Jeb asks TX company to rate schools on wealth and race, not just scores.

[madfloridian]

http://www.sptimes.com/2003/08/17/State/Bush_wants_Texas_prog.shtml

SNIP..."Gov. Jeb Bush has asked a Texas program to analyze Florida schools using more than just the state's standardized education test and to suggest more changes to improve the quality of education, a newspaper reported.

The program, known as Just for The Kids, compares not just test scores, but also weighs differences such as wealth, race and language skills, the Orlando Sentinel reported Saturday....."

Luce's company, Just for Kids, has a goal of grouping schools "demographically". I have not been able to find the details. Would this mean separate schools for varied classes?
Don't know. But they are up to something.

I have been surprised how many here actually do not believe in a free and equal education for everyone. That is their right. As a long time teacher, I do believe in it. This new thing of Jeb's is scaring the heck out of me!

[salmonhorse]

1. Yep...here we go...

The worst is yet to come ~

Vote Nixon-Bush-Cheney-Rove Out of Office ~ Election - 2004!!!

[madfloridian]

2. Ok, here is an irate editorial on this. They are going to judge this way

http://www.floridatoday.com/!NEWSROOM/opedstoryA9732A.htm

SNIP...."Called Just for the Kids and headed by Tom Luce, the program combines FCAT scores with information on race, economic levels and language skills in a supposed effort to make scores easier to compare and interpret.

The results are what anyone would think: Low income kids and those who speak English poorly don't do as well as wealthy kids with plenty of advantages. And reports show Luce's suggestions for solutions are superficial and much the same in every state....."

Luce's company is doing business in MANY states, maybe your own. This is from August, so they are pretty far along now.

Oh, Luce is a Dallas attorney, NOT an educator.

[seasat]

3. Let me guess their recomendation...

buy Neil Bush's FCAT study software.

[madfloridian]

4. Or Neil's software for the dyslexic.

I have been very curious about that software from Ignite. Of course the fact that it is from Neil's Saudi-backed company prejudices me.
However, I had a lot of courses in and experience with the learning disabled. I have always felt they could benefit so much from extra work on computers.

I found the ones I did work with did very well with attention span on computers, much better than they did in the class room. There were a couple of spatial orientation programs that did wonders for them. They could turn the letters all different directions, see them in 3D, etc.