accurately measure the more challenging standards that will be taught to our students, provides meaningful performance information to our students, is cost effective, results are timely provided and we do not unnecessarily become intertwined with the federal government.
3. School Grades. Improving our education accountability system to further ensure transparency and fairness while providing meaningful and useful information to our parents and educators about how our students and schools are performing; and
4. Teacher Evaluations. Understanding how our teachers are evaluated, ensuring transparency throughout the process and using a fair system to identify, recognize and reward our highly performing teachers.

Senate President Don Gaetz and House Speaker Will Weatherford are key partners in the summit and have designated leaders from the Legislature to participate.

"Governor Scott's Education Accountability Summit will provide the leaders of our Senate Committees on Education and Education Appropriations the opportunity to collect various perspectives and ideas which will be used in committee meeting discussions scheduled to begin next month," said President Gaetz. "The Senate looks forward to working with the Governor to build on the gains Florida's public education system has made over more than a decade and we appreciate the opportunity to have a seat at the table for this significant event."

"Florida has made significant progress in improving education over the last 15 years, and it's important to have a vision so we can continue to ensure our children are succeeding and have the skills they need to compete in today's global economy," said Speaker Weatherford. "I commend Governor Scott for convening this education summit and taking a strong leadership role on the future of educational standards, assessment, school grades and teacher accountability in Florida."

"Everyone attending this summit shares the same goal: Ensuring that every student in Florida is given the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in the career of his or her choice," said State Board of Education Chairman Gary Chartrand. "This is a great opportunity for educators, business leaders, and policy makers to share strategies that will benefit not only our students but our state as a whole."

To view the meeting via live webcast, visit Florida Department of Education starting at 12:55 p.m.

To submit ideas or feedback, please share via email at .

What: Education Accountability Summit

When: Monday, August 26, 1 p.m. through Wednesday, August 28, 4 p.m. (A more detailed schedule will be posted at www.fldoe.org)

Where: EpiCenter
Collaborative Labs at St. Petersburg College
13805 58th Street North
Clearwater, FL

Attendees include:

Invited by Governor Scott and Commissioner Stewart with the assistance of education partners:

Invited by President Gaetz:

Invited by Speaker Weatherford: