A Florida Republican state lawmaker’s 52-page bill would give parents the ability to decide if their child should be promoted from third to fourth grade even if they lack basic skills, and would reduce the requirements for students to graduate high school, further enhancing GOP Governor Ron DeSantis‘ “parents’ rights” movement that has crippled public education. Under DeSantis, Florida laws allows tax dollars to fund private schools, Playstations, paddle boards, big screen TVs, and private golf lessons, and puts the civil rights and well-being of some minorities at risk.
“Under the bill approved by the GOP-dominated [fiscal policy] committee, students would no longer have to pass an Algebra 1 and a language arts exam to earn high school diplomas,” the Orlando Sentinel reports. “The bill also would allow third graders who failed the state reading test to be promoted to fourth grade, if that is what their parents thought was best.”
But the “deregulation” legislation, from Republican state Senator Corey Simon (photo), who is also the author of a bill stripping protections from child labor laws, is so controversial that former Florida GOP Governor Jeb Bush, who had a reputation as an education reformer, penned an op-ed blasting the proposals.
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“For decades, Florida has had a strong accountability system in place, but state lawmakers are talking about rolling back some of those requirements, including retention in third grade for struggling readers and basic reading and math graduation requirements,” wrote Bush, a son and brother of former presidents.
“If we want better outcomes for our students, we have to know how they’re doing as they move through school. It’s unhelpful to find out a high school student isn’t reading on grade level when they’re in high school. Holding students to a high standard throughout their academic careers ensures they get the support and intervention they need early on.”
Senator Simon disagrees, saying, “’nothing could be further from the truth’ than suggestions the bill sought to lower standards. He said removing the third grade retention requirement would encourage teachers to focus on children’s reading needs earlier. Deleting the graduation test requirements would allow juniors and seniors to take courses other than reading remediation, he said,” according to the Tampa Bay Times.
“Let’s stop dancing behind the facade that (universities and employers) are looking at these 10th grade tests,” he added.
Simon also claims that removing the third grade marker will motivate teachers to ensure students aren’t failing the basics earlier.
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