State Board of Education Adopts Recommendations on Inclusion and Accountability

Thursday, May 10, 2012

DOE Press Office (850) 245-0413

State Board of Education Adopts Recommendations on Inclusion and Accountability

Tallahassee, Fla. - The Florida State Board of Education today approved adoption of inclusion and accountability policy recommendations made by Commissioner of Education Gerard Robinson. During the State Board of Education meeting on February 28, 2012, the board voted to create the Commissioner's Taskforce on Inclusion and Accountability to develop an implementation plan to include students with disabilities, students who are learning the English language, and students enrolled in exceptional student education centers in Florida's school accountability system.

"I am pleased that the State Board has adopted recommendations that will build upon Florida's high-quality accountability system and meet the needs of our diverse learners," said Commissioner of Education Gerard Robinson. "This is an important first step and we will continue our work in this area. I commend our taskforce members for their hard work to ensure that Florida measures what matters in education."

The State Board adopted five of 35 policy recommendations developed during the taskforce meeting in Orlando on March 22 and 23. Details of the adopted measures are found below.

1. Florida Alternative Assessment Learning Gains - reduces from 11 to five the number of points required for Florida Alternative Assessment test takers remaining at levels 1 to 3 to make learning gains.
2. English Language Learner Entry Date - authorizes school districts to use the date of entry into a school in the United States - not the date of entry into the country - as the beginning point for including English Language Learners in Florida's Accountability System.
3. Maximum One-Letter Grade Drop - authorizes a maximum one school letter grade drop for 2011-12 to allow public school leaders, teachers, and students a year of transition to Florida's new standards.
4. Weighted Learning Gains for Florida Alternative Assessment and Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test - provides a balanced measure for levels 1 and 2 students who make learning gains that are more than the minimum expected.
5. Center School Gains and Proficiency for Home School Grade - attributes student's performance and learning gains to the home school if the center school chooses a school improvement rating.

For more information about the Commissioner's Taskforce on Inclusion and Accountability, please visit http://www.fldoe.org/esea/#ctia. For State Board of Education agendas and meeting materials, visit http://www.fldoe.org/board/meetings/.