News Brief

10/17/12

Florida Officials Defend Racial and Ethnic Learning Goals

New York Times (10/17/12) Alvarez, Lizette

Education officials in Florida are standing behind the new strategic plan approved earlier this month by the State Board of Education, which sets different goals for reading and math achievement based on race and ethnicity. The goals are required as part of Florida's No Child Left Behind waiver from the federal government, and the state must halve its achievement gap for all students by 2018. This means that 90 percent of Asian students, 88 percent of white students, 81 percent of Hispanic students, 74 percent of black students, and 72 percent of low-income students must be reading at grade level by 2018. However, officials say all students should be performing at grade level in reading and math by 2023. "The 100 percent is the ultimate goal, and that is stated within the strategic plan," says Florida Education Commissioner Pam Stewart. "I believe it is a bold target that we are looking to reach."

 

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