HOW AND WHY TO AVOID FLORIDA’S FLAWS
It’s not too late to improve state ESSA plans. Approved state ESSA plans can be amended at any time. That’s both good news and bad news.
I fear the premature approval by the U.S. Department of Education (USED) of Florida’s plan to implement the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) could have a negative impact on plans from other states whose policy makers may be aware of and seek the same dispensations accorded Florida. The good news is candidates for state office are on the campaign trail in 46 states, listening to voters. Education stakeholders can forestall backsliding and pave the way for improvements by making public their support for, or their disappointment with, their state ESSA plan.
My fundamental objection to Florida’s ESSA plan is that its failure to comply with the letter of the law, respect its civil rights legacy, and honor its goals can harm children. Two examples from Florida’s plan illustrate the problem and suggest its causes.
No effort to provide native language assessments
Using the Official English amendment to the state constitution as a shield, Florida has made no effort at all to comply with this requirement.
However, the amendment never mentions education and includes no prohibitions. While the state indicates “government services in languages other than English ” are ruled out, the truth is a multiplicity of such services are provided or required by the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) and described on its web site.
Why would the FLDOE advance an argument so lacking in credibility? Why squander the opportunity for federal funding to get an accurate and valid measure of the content knowledge of 10% of the state’s students? Why would the FDOE abdicate its leadership role in cultivating the treasures multicultural, international, and emerging bilingual students bring to the state?
In 1988, 84% of Florida voters supported the Official English amendment. Language is still a hot button issue. In September, Florida newspapers published two articles on language issues. Readers on both sides of the language divide had reasons to take offense and noted their reactions (and in several instances, their anti-immigrant animus) in the comments sections of the articles.
One out of every four Florida residents is Hispanic, including over a million Puerto Ricans who moved to Florida by Continue reading: How and why to avoid Florida’s flaws | Cloaking Inequity
